An Irish Prayer

[DemBones DemBones]

Go raibh mé cróga mar tharbh.
Go raibh mé caoin mar uain.
Go raibh mé eagnaí mar bradán.

Beannacht ar mo mhuintir.
Beannacht ar mo chairde.
Beannacht ar mo chuid oibre.

May I be as brave as a bull.
May I be as gentle as a lamb.
May I be as wise as a salmon.

Blessing upon my kindred.
Blessing upon my friends.
Blessing upon my portion of work.

O8)

[elshiva]

1. Thanks! "Wise as a salmon!" LOL!

Where did you find that?

[DemBones DemBones]

2. Long story! Basically, I looked up the Atlanta Celtic Festival, being

held at a pub today (I'm hoping it's a helluva big pub as they're having dancing, music, and Celtic workshops.) I'd like to be there but my knee's bothering me so it's not a good day.

But, stuck at home, I learned about the Fourth North Georgia Celtic Festival in July, which is a Saturday and Sunday, so I'll try for that. It will be at the Georgia Mountain Center with many rooms for workshops and will have two stages for bands, plus up to 40-50 vendors, and recreation of medieval battles by the Society for Anachronistic Reccreations (or is it Reenactments?) I'm delighted to have found out about it, must post it in the Irish group.

In the process I got to looking around at various sites, including one put together by an Atlantan who has written several books on Celtic spirituality and the like, where I found the prayer. Surfing the net has its rewarding days!

The site is http://www.carlmccolman.com for anyone interested. I'd love to get Maeve's take on the best books on Celtic spirituality so perhaps a new thread is needed?

P.S. Why are you el shiva? The combination gives me cognitive dissonance, but must have meaning to you. Is it about Shiva, avatar of Vishnu, or sitting shiva, or Shiva brand paints, or something else entirely? If you don't mind my asking. ;-)

[elshiva]

3. Thanks for the links and the questions.

I like a good celtic festival...

elshiva because
1. It's how a Roman Catholic nun (a teacher and friend) wrote out my Jewish name "Elesheva"
2. I am fond of the God El and the God Shiva

[DemBones DemBones]

5. I suspected there was a spiritual reason behind it

O8) <mischievous angelic grin>

but don't ever recall reading about the god called El. Maybe I'm just having a senior moment because I have read a great deal about world religions, always been fascinated by all religions. Perhaps it's another Hebrew version of "Lord"?

I've never been to a Celtic festival, don't know how I've missed out on hearing about these except that I almost never read an Atlanta Journal-Constitution anymore. The AJC won't deliver where I live (out in the boonies of the northwest Georgia piedmont) and it's expensive to buy daily, especially since I read so much news online. But the Atlanta Celtic Festival is something like twenty years old and I never heard of it. There is a Highlands festival in Stone Mountain and Savannah has a huge St. Patrick's Day parade, the oldest in the US, but I love the thought of a Celtic Festival just a couple of hours' drive away.

I'd love to hear anything you'd like to share about Celtic festivals you've attended.

[elshiva]

7. Canaanite God El is all over the Bible names for

God like Elohim, El Shaddai and then all the big names like Elijah and Israel. Basically El just translates as "God."

Ten years ago I went to a Scottish festival in Brunswich, Maine. Don't remember too much except the Scottish games. The caber toss, etc.

[CBHagman]

4. Love those Celtic prayers.

Years ago I got a tiny book of Celtic prayers, and I often read one of them before I go to sleep at night. The themes of care for the Earth, social justice, hospitality, courage, and dependence upon God's aid are recurring -- and something we need to read these days.

The book is called The Wisdom of the Celts and comes from the William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. The compilation and introduction were done by David Adam. I got the book in remainder, so it may be out of print these days.

[DemBones DemBones]

6. I do, too. I have read "How the Irish Saved Civilization" many times

and use a portion of a grace attributed to St. Brigid from it. I also love Thomas Moore's books, especially "Care of the Soul," which deal a lot with Celtic spirituality and the importance of ritual in life.

Could you look at this link (a search at Amazon) and see if either book #1 or #3 (both with the right title!) are the book you have? I want to get a good book of Celtic prayers and hadn't come across these before. I may go ahead and order this week since there are a couple of books I want. Well, a couple I'm planning to buy; there are dozens I want! Running out of shelp space again. . . ;-)

http://tinyurl.com/ba7tf


If the tiny URL doesn't work, here's the full Amazon URL. Thanks!


http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/104-8364739-7215967

[CBHagman]

8. Here's my link.

I couldn't get those links to work, but I went to Amazon and searched. This was the right item, though it's in paperback (mine is hardback) and includes something from Terry Waite. Mine doesn't have any input from Terry Waite. That reminds me: I once had a prayer answered with a resounding YES, and it was that Terry Waite would be safe. And then the topper: I actually got to meet Terry Waite (book signing).

Anyway, here's the link. Happy reading and searching, whatever you wind up with.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0745936431/qid=1116817025/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/002-1289041-2699220?v=glance&s=books

[DemBones DemBones]

9. Thanks for doing that; I don't know what happened with the links.

I highlighted the URL at Amazon (w/o being able to see the entire URL) and then copied it, which has always worked before. I'm pretty sure that book is the one that came up #3 on my search list but I hadn't noticed the Terry Waite connection.

So. . . you have this Celtic prayer book you really like, you pray for Terry Waite and your prayer is granted, you meet Terry Waite at a book signing (for another book, I'm guessing?) and now the Celtic prayer book that you really like has been brought out in paperback with input from Terry Waite. Nice chain of coincidence/ synchronicity. O8)

[CBHagman]

10. Yes, it was for another book.

Terry Waite did a memoir following his release from captivity. I wound up giving the book to my friend Ken, who was a retired Episcopal priest.

I do watch for synchronicity in events, as well as for any meaningful coincidences. Sometimes dramatic answers to pray do take place!