January 24, 2022 - Reading time: ~1 minute

Is acher ingaith innocht
fufuasan fairggae findfolt
ni agor reimm mora minn
dondlaechraid lainn ua
lothlind.

The wind is rough tonight
tossing the white combed ocean.
I need not dread fierce Vikings
crossing the Irish Sea.

St. Gall Priscian, margin gloss.

{via} {previously}


Praying with the Spirit

January 2, 2022 - Reading time: ~1 minute

Sometimes when I pray, I utter the words but I do not feel or think them.

Sometimes when I pray, I utter the words thinking about what I say, but not feeling them.

Sometimes when I pray, I utter the words and I both think and feel what I say.

An act of will cannot make me feel, nor stop my mind from wandering. An act of will can only make me utter.

So, I shall utter the words and let the Spirit do the rest, guiding my mind and heart as he wills.

—A celtic prayer (unattributed);
as quoted by Doug McKelvey on The Habit podcast (episode page)


I bind unto myself today

November 18, 2020 - Reading time: ~1 minute

The power of God to hold and lead
His eye to watch, His might to stay
His ear to hearken to my need

The wisdom of my God to teach
His hand to guide His shield to ward
The word of God to give me speech
His heavenly host to be my guard

The Mighty Three
My protection be
Encircling me
You are around
My life, my home
Encircling me
O sacred Three
The Mighty Three

 

"Encircling",
Iona, Journey Into the Morn (1996)
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St Patrick's Breastplate

July 28, 2020 - Reading time: ~1 minute

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.
I arise today...

{...} {via}


I went down to the shouting sea,

July 13, 2015 - Reading time: ~1 minute

taking Christopher down with me,
Bitter and wild is the wind tonight,
tossing the tresses of the sea to white.
On such a night as this I lie at ease;
fierce Northmen only course the quiet seas.

—Early Irish poem (unattributed)


Safe within these shores

June 17, 2012 - Reading time: ~1 minute

I feel no conflict here
I feel my spirit soar
Within this sanctuary

Iona, Iona

There are no ghosts to haunt me
There is no blood upon this land
No power to make me fear
No hour of darkness here

Iona, Iona

All bathed in emerald
Out of the mist arise
I see the stones appear
A cross before my eyes

Iona, Iona, Iona…

— Iona, Iona (1990)
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