A Selection of Prayers from the Carmina GadelicaCarmina Gadelica pagan druid celtic prayers

Changes made for Pagan versions:
  • Mary, The Spirit, changed to Danu
  • Father with Son, ref. to Dagda and Aengus
  • Bride, Brigid, left alone, but restored to Godhood
  • Micheal changed to Manannan
  • Jesus changed to Dagda
  • City of Heavan changed to Wonder Hill, ref. to Newgrange
  • God made plural, but not every occurance of it
  • "The Three" ref. to the Land, Sea, and Sky

    * Asterisk to indicate prayers that have pagan changes put in them.


    The Invocation of the Graces


    (3)
    (Original Form)

    In showers of wine,
    In the lustral fire,
    In the seven elements,
    In the juice of the rasps,
    In the milk of honey,
    And I place the nine pure choice graces
    In thy fair fond face,
    The grace of form,
    The grace of voice,
    The grace of fortune,
    The grace of goodness,
    The grace of wisdom,
    The grace of charity,
    The grace of choice maidenliness,
    The grace of whole-souled loveliness,
    The grace of goodly speech.

    Dark is yonder town,
    Dark are those therein,
    Thou art the brown swan,
    Going in among them.
    Their hearts are under thy control,
    Their tongues are beneath thy sole,
    Nor will they ever utter a word
    To give thee offence.

    A shade art thou in the heat,
    A shelter art thou in the cold,
    Eyes art thou to the blind,
    A staff art thou to the pilgrim,
    An island art thou at sea,
    A fortress art thou on land,
    A well art thou in the desert,
    Health art thou to the ailing.

    Thine is the skill of the Fairy Woman,
    Thine is the virtue of Bride the calm,
    Thine is the faith of Mary the mild,
    Thine is the tact of the woman of Greece,
    Thine is the beauty of Emir the lovely,
    Thine is the tenderness of Darthula delightful,
    Thine is the courage of Maebh the strong,
    Thine is the charm of Binne-bheul.

    Thou art the joy of all joyous things,
    Thou art the light of the beam of the sun,
    Thou art the door of the chief of hospitality,
    Thou art the surpassing star of guidance,
    Thou art the step of the deer of the hill,
    Thou art the step of the steed of the plain,
    Thou art the grace of the swan of swimming,
    Thou art the loveliness of all lovely desires.

    The lovely likeness of the Lord
    Is in thy pure face,
    The loveliest likeness that
    Was upon earth.

    The best hour of the day be thine,
    The best day of the week be thine,
    The best week of the year be thine,
    The best year in the Son of God's domain be thine.

    Peter has come and Paul has come,
    James has come and John has come,
    Muriel and Mary Virgin have come,
    Uriel the all-beneficent has come,
    Ariel the beauteousness of the young has come,
    Gabriel the seer of the Virgin has come,
    Raphael the prince of the valiant has come,
    And Michael the chief of the hosts has come,
    And Jesus Christ the mild has come,
    And the Spirit of true guidance has come,
    And the King of kings has come on the helm,
    To bestow on thee their affection and their love,
    To bestow on thee their affection and their love.


    * Hey The Gift


    (59)

    Hey the Gift, Ho the Gift
    Hey the Gift, on the living.

    Son of the dawn, Son of the clouds,
    Son of the planet, Son of the star,

    Hey the Gift, Ho the Gift
    Hey the Gift, on the living.

    Son of the rain, Son of the dew,
    Son of the welkin, Son of the sky,

    Hey the Gift, Ho the Gift
    Hey the Gift, on the living.

    Son of the flame, Son of the light,
    Son of the sphere, Son of the globe,

    Hey the Gift, Ho the Gift
    Hey the Gift, on the living.

    Son of the elements, Son of the heavens,
    Son of the moon, Son of the sun,

    Hey the Gift, Ho the Gift
    Hey the Gift, on the living.

    Son of Ethlinn of the God-mind,
    And the Son of Balar first of all news,

    Hey the Gift, Ho the Gift
    Hey the Gift, on the living.


    Smooring the FireCeltic Druid Prayers Carmina Gadelica


    (84)

    The Sacred Three
    To save,
    To shield
    To surround
    The hearth
    The house
    The household
    This eve
    This night
    Oh! This night,
    And every night
    Each single night,
    Amen.


    Charm of the Sprain


    (130)

    Bride went out
    In the morning early,
    With a pair of horses;
    One broke his leg
    With much ado,
    That was apart,
    She put bone to bone,
    She put flesh to flesh,
    She put sinew to sinew,
    She put vein to vein;
    As she healed that,
    May she heal this.


    * Fath-fith


    (133)

    Fath-fith
    Will I make on thee
    By Danu of the augury
    By Bride of the corslet
    From sheep, from ram
    From goat, from buck
    From fox, from wolf
    From sow, from boar
    From dog, from cat
    From hipped-bear
    From wilderness-dog
    From watchful scan
    From cow, from horse
    From bull, from heifer
    From daughter, from son
    From the birds of the air
    From the creeping things of the earth
    From the fishes of the sea
    From the imps of the storm.


    The charm of the lasting life


    (135)

    I will place the charm of the lasting life
    Upon your cattle active, broad, and full
    The knoll upon which the herds shall lie down
    That they may rise from it whole and well.

    Down with success, and with blessing
    Up with activity and following
    Without envy, without malice, without ill-will,
    Without small eye, without large eye
    Without the five eyes of neglect.

    I will suck this, the sucking of envious vein
    On the head of the house, and the townland families
    That every evil trait, and every evil tendency
    Inherint in you shall cleave to them.

    If tounge cursed you
    A heart blessed you
    If eye blighted you
    A wish prospered you.

    A hurly-burlying, a topsy-turvying
    A hard hollying and a wan withering
    To their female sheep and to their male calves
    For the nine and the nine score years.


    Saint Bride's Charm


    (136)

    The charm put by Bride the beneficient
    On her goats, on her sheep, on her kine
    On her horses, on her chargers, on her herds
    Early and late going home, and from home.

    To keep them from rocks and ridges
    From the heels and the horns of one another
    From the birds of the Red Rock
    And from Luath of the Feinne.

    From the blue peregine hawk of Creag Duillion
    From the brindled eagle of Ben-Ard
    From the swift hawk of Tordun
    From the surly raven of Bard's Creag.

    From the fox of the wiles
    From the wolf of the Mam
    From the foul-smelling fumart
    And from the restless great-hipped bear.

    From every hoofed of four feet
    And from every hatched of two wings.


    Exorcism of the EyeCeltic Cross Fiery Druid Prayers


    (141; ref. to curses)

    I trample upon the eye
    As tramples the duck upon the lake,
    As tramples the swan upon the water,
    As tramples the horse upon the plain,
    As tramples the cow upon the iuc,
    As tramples the host of the elements
    As tramples the host of the elements.

    Power of wind I have over it,
    Power of wrath I have over it
    Power of fire I have over it
    Power of thunder I have over it
    Power of lightning I have over it
    Power of storms I have over it
    Power of moon I have over it
    Power of sun I have over it
    Power of stars I have over it
    Power of firmament I have over it
    Power of the heavens
    And of the worlds I have over it
    Power of the heavens
    And of the worlds I have over it.

    A portion of it upon the grey stones
    A portion of it upon the steep hills
    A portion of it upon the fast falls
    A portion of it upon the fair meads,
    And a portion upon the great salt sea,
    She herself is the best instrument to carry it
    The great salt sea
    The best instrument to carry it.

    In name of the Three of Life
    In name of the Sacred Three
    In name of all the Secret Ones,
    And of the Powers together.


    The yarrow


    (164)

    I will pluck the yarrow fair
    That more brave shall be my hand
    That more warm shall be my lips
    That more swift shall be my foot
    May I an island be at sea
    May I a rock be on land
    That I can afflict any man
    No man can afflict me.


    Incantation of the Red Water


    (180 pp2; a healing prayer)

    Great wave, red wave,
    Strength of sea, strength of ocean,
    The nine wells of Mac-Lir,
    Help on thee to pour,
    Put stop to thy blood,
    Put flood to thy urine.
    [the name of patient]


    Fragment


    (216)

    As it was,
    As it is
    As it shall be
    Evermore
    O thou Triune
    Of grace!
    With the ebb
    With the flow
    O thou Triune
    Of grace!
    With the ebb
    With the flow.


    Birth baptism


    (217 pp 9-11)

    A wavelet for thy form
    A wavelet for thy voice
    A wavelet for thy sweet speech

    A wavelet for thy luck
    A wavelet for thy good
    A wavelet for thy health

    A wavelet for thy throat
    A wavelet for thy pluck
    A wavelet for thy graciousness
    Nine waves for thy graciousness.


    * Prayer at Rising


    (223)

    Thou Kings of moon and sun
    Thou Kings of stars beloved
    Thou Thyselves knowest our need
    O Thou merciful Gods of life.

    Each day that we move
    Each time that we awaken
    Causing vexation and gloom
    To the Kings of hosts who loved us.

    Be with us through each day
    Be with us through each night
    Be with us each night and day
    Be with us each day and night.


    God's Aid


    (231; a morning prayer)

    God to enfold me
    God to surround me
    God in my speaking
    God in my thinking

    God in my sleeping
    God in my waking
    God in my watching
    God in my hoping

    God in my life
    God in my lips
    God in my hands
    God in my heart.

    God in my sufficing
    God in my slumber
    God in mine ever-living soul
    God in mine eternity.


    Supplication


    (232)

    O Being of life!
    O Being of peace!
    O Being of time!
    O Being of eternity!
    O Being of eternity!

    Keep me in good means
    Keep me in good intent
    Keep me in good estate
    Better than I know to ask
    Better than I know to ask!

    Shepherd me this day
    Relieve my distress
    Enfold me this night
    Pour upon me Thy grace,
    Pour upon me Thy grace!

    Guard for me my speech
    Strengthen for me my love
    Illume for me the stream
    Succour Thou me in death
    Succour Thou me in death!


    Thou, my soul's healer


    (242)

    Thou, my soul's healer
    Keep me at even
    Keep me at morning
    Keep me at noon
    On rough course faring
    Help and safeguard
    My means this night
    I am tired, astray, and stumbling
    Shield Thou me from snare and sin.


    The ThreeFire Triquetra Carmina Gadelica Christo-Pagan Prayers


    (245)

    The Three Who are over me,
    The Three Who are below me
    The Three Who are above me here
    The Three Who are above me yonder
    The Three Who are in the earth
    The Three Who are in the air
    The Three who are in the heaven
    The Three who are in the great pouring sea.


    * Charm of protection


    (246)

    The charm placed of Brigit about her foster-son
    The charm placed of Danu about her tribe
    The charm placed of Manannan about his shield
    The charm placed of Aengus about the Wonder Hill.

    Charm against arrow
    Charm against sword
    Charm against spears
    Charm against bruising and against drowning.

    Charm against firebrand
    Charm against adder
    Charm against levin
    Charm against harm in fields of battle

    Charm against child of faerie
    Charm against child of earth
    Charm against hostile one
    Charm against deadly peril.

    Be the cowl of Columba over thee
    Be the cowl of Manannan about thee
    Dagda's cowl, beloved, safeguard thee
    The cowl of the Gods of grace shield thee

    To guard thee from thy back
    To preserve thee from thy front
    From the crown of thy head and thy forhead
    To the very sole of thy foot

    An isle art thou in the sea
    A hill art thou on land
    A well art thou in the wilderness
    Health art thou to the ailing.

    The succour of Columba is with thee
    And his own cowl around thee
    The aiding of Manannan is about thee
    And his great shield protects the.


    Blessing of BrigitBrigit Bride Brigid Saint Bridget with Infant and Wolf companion


    (264)

    Each day and each night
    That I say the Descent of Brigit

    I shall not be slain
    I shall not be sworded
    I shall not be put in cell
    I shall not be hewn
    I shall not be riven
    I shall not be anguished
    I shall not be wounded
    I shall not be ravaged
    I shall not be blinded
    I shall not be made naked
    I shall not be left bare
    Nor will Dagda
    Leave me forgotten.

    Nor fire shall burn me
    Nor sun shall burn me
    Nor moon shall blanch me

    Nor water shall drown me
    Nor flood shall drown me
    Nor brine shall drown me

    Nor seed of faerie shall lift me
    Nor seed of airy host shhall lift me
    Nor earthly beig destroy me

    I am under the shielding
    Of good Brigit each day
    I am onder the shielding
    Of good Brigit each night.

    I am under the keeping
    of the Child of Dagda
    Each early and late,
    Every dark, every light.

    Brigit is my comrade-woman
    Brigit is my maker of song
    Brigit is my helping-woman
    My choicest of women, my guide.


    Petition


    (266 pp1)

    Be Thou a smooth way before me
    Be Thou a guiding star above me
    Be Thou a keen eye behind me
    This day, this night, for ever.


    Blessings


    (277 pp 1, 7)

    May the Spirit satisfy you
    With the water of grace.

    The love of your creator be with you.


    Good Wish


    (282)

    Power of raven be thine
    Power of eagle be thine
    Power of the Fiann.

    Power of storm be thine
    Power of moon be thine
    Power of sun.

    Power of sea be thine
    Power of land be thine
    Power of heaven

    Goodness of sea be thine
    Goodness of earth be thine
    Goodness of heaven

    Each day be joyous to thee
    No day be grievous to thee
    Honour and compassion.

    Love of each face be thine
    Death on pillow be thine
    Thy Saviour's presence.


    Good Wish


    (284)

    Thine be the might of river
    Thine be the might of ocean
    The might of victory on field

    Thine be the might of fire
    Thine be the might of levin
    The might of a strong rock.

    Thine be the might of element
    Thine be the might of fountain
    The might of the love on high.


    Prayer


    (285)

    Power of eye be thine
    Power of element be thine
    Power of my hearts desire

    Power of surf be thine
    Power of swell be thine
    Power of the sap of my reason

    Power of king Cu Chulainn be thine
    Power of the king of the world be thine
    Power of the king of the Fiann.


    Beauteous fair one of grace


    (303)

    Hail to thee, thou new moon
    Beauteous guidant of the sky
    Hail to thee, thou new moon
    Beauteous fair one of g race

    Hail to thee, thou new moon
    Beauteous guidant of the stars
    Hail to thee, thou new moon
    Beauteous loved one of my heart

    Hail to thee, thou new moon
    Beauteous guidant of the clouds
    Hail to thee, thou new moon
    Beauteous dear one of the heavens!


    Queen of the Night


    (312; ref. to New Moon)

    Hail unto thee
    Jewel of the night!

    Beauty of the heavans
    Jewel of the night!

    Mother of the stars
    Jewel of the night!

    Fosterling of the sun,
    Jewel of the night!

    Majesty of the stars
    Jewel of the night!


    Sun


    (315)

    The eye of the great God
    The eye of the God of glory
    The eye of the King of hosts
    The eye of the King of the living

    Pouring upon us
    At each time and season
    Pouring upon us
    Gently and generously

    Glory to thee
    Thou Glorious Sun

    Glory to the, thou Sun
    Face of the God of Life.


    The sun


    (316)

    Hail to thee, thou sun of the seasons,
    As thou traversest the skies aloft;
    Thy steps are strong on the wing of the heavens
    Thou art the glorious mother of the stars.

    Thou liest down in the destructive ocean
    Without impairment and without fear
    Thou risest up on the peaceful wave-crest
    Like a queenly maiden in bloom.


    I am going home with thee


    (345; a prayer for Death)

    I am going home with thee
    To thy home! To thy home!
    I am going home with thee
    To thy home of winter

    I am going home with thee
    To thy home! To thy home!
    I am going home with thee
    To thy home of autumn, spring, and of summer.

    I am going home with thee
    Thou child of my love
    To thine eternal bed
    To thy perpetual sleep.


    The apple tree


    (483 pp1,7)

    O apple tree
    Apple branch
    Apple tree
    Tree of apples

    O apple tree, The Gods be with thee
    May the moon and the sun be with thee
    May the east and west winds be with thee
    May everything that ever existed be with thee
    May every bounty and desire be with thee
    May every passion and divinity be with thee
    May great Somerled and his band be with thee
    May everyone, like myself, be with thee.


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