St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th) is a day that brings forth the ‘wearing of the green’, stories of leprechauns and shamrocks, wonderful Irish music, and gentle reminders of Celtic spirituality in many parts of the world.
Celtic spirituality transcends institutionalized religion and encourages people to consider aspects of the essence of life … like sleep. But sleep can be the elusive pimpernel of the night for many.
Night time, for many, seems to be a time when … minds seem to worry more … pain seems to hurt more acutely … grief seems to be more intense … fear seems to escalate
When COVID-19 spread its tentacles in every continent, countless people became isolated, got sick, died. Anxiety grew as new strains of the virus emerged. Vaccines weren’t available to all people. And growing numbers of people refused to get vaccinated.
Increased concern about climate change brought dramatic discussions about climate-refugees. As a growing number of countries around the world continue to live in unbelievable conflict and the rest of the world holds its breath, fearful about the possibility of biological and nuclear warfare being unleashed, thousands are deeply concerned about their savings, health care for themselves/their families, and fear about the future if democracy coming to an end robs people of good sleep.
Rising concerns about availability of treatment/medication for those who are facing unwanted, unexpected, complicated pregnancies – availability of medical care that is becoming a major concern along with the growing concern about homelessness and addiction, keep people awake at night or shorten the length and quality of their sleep.
People “take sides” – alienating people in neighbourhoods, worship, work, community groups/organizations, families. And, worry, stress and global tension are having a serious negative effect on sleep patterns.
We all need sleep – and good sleep. On St. Patrick’s Day, the Ancient Celtic Prayer for Peace and Sleep seems to be most fitting. It is a prayer. It is a wish. It is a hope. It is a need.
May this night, and all nights to come, be blessed with sleep and safety for this world and may this ancient prayer bring a gentle night of sleep for us all.
THE ANCIENT PRAYER FOR PEACE AND SLEEP May the peace of the tallest mountain, and the peace of the smallest stone be our peace. May the stillness of the stars watch over us. And may the everlasting music of the wave lull us to rest. Amen. So be it. Amen.
Calligraphic artist: George Simpson Author: unknown member of a Celtic spirituality community. Many Celtic prayers, including those for sleep and protection, originate from oral traditions and were later compiled in collections like “The Carmina Gadelica”, a 19th-century collection of Gaelic prayers, hymns, and blessings compiled by Alexander Carmichael.
A long time ago, a child lived while the world around her was exploding
with hatred, violence, evil.
At that time, one man had risen to power
… a man who hated
… a man who lied
… a man who was the catalyst for violence.
… a man through whom evil spread.
That one man became the model for others to hate.
He encouraged others to lie and be violent.
And evil spread even further
through the actions of those who followed that one man.
Lies spread even further.
Violence erupted daily.
The world of the child and her family became a world of fear for their very lives.
So they hid and lived in an attic for years
until they were betrayed
and the child, along with most of her family and millions of others died unthinkable deaths.
The time in history was World War 11.
Humanity did not learn then.
Hope was gone.And yet
in the midst of the chaos, suffering, hatred, senselessness, violence and evil,
one child – Anne Frank,
wrote hope-filled words in her journal … “Where there is hope, there is life. It fills us with fresh courage and makes us strong again.”
The time in history – is now.
A leader unleashes evil with his hatred, his lies, his ability to evoke violence.
Will humanity learn now?
Democracy is at great risk.
Where is the hope?
Hope exists.
It lies in the people who have spoken up and are speaking out –
It lies in those who refuse to be intimidated.
It lies in me – and you.
May the world remember the words of a young girl “Where there is hope, there is life.” <Anne Frank>I have hope – because I MUST have hope.
Not to have hope means that we give up
and when we do
evil gets its way.
If only it were possible to see democracy surviving. Even “just a little bit.” But, the loss of democracy is on the rise in the United States, around the world, and even here in my beloved Canada.
The phrase “It wouldn’t happen here.” has been spoken by people who voted for someone who told them what he would do and when he began to do it, they came up with excuses. And then more things happened that they didn’t think would happen and they made excuses. And now?? When climate change and the threat of nuclear war are added to the rising hatred, violence, terrorism, it’s not surprising that people are asking “Is any place safe these days?”
And the answer to that question? Schools are not. Universities are not. Hospitals are not. Marathons are not. Sport events are not. Homes are not. Public events are not. Streets are not. Religious buildings are not. Government buildings are not. Shopping centres / malls are not.
Fear grows more and more as personal lives are dramatically impacted. Intolerance spreads as “someone” must be the reason for prices going up, jobs being lost, hatred increases. And the “us” and “them” language develops its own life.
When that happens, we forget that joy abounds … weddings happen … lives are celebrated … babies are born … lives are extended because of medical intervention … children laugh and play … elders share their wisdom and experience … musicians, photographers, dancers, painters, thespians, calligraphers, potters, weavers, chefs, gardeners, carpenters, fabric artists, knitters, landscape artists, writers and many others continue to awaken the creative spirit, touch the soul and inspire the mind.
It’s understandable that when fear and negativity rise to the surface decisions made by leaders focus our attention on the death knell of life.
If only it were possible to see democracy surviving. Even “just a little bit.”
My spirit grieves for the lives that have been lost, the erosion of democracy, the ways selfishness keeps us from changing our habits to protect this planet for future generations.
What can be done? We can choose to see our world entering the death of the tomb. Or we can choose to see our world entering the birth of the womb.
I don’t want to give up. I won’t say the world is doomed. I believe in possibility. Perhaps a baby is being born this day or a child is already born who may conceive of a way to bring compassion out of this chaos who may find a way to save this planet from climate devastation who may find a way to motivate people to a world of kindness, compassion, love, community and hope.
May we not give away our ability to choose to face each tomorrow with hopeful expectation/anticipation … even if it is only “just a little bit.”
“Meraki.” [may-rah-kee] May today be a ‘MERAKI’ day. 🙂
Modern Greeks often use the word ‘meraki’ to describe “doing something with soul” … when you put something of yourself into whatever you’re doing.
Meraki is about creative, loving, soul-awakening acts. Whether preparing a meal … caring for a garden … creating something artistic … caring for someone who is ill, lonely, grieving, in pain … arranging a room … tangling … praying for a situation/person … whatever. If it’s done with soul, with passion, with love, then it’s ‘meraki’.
An ancient Chinese proverb offers a gentle reminder of ‘meraki’: “If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.”
This weekend in some parts of the world, some are sharing ‘light in the soul’ … ‘meraki’ … in acts of kindness, thoughtfulness, loving gestures/actions as they mark Valentine’s Day. Expressing ‘meraki’, they are letting another know that they are ‘hearted’ – loved’.
Sadly, while of this is happening, some are alone, receiving none of the above. They are lonely, isolated because of illness, weather, grief, hurt feelings, poverty, self-hatred, fear – oh the fear caused by politics, evil leaders, equally-evil minions.
This Valentine’s day of commercial love is anything but a day of soul, of joy, of love. Where is the meraki?
If you are one of those people, my hope is, if only for a moment, you will consider yourself “hearted,” and loved, and receive my little cyber Zentangle® Valentine ‘heart.’ May you experience the love that went into its creation.
May this Valentine’s Day be a little brighter than it might otherwise have been, and bring a gentle flicker of light in your soul.
May the wise Chinese proverb come to fruition, so that there will be MERAKI … “light” in each soul … “beauty” in each person … “harmony” in each home … “order” in each nation … “peace in our hearts, countries, world.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ P.S. If you’re into tangling and would like to have the step-out of my TuliLuv (upper right corner of the heart), just let me know. Happy to send the step out. 🙂
Another month begins … February 1st … and this year, it’s a day and month with a number of things to mark … St. Brigid’s Day (more about her, below) … Imbolc/Imbolg, a Gaelic festival which celebrates the arrival in longer, warmer days and early signs of spring in some places … Candlemas (the Presentation of Christ in the Temple) … Groundhog Day … the beginning of Black History Month (well, after recent news events, it’s unlikely there will be any/much official mention of that. … the anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the United States (1865) – that, too. … the day the president of the U.S. imposed 25% tariffs on Canada and he and his minions inflicted even more frightening decisions on the American public.
Clearly, what is needed is some calm – some sense of hope – some reminder that joy, love, light are still here.
When I took this photo, I was reminded of a lovely Celtic prayer based on the Caim (Gaelic – meaning a ‘circling’ / ‘enfolding’) used by early Celtic Christians, based on a prayer found in the Gethsemane Chapel, Wells Cathedral, England.
Still used by those who value its benefits of ‘protection’ or ‘sanctuary’), I remembered St. Brigid – one of Ireland’s patron saints. Presumed to have been an early Christian nun, abbess, and founder of several monasteries of nuns, it said that she often visited homes and farms to offer blessings of protection … “enfolding/circling” of homes and livestock.
This is the Celtic prayer known as the “Enfolding Prayer.”
“Encircle me this night with your presence. Keep joy within. Keep bitterness out. Keep generosity within. Keep greed out. Keep love within. Keep self-seeking out. Keep light within. Keep darkness out.”
I am praying this prayer each night and do a second verse … replacing “me” with specific focus: Americans, refugees, the world, etc..
May each of us do what we can to keep bitterness, greed, self-seeking, darkness “out” so that joy, generosity, love, and light may be kept “within”.
It’s difficult to be grateful ~ when going through a difficult time personally; ~ when politics seem to occupy the attention of news and social media; ~ when phones become a barrier to conversations between parents and children, between friends and are even a safety hazard as people walk across streets texting, eyes focused down rather than up and looking around to make certain it is safe to cross the street; ~ when health issues are frightening and compounded by financial costs for the medical care; ~ when you believed what someone told you only to realize the words and promises were lies and you/your family/country will pay dearly for believing in that person.
But when gratitude fills our hearts and minds, it fills our souls and we are changed. How?
Look closely at the this lovely piece of art by calligrapher and teacher Gerry Jackson Kerdok. When I saw this particular work of hers, it deeply touched my spirit. Look at the creative interplay of the “U” and “D” which form the shape of a heart … a gentle reminder of the importance of gratitude in our lives.
The artist – often overlooked, unappreciated, forgotten. May we join in gratitude for the artists in our world artists who can create magic with pen and ink, watercolour or acrylic or oil, wood carving knife, video camera, cell phone camera, flowers, fabric, food, music, dance, digital camera, writing, drama and the list goes on.
How impoverished our world would be without artists and without the finest Artist of all – the Creator of the Universe.
I will never forget the conversation. “You are so lucky to be a Canadian and living in Canada. We are terrified of what will happen with our country if Obama doesn’t get into the White House.”
The fear expressed at the time was palpable. I could feel it!
That was then. This is now. And today, another Presidential Inauguration.
This time, the fear is beyond palpable in the United States. It has spread far beyond the borders of the United States.
The world is watching and hopefully remembering a man who swayed the masses into believing that he … and only he … could make their country great again. He didn’t the first time. He won’t this time.
While the world seemed void of hope – then and the world seems void of hope – now nature and history provide Conduits of Hope: flowers growing in the desert … in cement … along a wooden fence Rosa Parks … Malala … Barack Obama and his election – twice! … Bishop Budde …
Strong reminders of tenacity, courage and hope.
Conduits of hope ARE around us.
May we look for Conduits of Hope.
May we see Conduits of Hope.
May we believe in Conduits of Hope.
May we be Conduits of Hope.
Photo: Laura Hope – Unsplash – used with permission
Are the kids / grandkids getting mischievous? restless? can’t wait for Santa? How about having them make some Dot Mandala tags? They’re easy and fun to make – look great on gifts, the Christmas trees and as a Jewish friend told me – on her Hanukkah bush. 🙂
Here’s how …
In a nutshell … the paint: acrylic paint (the stuff from the Dollar Store) … the ‘dot’ tools: can be special dot mandala tools which can be purchased on-line OR you can use the eraser end of pencils, embossing styluses, straight pins (if you’re doing really ‘fine’ work), dowels, different-size round brushes heads, etc. In other words, look around at your home/the Dollar Store and see what different things you have that will make different sized ‘dots’.
Get some black cardstock/watercolour paper (I like working on dark navy or black, but any colour background will work). This technique also works great on rocks, CD’s and records which are best first painted (acrylic) in a solid colour and then dried before dotting the surface.
Steps: The Dot Mandalas are made from creating a circle. Then divide it into various ‘even’ sections (quarters / eighths) and into smaller circles (if you want some guidelines) all using a white erasable pencil – white charcoal pencils work great as do tailor’s marking pencils.
Put a little bit of each acrylic paint colour you’re going to use in a small paint tray or on a dish. I like the idea of just using white on black for Christmas, but did do some with colour. To begin, put a dot in the centre of your circle and add dots working outwards. Remember to refresh your paint with each dot … change dot sizes and clean your tool/pencil end between each dot. If you want to make smaller “dots” in a line, don’t refresh your paint each time. The paint does the magic on its own. 🙂
A bit of a warning <g>, this can become addictive! But, it’s a very inexpensive art form with all sorts of possibilities (design / colour / original shape / turning into a handmade card).
I’ve found making Dot Mandalas to be a gentle meditative process. Hope you do, as well.
Somewhere this moment, there is a wee one, uttering a prayer for Two-Legged creatures she sees on her travels.
“O Creator-Of-Us-All, I pray for the Two-Legged creatures who foolishly ignore the signs that are all around. Signs which, if they aren’t acted upon, will result in even more damage to the environment.
Thee-Who-Is-Truth, I pray for those Two-Legged creatures who hear truth about climate change and yet choose to ignore it.
O Holy-One-Who-Celebrates-Life, I pray for wisdom and compassion for all in the Two-Legged world so the spread of untruths will be stopped and the devastation of this planet we share with them will come to an end.
Thee-Who-Loves-All-Creatures, I pray for unconditional love to move in the hearts of the Two-Legged creatures whose hearts are cold and whose minds are focused on selfish ways.
May this prayer be heard and may the Two-Legged ones exercise wisdom, compassion and kindness to us and to one another.
This day, this night, this moment … Creator … Holy One … Hearer of Whispered Concerns … Listener of Unspoken Fears … Gentle Bearer of Grief remind the Two-Legged creatures that this earth is sacred the waters are sacred the sky is sacred the animal, plant, fish, mammal, insect kingdoms are sacred and they, Two-Legged creatures are sacred.
This day, this night, Sacred Friend Who Loves Unconditionally, remind the Two-Legged creatures of your call to them to be good stewards of the lands, the skies, the waters, each other, and themselves.
And remind them that if they don’t change their ways they will not survive and neither will I.
