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
Many have been, are, experiencing sleepless nights.
– When COVID 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 has brought dramatic discussions about climate-refugees.
– 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.
– As prices rise due to tariffs, countless are deeply concerned about their savings, health care for themselves/their families, and fear about the future if democracy coming to an end.
– People “take sides,” alienating people in neighbourhoods, worship, work, community groups/organizations, families.
Worry, stress and global tension are having a serious negative effect on sleep patterns.
We need sleep – 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.
*********** Calligraphy: George Simpson Poet: 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. Zentangled Shamrocks: are part of a series of zentangled images for my indoor seasonal tree. January had stars for Epiphany; February had hearts for Valentine’s Day; March has shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day; April will have butterflies for Easter – and the fun will continue as I remember to play and create in some way, in spite of DJT and the evil wrought by him and his minions.
“May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back.” Traditional Irish Blessing
In many parts of the world, tomorrow marks the beginning of a six-week period called the Season of Lent … a time of introspection – of “slowing down and taking stock.”
The Season of Lent is not signalling an end to the war in Ukraine or a recognition that very bad decisions, impacting the lives of countless lives are being made. But it can be an opportunity of metanoia. For those who observe the Season of Lent, many follow the practice of “giving something up” for Lent (meat, candy, chocolate, liquor etc), I’ve never liked that perspective. Instead, I choose to “put on” instead … put on love.
But why only for those who observe the Season of Lent? Why not everyone?
These are difficult times. It’s not unusual for people to be frightened, scared, terrified. It’s not unusual that negativity quickly spreads.
Over the years, many words have been used as metaphors for love. My metaphor for love this year is ‘baby stroller’. Yes, it’s a surprising metaphor, but this photo of a train station in Poland shows baby strollers left by Polish moms for Ukrainian moms escaping the war in Ukraine with babies in their arms. The Polish moms “gave -up” the convenience of the stroller for their own child and “put on” love – for people they didn’t even know.
For the Forty Days and Nights of the Season of Lent, I won’t be ignoring the reality of the political chaos. But when I speak-up-and-out about injustice, cruelty, evil, I’ll find a way to “even-the-playing-field”, in some way. Metanoia!
Some days, it seems as if the “rising-waters-of-life” are too much, and there’s nothing we can do.
I remember one such time well. My place of employment was vandalized – again. This time, the vandals pushed a hose through the window of the bathroom in my office, turned on the faucet and disappeared. I wasn’t in the office when it happened but came back in, moments later as the water poured into my office. I could feel the stress rising within me.
That experience has become an apt image for me over the years of those “rising-waters-of-life” times when exterior circumstances are such that I feel flooded-with-stress.
What about you? Can you relate to an experience – in the past? What about now?
Are the personal ‘waters of your life’ rising? Are personal stressors of health, finances, relationships, pummelling your emotional inner shores? Is anger, depression, exhaustion, grief, worry about your future/that of a loved one, further pounding your emotions? Distress robs us of living life to the fullest. Distress denies us the opportunity to be whole in body, mind and spirit.
If we were honest, we would admit that some personal distresswaters can be avoided if we paid attention to our bodies, minds and souls in particular ways like caring for our bodies: driving carefully, eating sensibly, getting adequate amounts of rest, having regular dentist and doctor check-ups, following doctor’s advice, not worrying while waiting for results of medical tests; exercising our minds: reading books, listening to various kinds of music, playing an instrument, developing a hobby, learning a new language; nourishing our souls: savouring the beauty of the world around us; being humbled by the awareness of the gift of our life; being appreciative of, and thankful for, the blessings around us, sitting still and be-ing.
What about the corporate distress waters that are rising quickly these days – global stressors of politics, terrorism, lack of access to clean water, fresh air, food, housing, medical/dental care? What about the rising waters of dictators, autocrats, loss of democracy?
Are any of these corporate distress waters flooding your thoughts and bringing about sleepless nights?
Some would say that little can be done about corporate distress. But, perhaps, there are things — when elections happen, we can … exercise our right to vote at each election (municipal, provincial/state, national/federal) and cast our ballot for the candidates we think will make a positive difference in the environment, legal system, health care, educational system, security, environment etc. The United States has just had their election for the head of their country. Canada will have their election in October 2025. In general, we can … become involved in local communities and volunteer time to organizations which work so faithfully at inculcating morals and values; work with and care for our youth, the elderly, the unemployed, the single parent families, the abused, the victimized, the homeless, the hungry, the mentally ill, the addicted, etc.
We can pray – however we understand that word – pray that the evil (for there is evil in the world) doesn’t overwhelm us, infiltrate the hearts and minds of our youth, contaminate politicians, corporations and institutions any further … pray that goodness will reign; hope will be experienced; inner joy will permeate each woman, child, man, youth; wisdom will be respected; and peace, not conflict or war, will be the mandate of all governments and societies.
And we can share with another – be that a trusted friend, colleague, mentor, counsellor, loved one … and give the fear a voice so that it no longer is trapped within us.
Yes, let’s name the “rising waters of life” that frighten, numb, shock. “Naming” our feelings, our reactions … whether large or small, big or little distress, there IS something we can do to reduce the impact in our daily living of the rising-waters-of-nature/personal concerns/corporate concerns to hopefully will help us rise above the rising waters. May it be so.
Ukraine. Say the name of the country and a variety of images flood our brain … images of fear, protest and terrifying disastrous situations of people running for their lives … crying children with addresses/phone numbers written on their hands or piece of paper as they cross the border out of Ukraine on their own … buildings in ruin … poignant farewells at train stations … soldiers fighting in snow and cold without food or sufficient military equipment … exhausted medical / first responder personnel remaining with patients as missiles attack hospitals, ambulances, firetrucks/stations … ordinary people defending their cities at great risk to themselves … hungry people … desperate people of all ages and situations. Ukraine is at war.
But then come images of hope and healing and support from within Ukraine and around the world … nations place sanctions on the oppressor, Russia … musicians, actors, dancers play their instruments, sing their songs, dance their dances, act their plays in the middle of Ukraine’s streets and give hope … artists on social media create art using Ukraine’s national flower (sunflower), the national colours of the country (blue/yellow), adding touches of green in solidarity with courageous Russian dissidents who, risking arrest (and worse), are protesting the war by tying green ribbons in public places as a sign of resistance because they refuse to be silenced about their government’s invasion and war on Ukraine. Not all Russians are supportive of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Around the world, people are … contributing to fund raisers and responsible charitable organizations who quickly are getting the money to Ukraine and helping those in need … travelling to Europe to bring medical supplies, fight in the war as soldiers / medical personnel / first responders / cooks / delivery persons / chaplains … making Air B&B bookings in Ukraine, even though they have no intention of using the bookings … purchasing from Ukrainian artists and craftspersons on Etsy, knowing they won’t receive the item (unless it’s downloadable).
Ukrainian customs and symbols are becoming known throughout the world as people of all ages … learn to cook Ukrainian (borscht, varenyky, piroshki, holubtsi, deruni, nalesniki, syrniki) … make/wear the lovely Ukrainian embroidered shirts (vyshyvankas) … discover the colourful Petrykivka (Ukrainian folk / ornamental) painting
A number of years ago, our little art group learned how to make Pysanky (Ukrainian Eggs). I enjoyed the process then and, wanting to ‘connect’ with the people of Ukraine and the Russian dissenters now, began to create paper Pysanky-inspired eggs using the Ukrainian national colours of yellow and blue with a touch of the green for the Russian dissenters.
As the piece began to emerge, it not only became a ‘connection’ with those people, but ‘Tangible Prayer’ for me.
I’ve always thought of the arts as a way of expressing a sense of spirituality, but until working on this piece, never quite realized the the depth of that connection. Each dance, each song, each sculpture, each meal, each arrangement of flowers in the garden or in a vase, each structural design, each craft, each work of art can raise spirits, give hope, put a smile on a face, joy in the heart of others, whether or not the artist believes in prayer or understands themselves to be at prayer when they create. Creativity = Spirituality = Soulistry (SOUL artISTRY)
When I create in the garden, kitchen, Studio, wherever, I try to create as a prayerful act but don’t always make that connection between creativity and spirituality.
Working on this piece helped me remember that when I create (as a conscious act of prayer or not), whatever it is I create, I am connected with others (e.g. the recipient, Mother Nature).
In so doing, I am praying … not always conscious … not always intentional .. but clearly tangible. “Tangible Prayer.”
