Why I love Irish blessings (and poetry)

Beannacht

On the day when
the weight deadens
on your shoulders
and you stumble,
may the clay dance
to balance you.

 

And when your eyes
freeze behind
the grey window
and the ghost of loss
gets in to you,
may a flock of colours,
indigo, red, green,
and azure blue
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight.

 

When the canvas frays
in the currach of thought
and a stain of ocean
blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters
a path of yellow moonlight
to bring you safely home.

 

May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.

John O'Donohue

Listen to O'Donohue reading this poem here.

Listen to an interview with him here.

Gus and Izzy

A sweet little boy in the fourth grade who lives in our community is very sick. Please pray for him, send him healing thoughts, acknowledge the abundance of the universe for Gus.

My dear friend Erika of The flight of our Hummingbird has a little girl, Izzy, who is also struggling but with persistent seizures. She is in the hospital fighting them. I hope you'll send good thoughts and healing prayers her way, too.

To Gus and Izzy and their beautiful families

May the long time sun shine upon you

May all love surround you

And the clear light within you

Guide you on.

-- Irish Blessing