#an irish prayer

[tamburnbindery]

Finished up the Lorica of St. Patrick, a re-working of an earlier design I did. 16" x 20"

[cockroachesunite]

Priorities

[ceo-draiochta]

Forgive me if this is a foolish question, but would you happen to know if there’s any sources out there on historical prayer behaviors? IE body position, gestures, etc. I don’t come from a religious background, so I struggle to know to go about praying even when I know what I want to say

Gestures and actions during Irish/Gaelic Pagan prayer.

This is not a foolish question at all! In fact it is a great one. Honestly finding the right words is the hardest part. There is little in the way of documented proof of how pre christian Gaels prayed so reconstruction is necessary. This makes it tricky to find authentic sources, thankfully there is a few practice's we can reconstruct with a lot of certainty. (Sources in bracketed links)

Clockwise/Deiseal movement The act of moving in a circle in a clockwise direction (deiseal) is frequently seen to be auspicious and is used in many Irish Christian rituals. Many of these practices are still done today, especially at holy wells or other pilgrimage sites such at the various stations on Croagh Patrick (link). The opposite of this is anti-clockwise or Tuathal is frequently used in curses. This is a recurring theme throughout Irish and Scottish folklore and has been argued to be partially of a pre Christian origin(Link to book containing a chapter on the topic specifically chapter 10)

This is usually done at Holy Wells while doing the rosary. The well itself or an object near it like a statue, rock or tree is encircled by the worshiper usually 3 or 7 times while reciting the rosary. (link)(link)(link). And is a still living practice.

This clockwise movement was also used in medieval rituals, with supposedly in the Book of Fenagh, an inauguration ritual is described where a bell shrine was walked around a king and his solders clockwise. (in book chapter 10).

The use of the word deiseal and its association with blessing led it in the past to be an equivalent to "bless you" after a sneeze. (link). The sunwise or clockwise direction is synonymous with blessings.

Head down, eyes up The Carmina Gadelica contains a number of prayers from gaelic scotland. Many of which follow a standard christian practice and just as many are situational in nature like to be said while washing ones hands, however certain ones stand out as being representative of a greater traditions of actions due to their unusualness.

References to raising ones eyes (link) and leaving the palms open and outstretched are mentioned (link page 290)

Both women and men were said to curtsey with men doing a bowing motion much like a curtsey in that it involved the bending of the left knee to the side and the right one straight as a show of respect (link)

To summarise with a quote:

"So the lifting of hands, raising of the eyes, and the bowing of the head are all actions that could be done during our prayers. In raising our hands we show a gesture of giving, just as we ‘give’ prayers of thanks, or blessing, or whatever other purpose we might be praying for, especially since there seems to be a since that we’re meant to raise the palms up to the sky (or moon, more to the point) instead of simply holding our hands out, palms up. It’s less a gesture that might suggest we’re asking for a handout than it gives a sense that we’re reaching out." -An Introduction To Gaelic Polytheism by Marissa Hegarty

Curse pose While not involved with worship, poets when preforming a satire, often magical in nature were said to stand on one foot, with one eye closed, holding up one hand, and sometimes speaking with one breath. This seems to specifically used for cursing however.

What to incorporate into your pagan practice I would then recommend that while praying, walking in a circle in a clockwise direction with a bowed head, eyes up, while holding out your hands with the palms skyward would be appropriate. I like to have one hand over the other. After the prayer has concluded a curtsey should be done.

If anyone else has anything to add please do so with what gestures and actions you take during prayers. I hope this answers your question and that it was at all helpful.

[littleflowerfaith]

By Eva McKee

[thatsrightice]

We had a month's training in Boise, Idaho, a month in Wendover, Utah, and a month in Sioux City, lowa. Either because our training was inadequate or because I was not fitted for the job, I had little reason to develop confidence about my ability as a navigator. On Christmas Eve, 1942, our plane took off from Wendover, Utah, the weather closed in, our gas ran out, and we crash-landed in the snowy mountains of western Wyoming. No one was hurt, testimony to the high skill of John Brady.

When a woman saw the smashed plane, she asked, "Which of you is the Scot?"

"I am Scotch-Irish," I said. "Will that do?"

"Yes," she said. "Scots are lucky. That's why none of you got killed.”

Later she gave me a sprig of Scotch heather and said, "Keep this and you will always be lucky."

I wish that the woman-her husband was vice president of the bank of Evanston, Wyoming-gave the rest of the crew a good luck charm.

— Harry Crosby in his memoir, A Wing and a Prayer

[champagnexowishes]

[raven-runes]

Brigid, 

May my forge be fed by your flame,

May my quill be guided by your spark,

May my flesh be healed by your embers.

May the harsh winter give birth to a fertile spring and a calmer earth, may your sun shine on the struggles and acts of solidarity that are preparing the world of tomorrow.

[fernthewhimsical]

Prayer to Brighid

You who breathes innovation, and ignites that spark within us You who forges with steel, as well as with words You who kindles the fires, and stokes our passions high Brighid, Lady of the Amber Forge, I honour you.

[theludicwitch]

I'm doing a lunar ritual tonight and then on Samhain my family (who doesn't practice) and I are going to make a big dinner of beef stew, molasses bread, mulled apple cider, and soul cakes.

My family is very celtic and to start traditions like this means the world to me. We already do some Irish things that we've done since my great grandma came from Ireland (like my mom's shepards pie recipe handed down from my grandma or black eyed peas eaten on new years)

After the food festivities I plan on doing tarot with my sister or working on developing my claircognizance.

With all that being said I hope some of these things inspires you to pre-plan for Samhain too! Merry Samhain and Happy Halloween!

[juniper-divination-and-witchery]

The new moon in Irish folk traditions

Photo by Lenstravelier on Unsplash

In Irish folk practices, the new moon (gealach úr in Irish) is seen as a time for setting intentions and ensuring your luck until the next new moon. What you do on the night of the new moon sets the tone for that lunar cycle.

Many of these customs are based on what you are doing when you first see the new moon so I feel it’s important to note that the Irish counted the dark moon (when no moon is visible in the sky) as its own phase, and the new moon would have been when the moon first became visible again.

The sources for these practices are all from The School’s Collection and they come from all over Ireland. They were collected by school children in the 1930s, who were tasked with interviewing their parents, grandparents, and neighbors for what folklore and customs they remembered from their childhoods. While these practices often reference Catholicism, they can also give us clues to former Pagan practices.

Growth and good luck

Whatever you are holding when you first see the new moon, you will have more of that by the next new moon (source 1, 2)

Planting at the new moon ensures growth for crops (source 1, 2)

If you have coins in your pocket when you see the new moon, turn them sunwise (east to west) three times to bring you wealth over the coming month, although in some sources it is enough just to hold or shake the coins (source 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Or you can turn whatever you have in your pocket and make a wish (source)

Or just make a wish! (source)

It was considered unlucky

To view the new moon, especially for the first time, through a mirror or glass (source 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

To view the new moon over your shoulder (source)

Unless it’s your left shoulder (source)

But the right shoulder is definitely unlucky (source 1, 2)

New moons on Saturdays are considered generally unlucky (source 1, 2)

It is unlucky to have the new moon pointed out to you by someone else (source)

Other new moon folklore

If you turn your coat inside out when you see a new moon you will have a new coat before the next new moon. source

When you see the new moon for the 1st time you should bless yourself and turn some of your clothing inside out and you will get a present. source

If you make the sign of the cross when you see the new moon you will never have a toothache. source

There is also tons of weather divination done with the moon in Irish culture. The most common piece of lore about the new moon is that if the new moon appears on its back, it means bad weather (source 1, 2), or sometimes it means a wet month. (source)

Traditional prayer upon seeing the new moon

Almost all new moon prayers start with the following stanza

I see the moon And the moon sees me God bless the moon And God bless me.

it is sometimes extended with

Grace in the kitchen, Grace in the hall. May the grace of God, Be about us all.

or

There's light in the cottage, There's light in the hall. And the glory of God, Is over us all.

(sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

In several sources it is stated that the prayer should be done on the knees, in others kneeling isn’t mentioned.

Learn more

This post just scratching the surface of some of the most popular new moon practices in Ireland. If you're interested in learning more, I can't recommend Duchas.ie enough! The Irish Pagan School is also an amazing resource and has a course all about the moon in Irish traditions.

[apenitentialprayer]

Left: detail of Adam und Eva mit Kain und Abel, by Princess Louise Hollandine, circa 1660. Right: Eve and Four Children, by Jan Mostaert, circa 1520.

The peace of God on the children of Eve. Síoth Dé ar shíol Éabha.

an Irish prayer for the Sign of Peace at Mass, trans. Desmond Forristal

[tamburnbindery]

Some detail shots of the Lorica of St. Patrick. This is now available as a 16" x 20" print on the Tamburn Bindery Etsy shop: https://tamburnbindery.etsy.com

[lockwood-metaphysical]

The Morrigan Prayer Beads are live!

See my pinned post for the link!

[trantheist]

Brigid shrine with offerings and prayer beads

[blackcrowing]

I have been trying to start praying to the old gods but with no guidelines I don't know what to do while praying. What do Irish reconstructionists do physically while praying?

Good question!

Personally, I do nothing. I have an incredibly casual relationship with the deities I work with (I don't often approach others, though occasionally I run into them for one reason or another) so I simply... have a conversation with them.

But @ceo-draiochta made a VERY excellent post not too long ago discussing this exact thing and I found the idea of the palms up gesture very interesting and have considered implementing it when I preform any formal prayers.

Not exactly prayer related but I also often use the circling clockwise 3 times gesture when preforming a blessing or something of that verity

[polyteleology]

Grief Blessing

Brighid of Keening, let me feel the waves of emotions. comfort me when my heart aches, join me when recalling happy memories. Brighid of the Seasons, sow seeds of hope when I need light, aid me in growing a bright future, help me to take stock of the things I harvest, give me rest when I tire in the darkest of days. Brighid of Healing, ease my mind and my soul. Brighid of Smithcraft, strengthen my mind to persevere. Brighid of Poetry, inspire me to beauty when I may not see it. As it was, as it is, as it shall ever be.

--Ashli Hall