Carmina Gadelica
Carmina Gadelica
Carmina Gadelica
The Carmina Gadelica was a series of prayers, charms and invokations collected by Alexander Carmichael in the latter half of the nineteenth century. He collected them from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and the originals are all in Gaelic. The Carmina reflects the Christianity of Scotland, and the prayers make reference to Jesus, God, and Mary the Virgin, among other Biblical figures. However, many commentators have noted a "Celtic spirituality" in the Carmina, and this work makes up much of the Celtic Christian prayerbooks and whatnot on sale today. But I believe the Celtic spirituality stems from an earlier Pagan source, and certainly I can see a great many connections to our faith within the Carmina. With that in mind I have decided to adapt the Carmina for Pagan use, for ritual, prayer, meditation and just to enjoy the poetry. I have used the English versions provided by Carmichael - I cannot read Gaelic, unfortunately - and have adapted them for our use. If you would like to read the first book of the Carmina Gadelica, in Gaelic and English, it is available at the University of the Highlands and Islands website. To read the whole Carmina, you will have to either buy it or borrow it from a library, I'm afraid. The transcription and adaptation of the whole Carmina (which is my eventual aim) will take some time, so don't be surprised if this page looks a little scanty for a bit! A note on the use of these prayers for rituals. I have not pointed out how you can use these for rituals - that depends on how you work and how you would like to use them, I have just left them as prayers and charms. Please do feel free to adapt and change them as your rituals need them to be changed, and to do whatever you feel you should if using them in ritual work, or just in prayer. In some of the prayers you will find the names of the Gods of the Celtic pantheon - you can change these as you see fit, but I have included them because of the tradition these prayers come from. You will often see the names of Brigid and Ogma in these adaptations, because Brigid is the Goddess of poetry (among other things) and Ogma of literature, and are therefore the patrons of this work.
Prayer at Rising
Bless to me, O Goddess, Each thing mine eye sees; Bless to me, O Goddess, Each sound mine ear hears; Bless to me, O Goddess, Each odour that goes to my nostrils; Bless to me, O Goddess, Each taste that goes to my lips; Each note that goes to my song, Each ray that guides my way, Each thing that I pursue, Each lure that tempts my will, The zeal that seeks my living soul, The Threefold Lady that seeks my heart, The zeal that seeks my living soul, The Lady who seeks my heart.
Lady's Aid
Lady to enfold me, Lady to surround me, Lady in my speaking, Lady in my thinking. Lady in my sleeping, Lady in my waking,
Lady in my watching, Lady in my hoping. Lady in my life, Lady in my lips, Lady in my soul, Lady in my heart. Lady in my suffering, Lady in my slumber, Lady in mine ever-living soul, Lady in mine eternity.
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.
Morning Prayer
Bless to me, O Goddess, My soul and my body; Bless to me, O Goddess, My belief and my condition; Bless to me, O Goddess, My heart and my speech, And bless to me, O Goddess, The handling of my hand; Strength and busyness of morning, Habit and temper of modesty, Force and wisdom of thought, And Thine own path, O Lady of virtues, Till I go to sleep this night; Thine own path, O Lady of virtues, Till I go to sleep this night.
The Aiding
May Brigid shield me, May Danu shield me, May Ogma shield me, On sea and on land: To shield me from all anguish On sea and on land, To shield me from all anguish.
May the Maiden aid me, May the Mother aid me, May the Crone aid me, On sea and on land: In the shielding of the Summerland everlasting On sea and on land, In the shielding of the Summerland everlasting. May the Gods succour me, May the Gods follow me, May the Gods guide me, On sea and on land, To the Vine-garden of the godlike On sea and on land, To the Vine-garden of the godlike.
Work
Makes reference to the Celtic Gods. This would make an excellent circle casting ritual.
A Goddess bright in charge of the hearth, Till white day shall come to the embers.
Prayers (general)
This would equally do as well as a late-night prayer, or to open a circle with others.
Resting Prayer
Goddess shield the house, the fire, the kine, Every one who dwells herein to-night. Shield myself and my beloved group, Preserve us from violence and from harm; Preserve us from foes this night, For the sake of the love Thou hast for us, In this place, and in every place wherein we dwell to-night, On this night and on every night, This night and every night.
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!
DEL LIBRO I
Achaine
Invocations
1. Rann romh Urnuigh - Ta mi lubadh mo ghlun
Rune before Prayer - I am bending my knee
Love towards God, The affection of God, The smile of God, The wisdom of God. The grace of God, The fear of God, And the will of God To do on the world of the Three, As angels and saints Do in heaven; Each shade and light, Each day and night, Each time in kindness, Give Thou us Thy Spirit.
Nor one ray without Him. Christ with me sleeping, Christ with me waking, Christ with me watching, Every day and night, Each day and night. God with me protecting, The Lord with me directing, The Spirit with me strengthening, For ever and for evermore, Ever and evermore, Amen. Chief of chiefs, Amen.
Is dubh am bail ud thall, Is dubh na daoine th'ann, Is tu an eala dhonn, Ta dol a steach 'n an ceann.
Ta an cridhe fo do chonn, Ta an teanga fo do bhonn, 'S a chaoidh cha chan iad bonn Facail is oil leat. Is dubhar thu ri teas, Is seasgar thu ri fuachd, Is suilean thu dha'n dall, Is crann dh' an deoraidh thruagh, Is eilean thu air muir, Is cuisil thu air tir, Is fuaran thu am fasach, Is slaint dha'n ti tha tinn. Is tu gleus na Mnatha Sithe, Is tu beus na Bride bithe, Is tu creud na Moire mine, Is tu gniomh na mnatha Grg, Is tu sgeimh na h-Eimir aluinn, Is tu mein na Dearshul agha, Is tu meanm na Meabha laidir, Is tu taladh Binne-bheul. Is tu sonas gach ni eibhinn, Is tu solus gath na greine, Is tu dorus flath na feile, Is tu corra reul an iuil, Is tu ceum feidh nan ardu, Is tu ceum steud nam blaru, Is tu seimh eal an t-snamhu, Is tu ailleagan gach run.
Cruth aluinn an Domhnuich Ann do ghnuis ghlain, An cruth is ailinde Bha air talamh. An trath is fearr's an latha duit, An la is fearr's an t-seachdain duit, An t-seachdain is fearr's a bhliadhna duit, A bhliadhn is fearr an domban Mhic De duit. Thainig Peadail's thainig Pol,
Thainig Seumas's thainig Eoin, Thainig Muiril is Muir Oigh, Thainig Uiril uile chorr, Thainig Airil aill nan og, Thainig Gabriel fadh na h-Oigh, Thainig Raphail flath nan seod, 'S thainig Micheal mil air sloigh, Thainig's Iosa Criosda ciuin, Thainig's Spiorad fior an iuil, Thainig's Righ nan righ air stiuir, A bhaireadh duit-se graidh is ruin, A bhaireadh duit-se graidh is ruin.
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.
A GENERAL SUPPLICATION
God, Listen to my prayer Bend to me Thine ear, Let my supplications and my prayers Ascend to Thee upwards, Come, Thou King of Glory, To protect me down, Thou King of life and mercy With the aid of the Lamb, Thou Son of Mary Virgin To protect me with power, Thou Son of the lovely Mary Of purest fairest beauty.
Tabhair mathanas duinn, Amen. Tabhair mathanas duinn, Amen. Tabhair duinn do mhathanas fein A Dhe mheinich nan dul, Amen. Ni sam bith is dona duinn, No thogas fianuis 'n ar n-aghaidh Far am faide am bi sinn, Suabharaich thus oirnn e, Duabharaich thus oirnn e, Fuadaich fein uainn e, Agus ruaig as ar cridheachan, Duthainn, suthainn, sior, Duthainn, suthainn, sior.
Amen.
GOD BE WITH US
God be with us On this Thy day, Amen. [God be with us On this Thy night, Amen.] To us and with us, On this Thy day, Amen. [To us and with us, On this Thy night, Amen.] It is clear to be seen of us, Since we came into the world, That we have deserved Thy wrath, Amen. O Thine own wrath, Thou God of all, Amen. Grant us forgiveness, Amen.
Grant us forgiveness, Amen. Grant to us Thine own forgiveness, Thou merciful God of all, Amen. Anything that is evil to us, Or that may witness against us Where we shall longest be, Illume it to us, Obscure it to us, Banish it from us, Root it out of our hearts, Ever, evermore, everlastingly. Ever, evermore, everlastingly. Amen.
Ann an sith, ann am lois, ann an reit, Far nach silear an deur, far nach eugar ni's mo. Far nach silear an deur, far nach eugar ni's mo.
Now to the Holy Spirit, Comforter of might : Shield and sain us from every wound; Be about the beginning and end of our race, Be giving us to sing in glory, In peace, in rest, in reconciliation, Where no tear shall be shed, where death comes no more. Where no tear shall be shed, where death comes no more.
UIRNIGH [8]
A Dhia, ann mo ghniamh Ann mo ghniamh, Ann mo bhriathar, Ann mo mhiann, Ann mo chiall, Ann an riarachd mo chail, Ann mo shuain, Ann mo bhruail, Ann mo chluain, Ann mo smuain, Ann mo chridh agus m'anam a ghnath, Biodh an Oigh bheannaichte, Moire, Agus Ogan geallaidh na glorach a tamh, O ann mo chridh agus m'anam a ghnath, Biodh an Oigh bheannaichte, Moire, Agus Ogan cubhraidh na glorach a tamh.
A PRAYER
O God In my deeds, In my words, In my wishes, In my reason, And in the fulfilling of my desires, In my sleep, In my dreams, In my repose, In my thoughts, In my heart and soul always, May the blessed Virgin Mary, And the promised Branch of Glory dwell,
Oh! in my heart and soul always, May the blessed Virgin Mary, And the fragrant Branch of Glory dwell.
Aimsire
Seasons
55. Nuall Nollaig - Ho Ri, ho Ri
Christmas Hail - Hail to the King, hail to the King
64. Cairioll Callaig - Nis tha mis air tighinn dh' ur duthaich
Hogmanay Carol - I am now come to your country
Oibre
Labour
82. Beannachadh Beothachaidh - Togaidh mi mo theine an diugh
Blessing of the Kindling - I will kindle my fire this morning