Common Prayer/Service
Chríost é mo Dhraoi, ar imram mo chroí
Christ is my Druid, on the voyage of my heart.
In the mystical Christianity of the Isles, the monks and saints of Ireland and Scotland — following figures like Colum Cille (St. Columba) — practiced a contemplative life rooted in both faith and the imagination of the natural world. Just as the Desert Fathers developed hesychasm, finding God through stillness and repetitive prayer, the Jesus Prayer — A Thiarna Íosa Críost, Mac Dé, bí trócaire orm, peacaí-- “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner” — became a rhythmic, meditative path for constant awareness of God’s presence.
Chríost é mo Dhraoi, ar imram mo chroí serves as a Celtic companion to the Jesus Prayer. Like the original, it uses repetition and inner focus to align heart, breath, and soul with the Divine. But here, Christ is the Druid-guide, and the heart itself becomes the vessel of a sacred voyage — a uniquely Celtic expression of contemplative devotion.
It is a Celtic Hesychasm: Christ as our guide, our heart as the coracle, our life as the sacred voyage.
*The Jesus prayer:
A Thighearna Ìosa, Mhic an Dé bhìo
Dèan tròcair orm, nam pheacach seo
O Lord Jesus, Son of the Living God
Have mercy on me, a sinner here
*Ar nAthair / Our Father
Ar n-athair a tha air nèamh:
gu naomhaichear d'ainm.
Thigeadh do rìoghachd.
Dèantar do thoil air an talamh,
mar a nithear air nèamh.
Tabhair dhuinn an ar fiachan,
amhuil mar a mhaitheas sinne d'ar luchd-fiach.
Agus na leig am buaireadh sinn,
ach saor sinn o olc.
Oir is leatsa an rioghachd
agus an cumhachd agus
a'ghòir gu siorruidh.
*Naoimh Mhaire / Hail Mary
Fàilte dhut a Mhoire,
tha thu làn de na gràsan caomh;
Tha an Tighearna Dia maille riut. A gna
Is beannaichte thu mhaire am measg nam mnà,
agus is beannaichte toradh do bhronn, Ìosa.
A Naoimh Mhoire, Mhàthair Dhé,
guidh air ar mo son-se na peacaich truais
Nios agus aig uair mo bhàis.
Nios agus aig ur mo bhais
Amhain
Crossing
A subject that has sparked debate, even among Christian sects, the crossing of oneself carries layers of history and meaning. In truth, it is more properly a Constantinian custom than an originally Christian one. The earliest followers of the Rabbi of Nazareth would likely have taken exception to commemorating His crucifixion rather than His resurrection or teachings. Yet it was by that very sign that Constantine claimed victory, and through it, the memory of that great sacrifice now guards against darkness and compels the light to triumph.
Across centuries, this gesture has grown manifold in form and interpretation. Here, I offer a version informed by Roman and Orthodox practices, enriched with Crowlian wisdom, retaining the integrity of custom while honoring the Goddess, the Theotokos, in her full divinity. Masculine-biased vagaries are pruned, and the practice is now fully inclusive, allowing all practitioners to cross in harmony with the natural and spiritual order.
Invocation & Gesture
All glory to thine eternal merit:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
(Re-Cross, or make the sign of the triskelion)
By Maiden, Mother, and Holy Crone
As I will, so be it done
(Kiss your trinity: thumb, forefinger, and middle finger; touch your heart; blow a kiss to the universe; or cup your hands as a mountain valley or prayer bowl.)
Crossing Patterns
Once crossing:
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Mother
Twice crossing:
-
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
-
In the name of the Maiden, Mother, and Holy Crone
Optional Morrigan Invocation
The crossing may also accompany the opening lines of the Morrigan’s prophecy:
Sidh gu naomh — Peace to the heavens
Naomh gu domhan — Heavens to the Earth
Domhan fo naomh — Earth beneath Heaven
-
Option A: Father / Mother / Holy Child or Spirit
-
Option B: Sidh gu naomh / Naomh gu domhan / Domhan fo naomh
This integration honors both the Christian and the Celtic sacred frameworks, weaving them into a gesture that is protective, empowering, and fully aligned with the natural and spiritual cosmos.
A’ losgadh fumach
Lighting incense
Mo anail anns na nèamhan a’ dearbhadh
My breath in the heavens bears witness
mo ùrnaighean is gnìomhan a thèid an seo fon talamh.
to my prayers and deeds done here below.
Gun oidhirp sinn daonnan dèanamh anns an saoghal nan trì
May we always strive to do in the world of the three
mar a nì na aingeal, na naomh, agus na gaisgich
as the angels, saints, and heroes do
Anns na tallaibh nèamhaidh glòirmhara sin.
In those heavenly halls of glory.
Uile airson ur buannachd shìorraidh
All for the sake of thine eternal merit
Athair, Mac, agus Spiorad Naomh
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Le nighean, Màthair, agus Seanbhean Naomh
By maiden, Mother, and Holy Crone
Mar a tha mi ag iarraidh, mar sin bi e.
As I will, so be it done.
*Fire Kindling song:
Togaigh mi mo teine and diugh I will kindle my fire this morning
fo suil Bride agus am Tuatha de Dannan
Beneath the eyes of Bridget and the Tuatha de Dannan
Brighid fhaodhaid fhein ann mo chridh steach Bridget kindle in my innermost heart
Aingheal graidh 'na m'chomhearsnach A flame of love for my neighbour
Do m'namh, do m'dhamh, do m' chairde To my foe, to my friend, to my kindred all
Do 'n t-saoidh, do m'damh, do n'traille to the brave, to the knave, to the thrall
Gun gnu, gun tnu, gun fharmaid Without malice, without jealousy, without envy
Gun ghiobh, gun ghabh, roimh neach air an talamh Without fear, without terror of anyone
(Fo suil am Greine)x2 (under the sun)x2