worship trick 99 - o donahue blessing

tallskinnykiwi got permission to blog a wonderful blessing from john o donohue that was used by gareth higgins at the celtic soliton sessions. like andrew i asked for a copy at the event because i was so struck by it but hadn't blogged it because i was unsure about permission so ht to andrew for getting permission to blog it. i am making it worship trick 99 in the second series, which means one to go before the second series is finished...

Beannacht ("Blessing") by John O’Donohue

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.

Comments

[cheryl]

'may the clay dance to balance you'
i've had that phrase running round my head all day. this blessing is wonderful.

[sally]

woderful!

[Elaine]

I took a funeral today of a local farmer and read these words at the graveside. One old gent, a farmer for 61 years on the N York moors came up to me with tears in his eyes, thanking me for the words. So thank you jonny for posting them and John O’Donohue for writing them

[Laura]

In America we're dealing with the tragic loss of 32 people in a horrible shooting at Virginia Tech University.

Yesterday I searched for music, an image or words to express the sadness, shock and surprise I was feeling and couldn't find them.

These words express my heart's prayer for those families who are grieving so much this week.

Thank you for posting them and especially thank you Mr. O'Donohue for writing them!