Prayers for Lughnasa

Prayers for Lughnasa based on the Carmina Gadelica

Reaping Blessing 90

On Tuesday at the rise of the sun,
With the back of the ear of corn to the east,
I will go forth with my sickle under my arm,
And I will reap the harvest of my land.

I will let my sickle down
While the fruitful ear is in my grasp,
I will raise my eye upwards,
I will turn on my heel quickly,

Rightway as travels the sun
From the airt of the east to the west,
From the airt of the north with motion calm
To the very core of the airt of the south.

I will give thanks to the Gods who bless me
For the growing crops of the ground,
Who give food to us and to the flocks

And I will offer the first of my harvest to them
 - excerpted from By Land, Sea, and Sky

Reaping Blessing 90, Alternate

On Lughnasa at the rise of the sun,
With the sun rising, warm, in the east,
I will go forth into the morning light,
And I will reap the harvest I have sown.

I will stand under the open sky
With the fruitful earth all around me,
I will raise my eye upwards,
I will turn on my heel quickly,

Rightway as travels the sun
From the airt of the east to the west,
From the airt of the north with motion calm
To the very core of the airt of the south.

I will give thanks to the Gods who bless me
For the growing crops of the ground,
Who give food to us and to the flocks

I will give thanks to the Gods who bless me

For the harvest that flourishes in my life

Whatever that harvest may be

And I will offer to them, sharing what I have

Prayers to Badb

Invocation to Badb
Badb, daughter of Ernmas
Hooded Crow of Battle
Sister of Macha and the Morrigan
I call to you
Wife of Net, God of Warfare
Bringer of Madness
Washer at the Ford
I call to you
Badb of the Tuatha De Danann
I call to you

Prayer to Badb for Answers
Badb, who sees what has not yet come to pass
Who spoke the great prophecy when the battle
Between the Tuatha De and the Fomorans ended
Who spoke of both great peace and an end to all
Help me now to see what I need to see
To find the answer to the question I have
Open the way for me to recieve my answer


Prayer to Badb before Prophecying
Badb Goddess of prophecy
May I see the past and the future
May I know the Truth of what is
May I find what I seek, and speak it
Badb, open the way for me
To see, to know, to speak
To prophecy of what was and
What is, and what will be
Badb, Goddess of prophecy
May it be so

Prayers to Nuada Airgetlam

Prayer to be a Wise Leader
Nuada of the Silver Hand
Twice-King of the Tuatha De
Help me find the wisdom
To be a wise leader in my life
May I see the greater pattern
May I know the greater good
May I act decisively and well
Help me to see when to lead
And when to follow
Nuada, Guide me in wisdom

Prayer for Resilience
Nuada, who lost an arm in battle
Who bled and suffered
and returned the next day
To fight again, one-armed,
May I find the strength within
To overcome my own obstacles
May I find the strength of will
To keep fighting against all odds
May I find the strength within
To turn my pain to power

Invocation of Nuada*
I call to Nuada of the Silver Arm
King of the Tuatha De Danann
He of the Sword of Findias,
He of the hawk, hound, and salmon,
He of Slievenamon,
God of the healing waters,
God of the hidden sidhe,
God of the rushing host,
Lord of battle,
Lord of victory,
Lord of justice,
relentless, powerful, wise,
I call to Nuada Airgetlamh
King of the Tuatha De Danann



*This invocation is based on accepting the theory that Nuada is linked to Nodens as well as Nechtan

A Swan Omen Charm

This omen deals with swans, birds that are seen as omens of very good luck, and who are also not what they seem but may be Otherworldly beings. The charm is interesting in that it also mentions specific timing not only in the day of the week but also of the day itself. Based on this and similar mentions in previous omen charms it seems clear that dawn was seen as a time that was particularly good for divination.

Omen of the Swans 205

I heard the sweet voice of the swans,
At the parting of night and day,
Calling on the wings of travel,
     Pouring forth their strength on high.

I quickly stood still, I made no move,
And looked to see their flight.
Who was guiding in front?
     The queen of luck, the white swan.

Should you see a swan on Friday,
In the joyous morning dawn,
There shall be increase for your means and your kin,
     And your flocks shall be always flourishing.

 Excerpt from By Land, Sea, and Sky

Prayers to the Morrigan

  So for the last several weeks I have been engaged in an effort to learn more about and honor Morrigu. As part of this effort I have made a small shrine to her and have been making regular offerings; I have also been meditating regularly on her. The other day after I had spent some time in the morning reflecting on the Morrigan and how she, as a Goddess of battle, fits into my modern life I found myself inspired to write a series of prayers to her, which I would like to share here.
 

  Prayer to the Morrigan for Blessing
Morrigan, battle Queen,
Give me the gift of relentlessness
That I might turn and turn and return
Let my will be like
An eel, a wolf, a hornless heifer,
An old woman seeking blessing
To turn my enemies' blows to healing
May I be strong in serving my purpose
Sharp as a blade's edge
Wise as the crow who sees
The entire battlefield from above
Bless me, Queen of Phantoms,
With all these qualities
In your name and in your service

Invocation of Morrigu
I call to you,
Daughter of Ernmas,
Sister of battle and sovereignty,
I call to you
Goddess of war-craft,
victory, and death
I call to you Great Queen
Morrigu, Lady of Phantoms
Be with me now

Prayer to the Morrigan for Protection
Great Goddess, Morrigan
May your strong shield be between
myself and all harm and danger
May your sharp sword be between
myself and all who would attack me
May your magical skill be between
myself and all ill-will and ill-wishing
Morrigan, Great Goddess
May your protection be on me
  today, tomorrow, and forever
   today, tomorrow, and forever

Song to the Morrigan
Queen of Phantoms,
Blood soaked earth
and rushing river ford
are your domain
Your gifts are madness,
death, and battle-frenzy
You appear, dancing
from sword point
to shield rim,
I sing to you with
a crow's voice, shrieking
I sing to you with
strength and anger

Queen of Nightmares
The joining of rivers
and deep delving caves
are your domain
Your gifts are prophecy,
destruction, or victory
You appear, washing
the clothes of the doomed,
red with gore,
I sing to you with
a voice of blood, crimson
I sing to you with
pain and sorrow

Great Queen
The boiling whirlpool
and fertile field
are your domain
Your gifts are sovereignty,
success, and victory
You appear, offering
your blessing to those
willing to pay the price
I sing to you with
a wolf's voice, howling
I sing to you with
passion and purpose

Copyright Morgan Daimler, 2013

Omen Charms

Omens based on birds and animals are widespread in Celtic belief. The following charms list omens of luck for the coming year relying on hearing or seeing specific animals. If we study this information we can learn details of what animals and what actions by certain animals were seen as bad omens.

Omen 203

Early on a Monday morning,
I heard the bleating of a lamb,
And the kid-like cry of snipe,
While I was gently sitting,
And the grey-blue cuckoo,
And no food yet in my stomach.
On the fair evening of Tuesday,
I saw on the smooth stone,
The snail slimy, pale,
And the ashy wheatear
Near the stream,
The foal of the old mare
Of springing gait, and its back to me.

And I knew from these
That the year would not go well with me.

***

Omen 204

Early on a Monday in the spring,
I saw on the brine
A duck and a white swan
     Swim together.

I heard on Tuesday
The snipe of the seasons,
Bleating on high
     And calling.

On Wednesday I had been
Outside gathering herbs,
And then saw I the three
     Arising.

I knew immediately
That there would not be,
Good fortune after that.
The blessings of Brighid calm,
The blessings of Danu mild,
The blessings of the Daghda strong,
Upon me and mine,
     Upon me and mine.

 Excerpted from By Land, Sea, and Sky