n this St. Patrick’s Day it is fitting to receive a blessing from a grand Irishman whose writing reaches into my soul. Followers of this blog know that John O’Donohue is one of my favourite sages.
I am indebted to a follower of the blog for sending me this podcast of Krista Tripett’s interview of John O’Donohue recorded shortly before his death in 2008. O’Donohue’s words continue to open my soul.
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When you live in nature, in the scent of flowers, in the blessed light of the day and the sweet dew of the morning, you don’t have questions, you simply live and joy together with them. Your heart opens, you cry, cry, and your eyes are wet with dew. This is how this song was born, when your body, mind, and soul opens, God steps next to you in an unguarded moment, and pours her treasures into you.
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1. Winter is the season of the revelation of basic structure. If I was to strip away all the paraphernalia of my life what form would it have?
How many of the things which I do are related to the roots
of my spirit.
2. Winter is the season for hibernation. What rhythm do I have for reflection as well as action?
What frequency and length of time do I need in solitude in order to facilitate the growth and quality of my spirituality?
One: A Blessing on you who are poor
Many Yours is the household of God
One A blessing on you who mourn
Many: you shall be comforted
The art of blessing is often neglected. The birth of a New Year calls forth the desire in us to bestow a blessing upon those we love. Several years ago, John O”Donohue, one of my favorite Irish poet’s created a New Year’s blessing for his mother entitled Beannacht-for Josie. It is a blessing of superior quality. And so, on this New Year’s Eve, may you all receive this beannacht with my added blessing for a peace-filled New Year in which the God in whom all of creation is held, might find full expression in your miraculous life!
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May awareness be my companion, love my friend and amazement my expectation.
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Whatever our beliefs may be or holiday meals that we celebrate, I hope that these “transfaith” blessings may help to nurture focus and gratitude.
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Faith in goodness leads to serenity, where peace with quiet flows. With faith I can cease being a hostage in the jail of fear and grief, and escape the prison of what went wrong.
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Give me warmth in my loving,
Strength through forgiving,
Peace in my being,
Today and all my life.
We give thanks for the plants,
Give thanks for the creatures
Whose flesh supplies this meal.
May the food that we eat
And the friends that we share
Give us strength for spreading
True justice and peace.
Oh, nurturing God we thank you for the seeds
The source is yours and all in it
For the mystery that enfolds us and blesses us,
For the beauty that surrounds us and nourishes us,
In the name of the Father,
in the name of the Mother,
source of life,
from whom water flows,
to whom water returns,
We live not for ourselves alone, but toward God and for each other. Our lives are bound in a covenant of love.
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