Finn’s Lorica of Brighid-Part II

I prefer the day to the night. Once the sun goes down, I tend to shut down as well. I’ve become more attached to the daylight and the sun, and it seems to energize me more than ever, since I began my worship of Brighid. Morning especially is my favourite time of day. I am one of those rare college-students who doesn’t sleep till noon.

It is important to start off my morning with the correct mindset: with a sense of calm and readiness for the day. It is important to be mindful of my energy and my emotions, and it is important for me to greet the morning.

But it is just as important to me to end my day equally calm and relaxed, ready to rest, and greet another day coming. It is just as important to love the night, for if there is no darkness, the light will eventually blind you and destroy you.

I begin every morning with the prayer I posted here. I end every day with this prayer here. 

 

I rest today

Through moon on sea,

Through wind in the meadow,

Through echoing of valleys.

 

I rest today

With silence on my tongue,

With calm in my mind,

With peace in my soul.

 

I rest today a poet under the mantle of Brighid;

I sleep today by her side.

 

May she always keep me close, and I never afraid.

 

Finn’s Lorica of Brighid

For me, prayer is an important and powerful connection to deity. Perhaps it is a remnant of my Christian upbringing, but I have never had any doubt that when I close my eyes and speak with my heart the gods are listening. Prayer is communication with deity; most often, we pray in appeal to the gods, but often, I find myself just speaking to Brighid, saying hello, good night, asking her what she thinks of a particular idea. And sometimes I hear her, especially when I find myself on the other side of irony. Her laugh is a sparkling chime in the morning.

These days, I certainly appeal to her more often than anything else–I always turn to Brighid to bring me back to myself when I find myself sinking into personal darkness. Brighid is the light that guides me back.

But mostly, I pray to her, I speak to Brighid, as a protective, energizing and strengthening act of devotion. By the act of daily invoking her, and her relationship to me, and my part in her plans, I ground myself in a true spiritual reality and purpose.

Every morning, as I place my Brighid pendant around my neck, I say this prayer, based in large part on the famous “Deer’s Cry,” or Lorica of St. Patrick. 

 

I rise today

Through sun on spring,

Through wind in the forest,

Through song of the mountain.

 

I rise today

With poetry on my lips,

With healing in my hands,

With strength in my heart.

 

I rise today a poet of Brighid;

I walk today on her path.

 

May she always guide me further, and I never wander.