INVOCATIONS, PRAYERS, & MEDITATIONS
INVOCATION OF THE FOUR TREASURES (TEXT FROM THE SECOND BATTLE OF MAGH TUIREDH)
From Falias was brought the Stone of Fál which was located in Tara. It used to cry out beneath every king that would take Ireland.
From Gorias was brought the spear which Lug had. No battle was ever sustained against it, or against the man who held it in his hand.
From Findias was brought the sword of Núadu. No one ever escaped from it once it was drawn from its deadly sheath, and no one could resist it.
From Murias was brought the Dagda’s cauldron. No company ever went away from it unsatisfied.
PEACE PROPHECY BENEDICTION
Based on the Morrígan’s poem from the Second Battle of Moytura, adapted for use as a ritual blessing.
sith co nem | peace to the heavens
nem co doman | heaven to the earth
doman fo ním | earth under heaven
nert hi cach | strength in each
án forlann | a cup overfull
lan do mil | a fullness of honey
mid co saith | mead to satisfaction
sam hi ngam | summer in winter
gai for sciath | spear upon a shield
sciath for durnd | shield upon a fist
dunad lonngarg | bladebristling fort
longaiter tromfoíd | great grieving is banished
fod di uí | rights of descendants
ross forbiur | woods full of stags
benna abu | horns of cattle
airbe imetha | encircling boundary
mess for crannaib | mast upon trees
craob do scis | heavy their boughs
scis do áss | heavy from growth
saith do mac | wealth for children
mac for muin | food to their portion
muinel tairb | neck of a bull
tarb di arccoin | bull away from a watchdog
odhb do crann | wood from trees
crann do ten | tree for fire
tene a nnail | fire from a stone
ail a nuír | stone in the earth
uích a mbuaib | young from cows
boinn a mbru | cows from a womb
brú lafefaid | riverbank with birdsong
ossglas iaer | grey deer before
errach foghamar | spring, autumn
forasit etha | whence grows corn
iall do tir | flock of warriors for the land
tir co trachd | land to the shore
la feabrae | protecting with sharp weapons
bidruad rossaib | great length of life
síraib rithmár | longevity assured
nach scel laut? | have you any story?
sith co nemh | peace to the heavens
bidsirnae s[ith] | it will be eternal peace
Note: This is a compilation of multiple different translations of the original poem, combined for ritual use. Original translations used are Isolde Carmody, 2014, and Bernard Mees, 2009.
MORRÍGNA PRAYER OF LONG LIFE
Adapted by Morpheus Ravenna from the medieval Irish prayer Cétnad nAíse, “Prayer for Long Life”. It has been altered into a devotional prayer to the Morrígna for protection and strength. There are two versions of this prayer – a long form version and a short form version for easier use.
PRAYER OF LONG LIFE (LONG FORM)
I call on the seven daughters of Ernmas,
who shape the fates of long life.
Three deaths be taken from me,
three lives given to me,
seven waves of plenty poured for me.
May phantoms not injure me on my journey
in my radiant armor of the spirit.
May my name not be pledged without truth;
may death not come to me before my time.
I call on the radiant warrior,
to whom death is no terror;
may courage be granted to me as bright as bronze.
May my form be exalted,
may my will be ennobled,
may my strength be increased,
may my grave not be opened,
may I complete my journey,
may my destiny be ensured to me.
May the serpent in the heart not attack me,
nor the grey worming doubt,
nor the senseless fear.
May no thief attack me,
nor a hostile company,
without my company of warriors.
May I have richness of time from the Mighty Ones.
I call on Scáthach of the seven teachings,
who suckled heroes at sword point.
May my seven lights burn brightly.
I am an invincible fortress,
I am an unshakable cliff,
I am a mighty stone,
I am the bull of seven battles
May I know hundreds of truths,
hundreds of joys, each hundred after another.
I summon my good fortune to me;
may the fire of the Hero’s Light be on me.
Your blessings, Queen, upon your people.
PRAYER OF LONG LIFE (SHORT FORM)
I call on the Mighty Great Queen,
who shapes the fates of her people.
May courage be granted to us as bright as bronze.
May our forms be exalted,
may our wills be ennobled,
may our strength be increased,
may our graves not be opened,
may we complete our journeys,
may our destinies be ensured to us.
May the serpent in the heart not attack,
nor the grey worming doubt,
nor the senseless fear.
May no hostile company attack us,
without our company of warriors.
May we have richness of time from the Mighty Ones.
May we know hundreds of truths,
hundreds of joys, each hundred after another.
I pray your great blessings;
may the fire of the Hero’s Light strengthen us.
A WARRIOR’S PRAYER
by Brennos Agrocunos Gunn
Great Queen,
I stand before this gathering storm,
My heart a bright flame.
Weary, but fiercely determined
Saddened and grieving,
Angered and outraged
in this place I stand fast.
My heels dug into this holy soil, not to be moved.
The strength of my arms to fortify our battered people.
The love in my heart to give comfort to the weeping.
The truth of my tongue to bring the fulfillment of justice and sovereignty to our land.