This continues my talk featuring my book Celtic Song. You can find Part One here. This poem is found on page 35 in the book. The Sacred Three My fortress be Encircling me Come and be round My hearth and my home. ~From Anam Cara by John O’Donohue These types of circling prayers did not…
Author: Cindy Thomson
Celtic Song, Part One
This is a talk I gave this summer based on my book, Celtic Song, From the Traditions of Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales. Celtic Song is not a book of musical scores. You will not find sheet music inside. What it is is a historical exploration of why music was so important to the ancient…
Research Trip to Johnson’s Island
Johnson’s Island is a very small island in Sandusky Bay in Lake Erie in Ohio. Never heard of it? Many people who live nearby haven’t either. As I was searching for inspiration for my next novel, I learned that a Confederate Prison was in place here during the Civil War. I went to nearby Fremont,…
St. Abban
He was tending the cows belonging to his foster family when he was but a lad. A wolf approached. Abban communicated with the animal and learned that he was starving. He allowed him to eat one of the calves. Later, the family was distraught over this. Abban told them that if God could create the…
The Scribe and His Cat
A monk sits among his brothers in a spacious hall filled with slanted writing desks. Although it is daytime, his desk bears its own candle for additional illumination. He has several pots of ink, the fruit of the labor of other monks who gather bark, berries, and minerals from the earth to produce vivid colors for…
John O’Donohue on Grief
John O’Donohue is best known for his book, Anam Cara, A Book of Celtic Wisdom. He was a poet, philosopher, and scholar–from the back cover of the book. O’Donohue died unexpectedly in January 2008 just after his 52nd birthday. He was a former priest who left the priesthood to devote himself to writing and public speaking. But in…
Morning Prayer
From the Carmina Gadelica: I will kindle my fire this morning In presence of the holy angels of heaven, In presence of Ariel of the loveliest form, In presence of Uriel of the myriad charms, Without malice, without jealousy, without envy,Without fear, without terrorof any one under the sun, But the Holy Son of God to shield me. May your…
Ode For Memorial Day
This is from an old book I own, Lyrics of Lowly Life by Paul Lawrence Dunbar. The book was published in 1897. I ordered it after visiting his home in Dayton, Ohio, now a museum operated by the National Parks Service. I’m not sure when it was written, but Dunbar was born in 1872, just…
Learning from Ancient Artisans
An artisan (metal worker, stone carver, blacksmith…) was respected in ancient Ireland. The craftsman held an enviable position in society. The artisans serving some of Ireland’s beloved saints were even mentioned in a triad in the ancient books: Three chief artisans of Ireland: Tassach with Patrick, Conlaed with Brigit, and Daig with Ciaran. According to The…
Happy Beltaine!
May 1 is Beltaine, one of four major feasts of the Celtic calendar. Beltaine marks the end of the dark half of the year. Yay! It is also the traditional day of moving livestock to upper pastures, also called booleying. Read more about booleying here. Since I first posted this on another blog, I forgot all about…
