Beannacht

On the day when the weight deadens on your shoulders and you stumble,

may the clay dance to balance you.

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And when your eyes freeze behind the grey window

and the ghost of loss gets into you,

may a flock of colours, indigo, red, green, and azure blue

come to awaken in you a meadow of delight.

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When the canvas frays in the currach of thought

and a stain of ocean blackens beneath you,

may there come across the waters a path of yellow moonlight

to bring you safely home.

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May the nourishment of the earth be yours,

may the clarity of light be yours,

may the fluency of the ocean be yours,

may the protection of the ancestors be yours.

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And so may a slow wind work these words of love around you,

an invisible cloak to mind your life.

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~ John O’Donohue ~

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Listen to John O’Donohue read this poem

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This "beannacht" or blessing, is my gift to myself on the celebration of my birthday. Many such gifts I give to myself, for truly, are we not the only ones who can give gifts of blessing and peace and love unto ourselves? Thank you to John O'Donohue for putting words and voice to such beauty.

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