Be Blessed

John O'Donohue, 52 - an Irish poet, philosopher and author - died peacefully in his sleep on January 3 while on holiday in France. With degrees in philosophy and English literature and a Ph.D. in philosophical theology from the University of Tubingen in Germany, John was one of the most articulate voices of living Celtic Christianity and wisdom. As a way of remembering John's spirit, Carolyn Myss offers this streaming video of his 2006 appearance at CMED Institute.

For those of us on parallel paths toward wholeness, O'Donohue's words offer healing, grace, generosity and strength of spirit:

A BLESSING

On the day when
the weight deadens
on your shoulders
and you stumble,
may the clay dance
to balance you.

And when your eyes
freeze behind
the grey window
and the ghost of loss
gets in to you,
may a flock of colours,
indigo, red, green,
and azure blue
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight.

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.

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.
And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.

[A selection from
Anam Cara (Gaelic for Soul Friend):
A Book of Celtic Wisdom by the late Irish poet, John O’Donohue]