Celtic Spiritual Traditions and Caring for Creation ~ June 3 2025

One of the challenges we face in our “modern world” is our loss of connection to Creation.  We live in houses shaped like boxes with running water and air conditioning systems that we can set to any temperature we prefer.  We have running water for washing, bathing, and cleaning.  We no longer have to dash to the outhouse or look under the bed for the chamber pot.  And, thank goodness for all those blessings !!!

However, one dubious result is that we have lost our sense of connection to Creation, our direct contact with Nature.  We use our cell phone, or our laptop to track the weather, rather than stepping outside to “feel” the wind and the humidity, as well as checking the clouds.  That is how I learned to “check the weather” when I was growing up.  Checking the weather was and still is a daily activity for farmers and ranchers.  I still like to “check the weather” this way even if I have already looked at my weather app.  

Humans have spent centuries honing our ability to read all the weather signs.  Our ancestors survived because they could sense the weather and they knew which plants and fruits were safe to eat.  They knew how to work with the land to grow crops and preserve nutrients in the soil.  They learned how to live in harmony with Nature or they would not have been around to produce another generation.  Those of us on Planet Earth right now are here because our Ancestors paid attention to Creation every day!

This lovely spiritual practice shows up in their prayers and spiritual practices.  They had prayers for everything, from re-kindling the fire every morning, including blessing their food, for travelers and traveling, blessing the crops as well as their cattle.  All of Creation was included because Creation reflected the presence of the Creator, as well as saints and angels.  The Celtics were very good at being aware of our Creator!

Here is a good example of a Celtic blessing often used when kindling the hearth fire every morning.

 

This morning, as I kindle the fire of my hearth,

I pray the flame of God's love may burn in my heart

and in the hearts of all I meet today.

 

I pray that no envy or malice,

no hatred or fear,

may smother the flame. 

I pray that indifference and apathy, 

contempt and pride, 

may not pour like cold water on the fire.

 

Instead, may the spark of God's love

light the love in my heart, 

that it may burn brightly through the day.

 

And may I warm those who are lonely,

whose hearts are cold and lifeless, 

so that all may know

the comfort of God's love.

 

God and God’s blessing and love are woven into every line of this prayer.  It is a prayer and a blessing to cover all sorts of contingencies for that whole day!

 

This is one of the shorter prayers for milking.

 

Bless, O God, my little cow,
Bless, O God, my desire;
Bless Thou my partnership
And the milking of my hands, O God.

Bless, O God, each teat,
Bless, O God, each finger;
Bless Thou each drop
That goes into my pitcher, O God!

And, here is my favorite early morning prayer that always gives me a sense of being deeply immersed in Creation and connected to GOD!      

 

Celtic Morning Prayer ~

 

I arise today,

 

through the Strength of Heaven:

 

Light of Sun,

 

Radiance of Moon,

 

Splendour of Fire,

 

Speed of Lightening,

 

Swiftness of Wind,

 

Depth of Sea,

 

Stability of Earth,

 

Firmness of Rock.

 

We are so blessed by the beauty and bounty of Creation which is an expression of our Creator, but we often go zipping through the day being unaware of all these Blessings.

So, the next time you are feeling anxious, or uncertain, or wondering where God has gone, just step outside and look around.  Even better, take a walk in the woods, inhale some fresh air, and soak up the Creator’s Blessings that surround us all the time.  God hasn’t “gone” anywhere.  We just forgot where to look …

Mary teaches mindfulness and spiritual practices.

She leads Heart Coherence groups and offers individual coaching.

Through her “Caring for Creation” podcast, she shares practices

for connecting with the earth and our spirituality.