The Spiral Journey

In the early Irish church, there was this concept of ‘journeying for the love of God’: peregrinatio.

The Celtic people, though agrarian and strongly tied to the land, were often the type of people who had itchy feet. The peregrini, as they were called, would take to the road or the sea by boat, and literally throw themselves af God’s feet to see where He would take them. They believed themselves to be “pilgrims of the world,” (echoing the sentiments of scripture’s exhortation to be “in the world, but not of the world”) and sought God around every bend in the road, behind every tree, and in the eye and mouth of every stranger they met.

But it wasn’t a seeking as if God was not already with them, quite the contrary. This type of pilgrimage was only undertaken at the prompting of the Spirit... almost as if they were seeking God’s will, a discovery of Truth — both of the world and of the inner journey into self-awareness — that could only occur with time spent in close communion with Him.

And many times whether it be on the road, or in life, you find your journey carries you back to your beginnings, with fresh perspective, maturity, and wisdom. Every year we have the same four seasons, and yet each successive year sees changes in their manifestation. An ever-deepening spiral into intimacy (think: into-ME-see) with self, community, world, and our great and holy Creator-God.

Today, may you be blessed with understanding
Of the steps of your own journey
And of the Father’s guiding hand
Resting softly upon your shoulder.

Happy St Brigid’s Day

Today is the Irish holiday, ‘Saint Brigid’s Day.’ Though her origins are obscure, she is generally regarded as being an early proponent, teacher, and evangelist of the Irish church (circa 450 A.D.). Brigid is often depicted as carrying a torch or lantern — a carrier of the Light — and she is strongly associated with the creative arts of poetry, music, and scribal illumination, even having founded and managed her own monastery in county Kildare devoted to the dissemination and learning of them.

Traditionally, this day is used for praying over and blessing the home, as Brigid’s other association is over the home (properly, the ‘hearth’ where the fire is kept, because a home without a fire going is merely a house), and it is common to build crosses out of rushes or reeds to hang over the doorway as part of the blessing.

May the Lord send angels of protection to patrol around your house’s borders,

Turning back any that would seek to do you ill

And May He pour out a blessing upon those who dwell in your house

Such that your hands cannot contain it.

Be blessed, fellow travelers on the journey. ❤️

Worship in Simplicity

As I mentioned on my page about my ‘humble little flutes,’ it is my mission in life to play music for others. God and I are still working out the details... But in the meantime...

Please enjoy this Celtic slipjig. I filmed this in October. I miss those days. The winter has been long here and I am missing my sunshine and trees.

I follow the ancient sect of Christianity that the Celts and Irish people followed between the 5th and 9th centuries. NO, that does NOT mean I practice ‘magic’ or other pagan practices. That is a gross misconception and total perversion of what “Celtic Christianity” really is. Read some books by Rev. Ray Simpson, or J. Philip Newell. Listening for the Heartbeat of God is a good one. So is The Celtic Way of Prayer by Esther de Waal. “Celtic Christianity” is more properly known as “Irish Monasticism.” Their flavor of Monasticism is highlighted by the seven particular distinctives:

Holism, God in all things. No compartmentalization of faith in our lives. Awareness of the sacred in all things.
Equality, of the clergy and the laity. We are all walking each other home.
Mystery, our infinite God cannot be fully comprehended by finite man.
Environment, the earth in all its wonder was given to us by God, and we are to be good stewards of His creation.
Hope, to seek first the Good in all things, for the One we trust is Greater than all evil.
Immanence, God didn’t just dwell with us in the Garden, nor did He only come to be with us in Jesus, but He is with us even now.
Simplicity, of doctrine, faith, and lifestyle. When we are not perpetually distracted, we are better able to hear the Lord’s words to our heart.

I will write more on my own faith in the days to come. For now, suffice to say that my worship is often spent outdoors, soaking in the midst of His creation, using the Gift He gave me (music). It brings me much joy, and I hope, you as well. 💕