In response to last week’s Move Shit Forward Even If You Don’t Quite Know What You’re Doing, reader Mary Kelly sent a gift via email that has fueled us ever since: a blessing from poet and philosopher John O’Donohue’s superb book Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom. Kelly has it tacked on her fridge to remind her to ‘let my work feed and refresh me’. We find it to be the perfect first-thing-in-the-morning reading, and deeply heartening and calming anytime. We recommend reading it out loud.
As Kelly wrote: Living an artistic life requires such courage and stamina and we lose sight of our magnificence – we need to remember that it is soul work, and it feeds and heals the world – and it’s vital.
May the light of your soul guide you.
May the light of your soul bless the work
You do with the secret love and warmth of your heart.
May you see in what you do the beauty of your own soul.
May the sacredness of your work bring healing, light and renewal to those
Who work with you and to those who see and receive your work.
May your work never weary you.
May it release within you wellsprings of refreshment, inspiration and excitement.
May you be present in what you do.
May you never become lost in the bland absences.
May the day never burden you.
May dawn find you awake and alert, approaching your new day with dreams,
Possibilities and promises.
May evening find you gracious and fulfilled.
May you go into the night blessed, sheltered and protected.
May your soul calm, console and renew you.
We offer this Blessing from Anam Cara in PDF form to download and print or carry with you.
Top photo: Blue Tape Painting by Tony Feher
Thank you Mary Kelly!
Thank you – and for me, even more so for the shorter one below it starting with “May all that is unforgiven in you be released…”