Years ago, Improvised Life reader Mary Kelly sent us a big gift via email: a blessing from poet and philosopher John O’Donohue’s lovely book Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom, along with a gentle reminder of what living a creative life requires, in her own wise words:
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.
She wrote that she has O’ Donohue’s benediction tacked on her fridge to remind her to ‘let my work feed and refresh me’. Which is what it did for us then, and does, still, now.
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 find O’ Donahue’s words to be deeply heartening and tender, as all blessings are. Reading them aloud to yourself or someone else amplifies that quality.
We offer this Blessing from Anam Cara in PDF form to download and print or carry with you.
Thank you so much for sharing this. ????????
Oh what a gift his life was to all of us. Thank you