❤️‍🔥 Celtic Encircling Practice For Our Time ❤️‍🔥

Caim (key-em) Circle of Protection, Sanctuary, Calm

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Buíochas! (bwee-kus) Thank you! 

You have encircled us behind and in front, And placed Your hand upon us. Psalm 139.5

Invoking Encircling Practice creates a Sacred Sphere of Protection and Sanctuary surrounding oneself, another person or situation in need. Now, 2025 is a most opportune time for implementing The Circle Prayer Tradition into your routine!

The Encircling Practice Word Map. I created The Encircling Practice Word Map pictured above and used it to inspire Circle Prayers found below. Prompted by the weighty conditions of our current times, this practice is an ideal way for activating relevant prayer! To generate my Encircling Practice Word Map, I started designing a central fire icon to convey Our Beloved Divine One who always companions us. Using the element of fire expresses my experience of Holy Mystery’s Active Heart-Power, croí (cree), beating in the entire cosmos. The first orbit around the fire on the map begins at the top labeled; “Caim” (key-em) defined as; Protection, Sanctuary, Refuge and Calm. To ground my work, I looked up sayings for “I love you” in Irish. I discovered chuile mo croí * means, Pulse of My Heart. I placed this phrase near the bottom of the circle. Next, I chose four desires that I wish growth in and protection for: Wisdom, Generosity, Hospitality and Compassion. Four tendencies that I wish protection away from are on the outside of the circle: Unfriendliness, Misunderstandings, Stinginess, and Indifference. Then, I added more words that extend the meaning of Divine Protection. Follow the orbits of words by tracing the assorted colors around. Finally, using three different shades of green, I created The Sovereign, Trinitarian Ring that is always, Embracing, Surrounding, Encompassing and Encircling everything that stands inside Her Realm with fierce protection and keeps all that tears apart out! I invite you to create your own Encircling Word Map as a powerful tool for generating numerous Circle Prayers. (*chusla mu cree)

Doing Encircling Practice. Select one of the prayers below on this blog that fits your desires or one of your own. Circle Prayers are best when embodied. Begin with your index finger, draw, and visualize an imaginary circle around the person who is the focal point for your intentions. Vary the practice by walking around the person. If there is a group of people, form a circle around the individual. Next, slowly say the words, confidently, summoning Divine Power in your prayer while forming the circle. You can stand in for someone who is not present. The purpose of your practice may also involve current events and issues. Everyone and everything belong in the circumference of this Circle of Care extending as far and wide as all the Cosmos.

Classic Celtic Prayers of Protection. Classic Celtic Prayers of Protection include The Breastplate of Saint Patrick (also known as The Deer’s Cry) as well as a complete collection of prayers gathered by Alexander Carmichael known as The Carmina Gadelica (Scottish Highlands about 1900).

Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, 
Christ beside me, Christ be with me, Christ comfort me and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in the hearts of all that love me,
Christ in the mouth of friend and stranger.
May it be so.
(adapted from The Breastplate of Saint Patrick)

Historical Background. Our ancient wise ancestors implemented this practice for weddings where the bride and groom came from different Clans who often opposed one another. Placing an intertwined circular rope around the couple created a protective barrier with no beginning, no end, no entrance, or break. Chants and prayers were often recited by the circle of people who wanted the couple protected.

The Encircling Prayers

O Sacred Three, Encompass us
With Your Compassion.
Be Our Protection from indifference.
Surround us with Generosity.
Be Our Refuge from any stinginess.
Embrace us with Wisdom.
Be Our Sanctuary from misunderstandings.
Encircle us with Hospitality. 
Be Our Guard from unfriendliness.
O Sacred Three, Be Our Secure Shelter,
Forever Enveloping us in 
Your *Croí, heart.
May it be so!
(*cree)
Karen Kerrigan

Taking Our Circle Practice to The Streets.
Doing The Rounds, Pattern Prayer, (Turas).
(Walk around your community
repeating the phrase as you walk
each street.) 

(First Street) O Sacred Three
encircle our locality.
(Second Street.) Keep generosity within
and stinginess out
(3rd Street.) Keep abundance within
 and scarcity out
(4th Street.) Keep hospitality within
 and unfriendliness out
(5th Street.) Keep Community in
 and disparity out. 
Forevermore, O Sacred Three
surround our vicinity.
May it be so!
Karen Kerrigan 

For The Sick
Circle of Healing surround (name)
bring wellness within and keep illness out.
Circle of Wisdom encompass (name’s caretakers)
keep balance within and overfatigue without. 
Circle of guidance inspire (patient’s) medical team
keep effective healing plans within
and inoperative choices out .
Circle of Health restore and protect (name)
to Wholeness of Mind, Body and Spirit.
May it be so!
Karen Kerrigan 

Excessive Uncertainty, Our Airwaves Surrounds
Despite it all, Your Powerful Presence Abounds!
Monstrous hurricanes and hell fires overwhelm. 
Nevertheless, Your Revolving Radiance guards the helm.
Endless wars and ceaseless conflicts prolong with calamity.
Whatever happens, You are Ever-Circulating,
empowering us to manifest camaraderie.
Insensitivity and Indifferences dominate haphazardly.
After everything, O Sacred Three, Address and
Circulate Your Secure Sanctuary!
May it be so!
Karen Kerrigan

Beloved of the Elements’, 
North, East, South and West guarding,
In every direction, Naofa bean feasa*
Breathes forth encompassing.
With The Eagle of the The Air, 
The Otter of the Land, 
The Salmon of The Sea protecting, 
Revealing in all your creatures, 
Christ surrounds companioning, 
Right Here, Right Now and Forever.
May it be so!
(*my translation to mean Sacred Wise Woman or Sophia Spirit)
(*nay-fa ban fasa)
By Karen Kerrigan

As Frozen Great Lakes Cloak My State
Your mantle encompasses us in warmth.
As dormant oak and maple stand barren.
Your wreaths of evergreen presence
vivifies our hearts. 
As robin and goose have fled
Your steadfast embracing nearness
remains. 
As black ice lies hidden in low light.
Your keen watch guards our way!
As glistening blankets of snow stretch far. 
Your Countenance shines around
extending forever.  
May it be so!
By Karen Kerrigan

chuile mo croí *
Pulse of My Heart
Circulate Wholeness 
throughout Our World Community
Detoxify from dividedness.
Circulate Collaboration
Detoxify from opposition
Circulate Peace-ableness
Detoxify from violence
Circulate Hospitality
Detoxify from hostility
Chuile mo croí*
Pulse of My Heart
Circulate fáilte* 
Welcome!
Detoxify us from shunning.
Flow New Trust through
Our World Community
May it be so!
(*cushla mu cree, *fall-cha)
Karen Kerrigan

The Cardinal Directions
(While saying the words, 
face each of the four directions)

When the Northern winds blow,
Circle me Beloved, 
Keep warmth of heart within
and the coldness of indifference out.
With the sun rising in the East, 
Circle me Beloved, 
keep optimistic energy near
and pessimistic vibes far.
As the Southern heat increases,
Circle me Beloved,
keep moving forward near 
and avoidance far.
When the Sun sets in the West,
Circle me Beloved, 
keep confidence
for the future within
and worries without
May it be so!
By Karen Kerrigan

Awaiting more evidence of the lengthening of Daylight!

In Loving Memory of and surrounded by My Four Irish Great-Grandmothers.

Beannachtai’, Blessings,

Karen Kerrigan, ARCWP

“If we want to reap the harvest of peace and justice in the future, we will have to sow the seeds of non-violence, here and now, in the present.”

(Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Irish Peace Nobel Laureate)