![\"Connla](\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Connla_and_the_Fairy_Maiden_-_Illustration.png\")
<\/a>For some unknown reason, the remaining blessings and buaidh<\/em> in the \u201cInvocation\u201d are generally grouped into lists of eight rather than nine. The first set of eight blessings reads as follows:<\/p>\nA shade art thou in the heat,<\/em>
\nA shelter art thou in the cold,<\/em>
\nEyes art thou to the blind,<\/em>
\nA staff art thou to the pilgrim,<\/em>
\nAn island art thou at sea,<\/em>
\nA fortress art thou on land,<\/em>
\nA well art thou in the desert,<\/em>
\nHealth art thou to the ailing.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThis is the first section of the \u201cInvocation\u201d that could be described as an ethical guideline. The recipient of the charm has been rendered powerful enough to overcome all enemies, but is now expected to use that power in compassionate service.<\/p>\n
All eight of these \u201cethical empowerments\u201d express essentially the same concept: to relieve the suffering of others by providing comfort, shelter, guidance, support, sanctuary, protection, refreshment or healing. Only one of the eight uses martial imagery. The phrase \u201ca fortress art thou on land\u201d implies that you will fight if necessary to protect an endangered person just like a warrior defending a besieged fortress. This type of fight is defensive and protective in nature, not aggressive or predatory.<\/p>\n
The next verse in the Invocation, which calls on eight feminine powers to grant eight ethical virtues, also includes one martial reference:<\/p>\n
Thine is the skill of the Fairy Woman,<\/em>
\nThine is the virtue of Bride the calm,<\/em>
\nThine is the faith of Mary the mild,<\/em>
\nThine is the tact of the woman of Greece,<\/em>
\nThine is the beauty of Emir the lovely,<\/em>
\nThine is the tenderness of Darthula delightful,<\/em>
\nThine is the courage of Maebh the strong,<\/em>
\nThine is the charm of Binne-bheul.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThe word Carmichael translates as \u201cskill\u201d is gleus<\/em>, which the Gaelic dictionary Am Faclair Beag<\/em> defines as a condition, a state of being, a mood or humor, the workings of a machine, or a musical key. This is clearly a word that has no precise translation into English, but it conveys the idea of an inner order or structure.<\/p>\n
The word Carmichael translates as \u201cvirtue\u201d is beus<\/em>, which Am Faclair Beag<\/em> defines as moral virtue or conduct. The word Carmichael defines as \u201ccalm\u201d is bithe. <\/em>According to Am Faclair Beag<\/em>, this can mean \u201cpeaceful\u201d or \u201ctranquil.\u201d It can also mean \u201cfemale.\u201d<\/p>\n
The word Carmichael translates as \u201cfaith\u201d is creud<\/em>, which Am Faclair Beag<\/em> defines as a creed or belief. Religions are usually referred to as \u201ccreeds\u201d in Gaelic, as in the phrase \u201cthe creed of the yellow stick\u201d as a euphemism for Protestantism. The word Carmichael translates as \u201cmild\u201d is mine<\/em>, which Am Faclair Beag<\/em> defines as \u201cmild\u201d or \u201cgentle.\u201d<\/p>\n
The word Carmichael translates as \u201ctact\u201d is gniomh<\/em>, which Am Faclair Beag<\/em> does not define as \u201ctact\u201d but as an action, deed or task. As such, it is difficult to know what virtue is being granted here without knowing what the task of the \u201cwoman of Greece\u201d was. William Sharp (generally a questionable source) suggests that this line refers to Helen of Troy. That is not implausible, since the legend of Helen was known to the Gaels although Helen of Troy was not exactly famed for her tact. If \u201cthe deed of Helen of Troy\u201d is really what was meant here, it might have referred to her famous seductiveness.<\/p>\n
The word Carmichael translates as \u201cbeauty\u201d is sgeimh<\/em>, which Am Faclair Beag<\/em> defines as elegance. Emir, of course, was the wife of the great Irish hero Cuchulain.<\/p>\n
The word Carmichael translates as \u201ctenderness\u201d is mein, <\/em>which Am Faclair Beag<\/em> does not give a definition for, although m\u00e8inneach<\/em> is defined as mercy, pity, discreetness or fondness. Carmichael\u2019s \u201cDarthula\u201d (a Victorian-era name meaning \u201cdaughter of heaven\u201d) is actually Dearshul in the Gaelic. Sharp suggests this is a corruption of Deirdre, tragic heroine of \u201cThe Sons of Uisneach.\u201d<\/p>\n
The word Carmichael translates as \u201ccourage\u201d is mean<\/em>, presumably short for meanmna, <\/em>which Am Faclair Beag<\/em> defines as courage, boldness, spirit, pride or joy. \u201cThe courage of Maebh the strong\u201d is the bold, spirited, joyful or even reckless courage of Queen Maebh of the Tain, cattle-raider par excellence, who warred against Cuchulain. Unlike the phrase \u201ca fortress art thou on land,\u201d this one is aggressive \u2014 the most \u201cheathen\u201d of the graces!<\/p>\n
The word Carmichael translates as \u201ccharm\u201d is taladh<\/em>, which Am Faclair Beag<\/em> defines as the act of enticing, alluring, taming, soothing, domesticating, caressing or hushing. The range of meanings can cover everything from charming a potential romantic partner to calming a wild horse to singing a lullaby to a crying baby. Binne-bheul<\/em> is \u201csweet-mouth.\u201d Sharp, interpreting the phrase as \u201choney-mouth,\u201d suggests that it refers to the Gaelic god Angus. However, Am Faclair Beag<\/em> specifically mentions that the sweetness of binne<\/em> is not a flavor or a smell, but something harmonious or musical. Also, it would be a little odd for the \u201cInvocation\u201d to list seven female powers and one male power, so it seems more likely to refer to a woman from Gaelic lore.<\/p>\n
\nLoop of Brighid<\/em>\u00a0is published on alternate Thursdays. Follow it via\u00a0RSS<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0e-mail<\/a>!<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In “Invocation of the Graces,” all eight \u201cethical empowerments\u201d express essentially the same concept: to relieve the suffering of others by providing comfort, shelter, guidance, support, sanctuary, protection, refreshment or healing. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1325,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[330,349,11],"tags":[685,350,84,653,367,359,654,25,26],"class_list":["post-3461","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-columns","category-loop-of-brighid","category-prayers","tag-alexander-carmichael","tag-brighid","tag-brigid","tag-carmina-gadelica","tag-celtic-spirituality","tag-devotion","tag-invocation-of-the-graces","tag-pagan","tag-paganism"],"yoast_head":"\n
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