Author: rob smith

RANNAN AIRSON OIDHCHE AGUS LATHA
RUNES FOR NIGHT AND DAY

CONTENTS
What are Runes? 3
Runes For Night 4
Runes for Day 9
Runes for Weather 19
Benedictions 21
Encompassment 24
Fire-lighting 29

Rannan (sing. Rann) are short verses that can be said before or after various activities. Even the most mundane act can be used to honour na Brianna. some are longer than others and some are full anamannan, 'little souls' or prayers. They also help us to focus the mind and remind us of our connection to the wider universe.
Some of the Rannan are dedicated to particular deities but some are addressed to patrons. Patrons are deities you feel a connection to. Some people have a male and female patron such as an Daghda and a' Mhòrriginn. Others may have three or none. Where a rann is dedicated to a patron, an alternate deity is suggested for that rann. Words in italics are actions to be performed not spoken. Translations of any Gaelic used are in brackets. We offer these rannan as SUGGESTIONS for you to use and adapt.

FOR EVENINGS:

AT SUNSET

Fàilte (Hail) Macha,
She who comes from the west,
She who is summoned from the waves,
Diffuser of excellences, gathering of boldness,
Who gives us the lasting fruits of sunset.

ON SEEING THE NEW MOON FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE EVENING

Hail to thee,
Thou guiding lamp of the poor,
I am bowing to thee mine head,
(remove any headgear and bow the head)
I am bending to thee mine knee,
(go down on one knee, genuflect)
I am sending to thee mine love.
(place your hand over your heart)….

May thy course be smooth to me,
May thy light be kind to me,
If thy beginning be good to me,
Nine times better be thy end.

ON LOCKING UP

As I place a lock upon this door,
May Father Midhir place a lock upon my anam (soul),
As you withstood the Men of Ireland,
May I withstand the evils of the dark.

ON UNDRESSING

As I take from me this cloth,
May Father Manannan clothe me in the Feth
fiada, (Mist of the Knowing Lord)
And preserve me from all harm.

OR

Even as I shed my body of cloth,
May I shed also my anguish,
May I shed also my abhorrence,
May I shed also all worldly pride,
Cover me in the Feth Fiada (Mist of the Knowing Lord)
And preserve me from harm.

ON WASHING OR BATHING

Fàilte (Hail) PATRON, or Brighid
For giving me the waters of cleansing,
As this water cleanses my body
May PATRON cleanse my anam (soul)
And make me pure in the Well of thy Grace

ON LYING DOWN

I lie down this night with Brighid of the Mantles,
With a' Mhòrriginn Darkness of Light,
With Caer of the timpan,
Peace be in my mind, joy be in my heart, contentment be in my anam (soul).

ON LYING DOWN

Bless O bless the path on which I go,
Bless O Bless the thing on which my hope dost rest,
Bless O Bless the thing on which my eye doth rest,
Bless O Brianna the eye.
Bless O Bless the love-companion of my bed,
Bless O Bless my kith and my kin,
Bless O Bless myself who has care of them,
Bless O Brianna myself.
Bless O Bless the Aingeal (sleep-body) of my repose,
Bless O bless the handling of my hands,
Bless O bless the guarding of my guard,
Bless O Brianna the guard.
If it is to thy glorious day I awake,
May it be on thy own arm that I go,….

If it is to the Bealach Bo Fionn (Road of the white cow) I am bound,
May it be on thy own arm that I go.
But I am in hope that I will see,
Thy glorious day.

OR:

Hail to thee thou Moon, Jewel of the night,
Hold me thou in thy silvered hand,
From my lying down to my rising anew.

OR:

An daghda give to me of thy abundance,
Brighid give to me of thy wisdom,
Aonghas Òg give to me of my need,
I lie down this night,
With the triad of might.

FOR DAYTIME:

ON WAKING:

Fàilte PATRONS) or Brighid and Manannan
Who has brought me from the darkness of last night,
To the light of this new day,
As thou hast brought me into the light of this new day,
So be bringing me to the guiding light of eternity,
The guiding light of eternity.

ON RISING:

I arise this day,
Through strength of heaven, clarity of moon, glory of sun,
splendour of fire, Speed of lightning, swiftness of wind,
depth of sea, Stability of earth, firmness of rock…..

I arise this day by strong name of the Brianna (the gods),
By invocation of the same, The three as one.

ON DRESSING:

Fàilte (Hail) Manannan,
Knowing Lord of the Mist,
As I cover my body with cloth,
So clothe me in the Feth fiada (Mist of the Knowing Lord),
And preserve me from all harm.

BEFORE COOKING:

Failte (Hail) Mother Ana, from whom all blessings flow,
Milk and eggs and butter
Meal and herb and bulb
Produce of the flock and herd and shoal
I will put water on them all,
In thy name…..

(Sprinkle a little pure water over the ingredients or cooked food. When mixing or laying out a plate always move deiseal, that is sunwise also known as clockwise or from east, to south, to west, to north)

Failte (Hail) PATRON(S),
Who has given me the food on my plate,
This food is the work of many hands,
May the hands who prepared it be blessed,
Let no whit adorn my body that would hurt my awakening soul,
Let no whit adorn my body that would hurt my awakening soul.

GRACE BEFORE FIRST MEAL

Give us O Brianna (Gods) of the morning meal,
Benefit to the body the frame of the soul,
Give us O Brianna (Gods) of the nineth bread,
Enough for our need at evening close.
Give us of the honey-sweet foaming milk,
Give us the substance and form of the fragrant farms,
Give us along with blessed sleep,
Rest in the shade of the Five Great Trees.
Give us this night of the corn that shall last,
Give us this night of the substance that hurts not,
Give us this night anear to the hearth,
The Coire Ansaic, (Undry Cauldron or Cauldron of Plenty) that never empties.
Be with us by day, be with us by night,
Be with us by light, be with us by dark,
In our lying down and our rising up,
In speech, in walk, in deed.

GRACE AFTER MEALS

Praise be to thee,
Glory be to thee,
Reverence be to thee,
For all thou hast given us.
As thou hast given us life,
To earn our daily food,
So grant us peace ever-lasting,
For the sake of the Sitheachan. (Blessed Dead)
Grant us grace throughout our lives,
Grant us life at the hour of our deaths,
Be with us in crossing uisgechan nam beo is nam marbh (the waters of the living and the dead,)
In traversing an Cuan Doirche Bròin (the Dark Ocean of sorrows)
In travelling Bothar Bo Fionn, (Road of the White Cow)
Til we come at last to am Magh Mell, am Magh Mell (The Pleasant Plain)

BEFORE BAKING BREAD:

Failte (Hail) Father Lugh, Champion of the fields of riches.
Failte (Hail) Mother Àine, Fire of the Corn.
Failte (Hail) a’ Chailleach, Reaper who cannot be outrun.
A fallaid for thy age,
(Sprinkle some flour into the bowl)
A fallaid for thy growth,
(Sprinkle some flour into the bowl)
A fallaid for thy beauty,
(Sprinkle some flour into the bowl)
A fallaid for thy substance,
(Sprinkle some flour into the bowl)
A fallaid for thy worth.
(Sprinkle some flour into the bowl)

BEFORE TRAVELLING:

Bless to me an Daghda,
The earth beneath my feet,
Bless to me O Lugh,
The sky above my head,
Bless to me Midhir,
The thing of my desire,
Thou Evermore of Evermore,
Bless to me my rest.

BEFORE TRAVELLING:

O thou Beings of the Heights and Depths,
Imprint thy blessings upon us,
Carry us safely to the haven of peace,
Bless our boatmen and our boat,
Bless our anchors and our oars,
Bless our halyard and mainsails
O thou Kings of the elements
Keep them in their place,
'Til we return home safely in peace.

BEFORE STUDYING:

Father Manannan,
You who reveals that which is concealed,
And conceals that which is evident,
Let me sup from the Well of Buan’s Hazels,
Let me drink from the Five Streams,
May I come to the Confluence of Wisdom,
To Perfections of goodness,
To the Heel of a sage,
To the Circuits of splendour.

BEFORE STUDYING:

Daughter of the Proud Flame,
Sister of the glorious sun,
You are welcome white morning,
Illuming level lands for me.
Mother Brighid, send forth thy fiery arrows,
Father Manannan, reveal that which is hidden,
Father Oghma, place thy chains from mouth to ear,
May my song come from the white plain of knowledge.

OR:

May I be the son of poetry,
Poetry, daughter of scrutiny,
Scrutiny son of meditation,
Meditation son of Great Knowing,
Great knowing, son of seeking
Seeking, Daughter of Investigation,
Investigation, daughter of Science,
Science, son of Great Good Sense,
Great Good Sense, son of Comprehension,
Comprehension, daughter of Wisdom,
Wisdom, daughter of the Three Gods of Art.

BEFORE COMPOSING OR DRAOIDHEACHD

It is by my will alone,
That I set my mind in motion,
It is by the grace of Brìgh,
thoughts become words,
Words acquire form,
Form becomes a making,
It is by my will alone,
I set my mind in motion.

BEFORE STARTING WORK:

Father Midhir,
You who cleared the stones from Meath,
And laid rushes over Tethba,
And built the causeway of Moin Lamhrige,
And withstood the men of Ireland,
May the work of hand and mind and voice,
Be an offering unto you this day.

BEFORE EXERCISE:

Father Lugh,
You who makes great play, sport and diversion,
Champion of champions that cannot be bested,
Thanks be to you for bringing me,
To the time to strengthen my muscles and refresh my mind,
May the work of muscle and sinew,
Be an offering unto you.

WEATHER PHENOMENA

THUNDER & LIGHTNING:

Hail an Daghda,
Whose voice is heard in the heavens, whose might is seen in the skies.

OR:

Hail Lugh,
Hardness that gives victory,
Piercer of Seven covers,
dispeller of Darkness

MIST OR FOG:

Fàilte (Hail) Manannan,
He who reveals that which is hidden,
And conceals that which is evident

DURING A STORM:

Fàilte (Hail) a’ Chailleach,
Striker of the black tempest,
Mistress of the gloom,
Raiser of Storms.

DURING RAIN:

Fàilte (hail) Donn,
Rider on the winds, cloud-gather,
Fair chief, whose beauty exceeds blooms,
Thank you for the gift of gentle rains,
That nourishes the fertile plains.

ON SEEING THE SUN:

Fàilte dhuibh, (Hail to thee),
Eye of the Great god,
Eye of the God of glory,
Eye of the king of hosts,
The king of the living.

ON SEEING THE MOON (other than New moon):

Fàilte a Ghealaich (Hail to thee thou moon),
Jewel of the night, fosterling of the sun,
Mother of the stars, Spring of Fullness.

BENEDICTIONS

GENERAL BLESSING:

Beannachd Bhrianna Leat/ Leibh!
The Blessings of the gods be with you!

ON RECEIVING A COMLIMENT, CONGRATULATIONS OR A GIFT:

My eye blesses you for that!

ON A DEPARTING FRIEND:

May the road rise up to meet you,
May the sun be always at your back,
May the gentle wind caress your face,
May the soft rains wash your soul clean,
May the Brianna (The Gods) hold you their hands,
Until we meet again.

OR:

The love of heaven be with you,
The love of the seas be with you,
The love of the earth be with you
Until we meet again.

ON A SICK FRIEND:

May Brighid spread her mantle over you.
May Eadaoin spread her wings over you.
May a' chailleach dispense the Balsam of Healing Teat to you.

GOOD WISHES:

Luck and prosperity to you!
Or Wealth and good fortune to you!

OR:

Be each day glad for thee.
Be no day ill for thee,
Be thy life joyful and satisfied.

OR:

Bounty of sea be thine,
Bounty of land be thine,
Bounty of heaven be thine.

OR:

Wisdom of serpent be thine,
Wisdom of raven be thine,
Wisdom of valiant eagle be thine.

ENCOMPASSMENT

The Brianna before me, The Brianna behind me;
The Brianna beside me, The Brianna above me;
The Brianna below me, The Brianna within me;
(At the end of each of the following lines bring the right hand up to the chest as if grabbing something.)
l bind unto myself this day, the power of life;
The power of death, the power of rebirth;
I bind unto myself this day the strong name of the Brianna,
By invocation of the same, the Three as one.
I bind unto myself this day the virtues of the starlit heavens,
The glorious sun's life-giving rays; The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free, The whirling winds tempestuous shocks

The stable earth, the deep salt sea around the eternal rocks.
I bind unto myself this day the power of Three to hold and lead,
Their eyes to watch; Their might to stay; Their ears to harken to my needs.
The will of Brianna to teach; Their hands to guide; Their shield to ward;
The word of Brìgh to give me speech; The Shining Ones to be my guard.
(Stand facing the east)
Against the demon snares of geis, the vice that gives temptation force;
The natural lusts that war within; the hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh, in every place and in all hours,
I bind unto myself this day the strong name of the Brianna,
By Invocation of the same, The three as one;
Of whom all nature hath creation, eternal Mother, Father, One;
Praise to The Shining Ones of my salvation.
(Extend your right arm out until it is parallel to the floor. Point with your index finger and move clockwise as you say the lines of the next two verses until you finish facing the east.)
The Brianna be with me, The Brianna within me;
The Brianna behind me, The Brianna before me;
The Brianna beside me, the Brianna to win me;
The Brianna to comfort and restore me.
The Brianna beneath me, the Brianna above me;
The Brianna in quiet and in danger;
The Brianna in the hearts of all who love me;
The Brianna in the mouths of friends and strangers.

Against their fierce hostility, 1 bind to me these sacred powers.
I bind unto myself this day the strong name of the Brianna,
By Invocation of the same, The three as one;
Of whom all nature hath creation, eternal Mother, Father, One;
Praise to The Shining Ones of my salvation.
(Extend your right arm out until it is parallel to the floor. Point with your index finger and move clockwise as you say the lines of the next two verses until you finish facing the east.)
The Brianna be with me, The Brianna within me;
The Brianna behind me, The Brianna before me;
The Brianna beside me, the Brianna to win me;
The Brianna to comfort and restore me.

The Brianna beneath me, the Brianna above me;

RANNAN - RUNES or VERSES

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