One of the most beautiful traditions found in Celtic Spirituality is that of the circling prayer known as the ‘Caim’. The Celtic people have always been aware of the power and existence of dark forces and the need for protection. The word Caim in Irish Gaelic means protection or sanctuary so the idea of moving in a circle like the sun makes sense given it was an important part of worship for the ancient Celts. Turning sunwise around a person or sacred site was common practice. The ‘Caim’ can be found in the pre-Christian culture of Ireland, Scotland and Whales and interestingly was embodied in the Mabinogion as a protective spirit.
The act of blessing others and blessing oneself as a form of prayer is something we see in many cultures around the world. As a child my mother wouldn’t let us leave home without a reminder to evoke a prayer of protection. You’d be lucky to get out the door without being drenched in holy water! As a teenager, I thought she was a little eccentric and smiled when finding numerous protection prayers in my suitcase when I travelled away from Ireland.
Over the past thirty years, this certainly changed as I started to become more acutely aware of the need to protect my own energy and to bless my own life and extend blessings in equal measure to all creatures of this earth. This beautiful ritual has become part of my own daily practice and the simplicity of the ritual allows younger children to embrace its power when anxiety or life situations cause unease.
It’s a simple practice to make a Caim blessing. Think of this as a powerful invisible circle you draw around yourself and others for protection.
You can do this indoors or outdoors in nature. If indoors, you may choose to light some candles and place in a circle around your room. I do this on arising each day so I just use the space in the room.
With an invocation of prayer, standing point your right index finger to the ground.
I draw the shape of a circle, moving clockwise around myself or those whom I bring into my circle via my imagination. I often extend this protection to the nature around me, the animals, the plants and everything that I hold precious in this existence. I simply allow the prayer of my own heart each day to arise. The choice of prayer is deeply personal. You can use a set traditional circling prayer or just allow whatever arises from within.
Two of my favourite circling prayers are;
Circle of love
Open my heart
Circle of wisdom
Enlighten my mind
Circle of trust
Protect my path
Circle of healing
Grant me new life
My fortress
The sacred Three
My fortress be
Encircling me
Come and be round my hearth and my home
The Celts were very spiritual people and we know that their belief system was not just to the Gods but also to the moon, the sun, the stars, the rivers, the animals and the trees.
I am grateful that so many Celtic traditions from music, language, mythology and spiritual rituals have been passed down and can provide solace and healing today. Evoke the Caim prayer into your life and feel the protective energy surround you.
Helen O’Byrne
Registered Integrative Psychotherapist @celticsoulgoddess