Walking the Circle
“In Radical Druidry, the sunwise walk can be used to “sain” or bless and purify a place to be defended, or to bless and purify those who are carrying out a direct action. The counter-sunwise walk can be used to banish negative forces or to call down spiritual wrath upon oppressors and their agents.”
Photo by Maria Krasova.
This is the fifth in a series of essays on magical-religious practices for radical pagans in the Celtic tradition. The purpose of these practices is to restore the broken pact of friendship between humanity and the gods, committing us to the protection of the Three Realms of Land, Sea, and Sky.
Saining, Blessing and Purification
According to Martin Martin of Skye:
When a Gael goes to drink out of a consecrated fountain, he approaches it by going round the place from east to west, and at funerals, the procession observes the same direction in drawing near the grave. Hence also is derived the old custom of describing sunwise a circle, with a burning brand, about houses, cattle, corn and corn-fields, to prevent their being burnt or in any way injured by evil spirits, or by witchcraft. The fiery circle was also made around women, as soon as possible after parturition, and also around newly-born babes. These circles were, in later times, described by midwives, and were described effectual against the intrusion of ‘daoine-sìth’ or ‘sìthichean’…
This deiseal or “sunwise” movement is auspicious and sacred in Celtic tradition, whereas the opposite tuathal or counter-sunwise movement represents bad luck, malevolent magic, or the presence of potentially dangerous fairy folk.
Walking deiseal protects and purifies; walking tuathal curses and breaks things apart. Walking deiseal is an effective counter against the attentions of dangerous spirits; walking tuathal attracts them.
Walking deiseal can also be done as a moving meditation practice, producing a feeling of calm alertness, or as a form of prayer when circumambulating a sacred place.
In Radical Druidry, the sunwise walk can be used to “sain” or bless and purify a place to be defended, or to bless and purify those who are carrying out a direct action. The counter-sunwise walk can be used to banish negative forces or to call down spiritual wrath upon oppressors and their agents.
The Circle of Brigid
Brigid is one of the most beloved and enduring deities in Celtic lore. The daughter of the Dagda, she can be seen either as a single goddess with three aspects or as three sisters with the same name: Brigid the Poet, Brigid the Smith and Brigid the Healer. A fire goddess and a water goddess with strong solar associations, Brigid is a complex and multifaceted deity yet her role in Irish mythology is surprisingly minimal. Most of the pre-Christian lore about Brigid is centered on a tragedy, the failed attempt to make peace between the celestial deities or gods (the Tuatha Dé) and the chthonic deities or giants (the Fomoire).
The truce between the Tuatha Dé and the Fomoire was brokered by the goddesses, who insisted that Bres be made king of the gods so that the two divine tribes might finally be reconciled. The marriage turned out badly, and Brigid's son Ruadan sided with the Fomoire when war broke out. As her son lay slain on the battlefield, Brigid keened and mourned him, thus inventing the tradition of keening for the dead. It is said that Brigid mourns the suffering and slaughter of every conflict. She is said to be the keeper of several mystical animals, including the Orc Triath or King of the Boars and the oxen Fe and Men. She also protects and inspires all bards and poets, heals diseases and fights for social justice. Brigid is described in some sources as the mother of the Tri Dé Dana or “three gods of art,” also known as Brian, Iuchar and Iucharba. The entire tribe of the Tuatha Dé Danann is supposed to be named after them. (The phrase can be read as “tribe of the gods of Danu,” with the “gods” referring to these three specifically.)
With your hands held up in front of you so you can see your palms (what I call the “Brigid” posture), begin by facing east and then walk sunwise in a circle, while visualizing a fiery circle of protection and blessing surrounding the space you are circumambulating and all those within it. (You can also choose to simply extend your arm and point two fingers at the center of the circle rather than using the Brigid posture.)
Complete one, three, or nine circumambulations, or walk until you feel that your meditation has come to an end. If you choose to, you can also recite a prayer silently as you walk.
The Wand of Druidry
Some people find it helpful to use a slat draoiocht or “magic wand” to focus their mental and spiritual energies when performing magic. To consecrate a wand of hazel, rowan, or some other sacred wood for this purpose, lay the wand on an altar, then perform the Circle of Brigid ritual around the wand by circling it nine times sunwise while visualizing a fiery circle around the space. Take up the wand and face east, then repeat this verse:
I consecrate this wand through the strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of rock.
As you speak each line, breathe in and raise both arms to about the height of your face, elbows bent, and fists clenched in the “Dagda” posture, holding the wand in either hand. Breathe out while crossing both arms across the chest in the “Donn” posture, then recite the next line as above until you are finished.
Repeat the prayer three times while facing each of the quarters in turn, then while pointing the wand upward and thinking of the Sky, while pointing it straight ahead and thinking of the Land, and while pointing it down and thinking of the Sea. The wand can then be used in any ritual or working, holding it in your hand to focus your mind and energy as you work.
Christopher Scott Thompson
Photo by Tam Hutchinson.
Christopher Scott Thompson is an anarchist, martial arts instructor, devotee of Brighid and Macha, and a wandering exile roaming the earth.
