The Celtic Commandments

The ancient Celts had their own ideas about what is needed for the health of the spirit and the good of all, and those ideas have a whiff of wild magic and poetry about them. Read the commandments of the Earth-centered Celtic culture here, and see how they differ from those of the Judeo-Christian tradition.

Give thou thine heart to the wild magic,
To the Lord and the Lady of Nature,
Beyond any consideration of this world.
Do not covet large or small,
Do not despise weakling or poor,
Semblance of evil allow not near thee,
Never give nor earn thou shame.
The Ancient Harmonies are given thee,
Understand them early and prove,
Be one with the power of the elements,
Put behind thee dishonour and lies.

Be loyal to the Lord of the Wild Wood,
Be true to the Lady of the Stars,
Be true to thine own self besides,
True to the magic of Nature above all else.
Do not thou curse anyone,
Lest thou threefold cursed shouldst be,
And shouldst thou travel ocean and earth,
Follow the very step of the ancient trackways.

Read more: Spirit, Inspiration, celtic, commandments, Lord

From the Carmina Gadelica, ancient Celtic oral tradition.

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Julie F.

6:31PM PST on Feb 16, 2013

February 16
send a green star

Becky H.

8:35AM PST on Feb 16, 2013

i have read quite a bit of the Carmina Gadelica and studied Celtic Christianity. Whether you look at the Earth Religions or Christianity, the Celts drew themselves close to the God in everyday life. every action is an action of praise. i fear that is something that too many have lost, the praise of God. they focus on the fear and the Power. If we all worshiped as the Celts, whatever God you praise, we would all be more peaceful. I wish my fellow Christians would open to the God in everyday life and the praise in washing dishes.

Silvia G.

9:56AM PST on Feb 15, 2013

Thank you!

February 15
send a green star

Niki E.

2:47PM PDT on Jun 8, 2012

@reggie T ...its not just a "nice poem" its a way of life.

June 8
send a green star

Teresa W.

5:43AM PDT on Apr 6, 2012

nice

April 6
send a green star

Reggie T.

5:33AM PDT on Apr 6, 2012

Nice Celtic poem.

bharathi A.

6:37PM PST on Mar 4, 2012

Wonderful. Thank you

March 4
send a green star

Danielle I.

4:55AM PST on Jan 8, 2012

Thank You - just lovely :)

January 8
send a green star

Brenda T.

8:01AM PST on Dec 19, 2011

Today I discovered a Celtic poem from Gairloch:

Christ and the Swollen Breast

Death to thy germ that it may cease,
And death be thy swellings dower,
Unto thy breast let there be peace,
The peace of the King of power.

Let whiteness be unto thy skin,
And let thy swelling subside,
Wholeness be to thy breast within,
In thy pap fulness abide.

In the kind Father's holy eyes
The Son's holy eyes to thee,
In the holy eyes of the Spirit wise,
Mercy's eyes holy the Three.

From: "Poems of the Western Highlanders." G.R. D. McLean. 1961

Please send this blessing on to those who have Breast Cancer.