We don't like to talk about death much in our modern culture. We want everything to be positive and light and happy. We pretend that death is not happening. We like to keep it a private and almost shameful sort of thing. Our elderly are kept out of sight as they make their transitions and … Continue reading Death and Dying in the Celtic Tradition →

I recently shared an article about an old Irish poem written by a scribe long ago. In it the scribe understands himself by comparing what he does to his cat. By relating his own work as a scribe to his cat's work of catching mice, he explores the human condition and coveys a real sense … Continue reading To a Mouse: Learning From the Animals →

I would like to share a guest post with you from one of our community members and moderators in the Virtual Chapel. Jeff Campbell wrote another guest post about a year ago called The Universe Breaths in Me. This is an excerpt from his newest book coming out mid October 2020. I hope you enjoy … Continue reading Welcoming Prayer and Flat Tires →

As the ancient Celtic people embraced Christianity certain elements of their culture blended with the new way which they were living. In pre-Christian Celtic culture the bards were and essential part of society. Much more than simply entertainers, these poets were keepers of history and wisdom. In an oral tradition and culture a class of … Continue reading Pangur Bán: What You Can Learn From Your Cat →

Recently, I wrote about The Sacred Circle as an image for how God and creation relate to one another. Today I want to take that same simple image of the circle and talk about how it is traditionally used in the Celtic blessing known as a caim. The caim prayer is a separation of spiritual … Continue reading Caim: Blessing in a Circle →

Circles are perhaps the most common religious symbol in the world. They can represent a myriad of things but the obvious meaning which seems to weave through all the traditions who use it is that the circle is a kind of geometric perfection. It is simple and balanced and the beginning of all geometry. It … Continue reading The Sacred Circle: A Map of Creation →

Today is the first Sunday of the month when we share guest posts from people living and teaching the Contemplative and/or Celtic Christian way around the world. One of the beautiful things about the internet is that people doing amazing things in isolated parts of the world can learn from one another and grow together. … Continue reading Play as a Contemplative Practice →

Pelagius famously taught that human nature is good in its essence and that original sin, as Augustine taught it, is a dangerous doctrine that leads people away from virtue and into despair of ever being good. This is something I discussed recently in another article The Gift of Hope. This teaching that humans are naturally … Continue reading Original Sin or Inter-Generational Trauma? →

One of the greatest of the anamcaras whose writing has been passed down to us is known as Pelagius. He was likely a Welsh monk, originally named Morgan (which in Welsh means “sea-born”). It has often been said that we don’t have any surviving writings by Pelagius’ own hand - but that is not true. … Continue reading The Gift of Hope →

The early Celtic Christians were very fond of the wisdom of the Desert Mothers and Fathers. They integrated the lifestyle, teachings, and imagery of these Egyptian ascetics into their own way of life. Perhaps it was the common indigenous mindset shared by both these groups who had not been as thoroughly influenced by the Roman … Continue reading To Be Wise Like a Bee: Vice, Virtue, and Spiritual Flowers →