Alexander Carmichael (1832–1912)

I wanted to read this because it was a source of some beautiful prayers in Calvin Miller's Celtic Devotion book, which I read last year.
This book is a neat combination of history, folklore, prayers and blessings collected by Alexander Carmichael in Scotland in the 1800s. In a long introduction describing his experience, he says

Whatever be the value of this work, it is genuine folk-lore, taken down from the lips of men and women, no part being copied from books. It is the product of far-away

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thinking, come down on the long stream of time.

The customs described were fascinating, and what really struck me was that there seemed to be a blessing or prayer for every occasion. I was touched that they even had blessings for their cattle as they sent them out to graze.
I highlighted a few of my favorite lines. This is one I liked, part of a blessing said while kindling a fire.

God, kindle Thou in my heart within
A flame of love to my neighbor,
To my foe, to my friend, to my kindred all,
To the brave, to the knave, to the thrall...

I enjoyed the poetry of the language, and I felt like I learned something too. Neat book. show less

Prayers, cures, blessings, cursings, spells..... (although Christian ones). The strength and truth of this approach lies in its awareness of the holiness of everyday life. There's no false separation of sacred and secular, everything is of God. An inclusive, not exclusive way. I bought my copy on Iona.

A quintessential gathering of the myths, superstitions, folklore, prayers, hymns and magic of the Scots Gaelic people. Without Alexander Carmichael's research and travels much of this lore would have been long since lost and forgotten He did a great service in perserving their culture and managed to convey it in a very unbiased manner.

Alternate Title: Charms of the Gaels Hymns and Incantations With Illustrative Notes on Words, Rites and Customs, Dying and Obsolete; Orally Collected in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland by Alexander Carmichael