Lorica Prayers

 

 

Fáed Fíada - The Deer's Cry

 

 

The Deer's Cry is a portion of a prayer called Saint Patrick's Lorica, or breastplate from around the 8th century CE in Ireland. The portion that makes up the Deer's Cry is thought to be a survival of an older traditional prayer by some people; whether it is or not it is a beautiful little prayer and very useful.

Old Irish:

"Atomriug indiu 
niurt nime, 
soilsi gréne, 
étrochtai éscai, 
áni thened, 
déni lóchet, 
luaithi gaíthe, 
fudomnai mara, 
tairismigi thalman, 
cobsaidi ailech." *

Modern Irish:

"Éirím inniú
I gcumhacht na bhFlaitheas,
I soillse gréine,
I ngile na gealaí,
In áilleacht tine,
I mire lasrach,
I luas gaoithe,
I ndoimhneacht farraige,
I mbuanseasmhacht talún,
I ndaingneacht carraige."**

English:

"I arise today
through the strength of heaven
the light of the sun,
the brillance of the moon,
the splendor of fire,
speed of lightning,
swiftness of wind,
depth of the sea,
stability of the earth,
firmness of rock."


*Old Irish courtesy of http://www.daltai.com/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/daltai/discus/show.pl?tpc=12465&post=10574#POST10574
** Modern Irish courtesy of http://www.cumannnasagart.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=18&Itemid=45

 

 

   So that is the Deer's Cry, an Irish prayer that is part of St. Patrick's Lorica. Lorica is a Latin word for a soldier's leather breastplate or corslet; in Christian tradition it was a prayer said for protection every day. I very much like the idea of this type of prayer and think that it adapts well to pagan use. I also think that it can help enrich and deepen our spiritual practice to have daily prayers we say to connect to things beyond ourselves and maintain the reciprical relationship we have with the Spirits around us. I believe the Lorica prayer - perhaps we could call it cathéide in Irish, which means armor - is a great thing to include in these daily prayers. In my own personal version I have blended the idea somewhat with the ideas seen in the Song of Amergin of relating to the many different parts of creation. Being that it is so personal I'm not comfortable posting my daily prayer here, but I will post another Lorica prayer I wrote. Perhaps it will be useful for others, or serve as inspiration for you to write your own.

   
A Modern Irish Pagan's Lorica

"I arise today in joy
Through the strenth of the sea,
Stability of the strong earth,
Endlessness of the eternal sky.
I bind to myself 
The endurance of my ancestors,
The eloquence of the poets,
The truth of the ancient Druids.
I bind to myself
The speed of the hawk
The courage of the deer
The wisdom of the salmon.
I bind to myself
The inspiration of the Gods
The mystery of the Otherworld
The illumination of Spirit
I summon today all these powers
between me and any dangers
Every day that I recite this prayer
I am protected from harm
In the names of my gods 
and by sea, earth, and sky"