Encircling Prayers

In the Celtic tradition there is a spiritual practice known as encircling prayers of protection.  It is a kind of praying which brings both our heart and our physical body to the altar.  In  her book, "The Soul's Slow Ripening,"  Christine Valters Paintner writes, "It is an invisible circle drawn around oneself and one's body to serve as a reminder of God's protection and the presence of love and safety even in difficult times."  One of the most well known prayers of protection in Celtic spirituality belong to the St. Patrick tradition.  It is often called the breastplate prayer.

Anyone interested in praying in this tradition will need to get off their knees and onto their feet.  It begins by holding the right hand out toward the east and then slowly turning sunwise to face each direction.  At each position the Spirit is asked to bring blessings of protection against the things which are raised up against us.  Once the circle of prayer is completed, the circle travels with you.  Maybe for some it seems like a lot of unnecessary spiritual hocus pocus, but it is a way of bringing everything which is a part of us into the act of praying.

These are certainly days for prayers of protection.  While some of us may be able to stay sheltered more safely at home, many of those we love find themselves exposed to the danger of illness which is common to all of us.  These family members of ours as well as those who serve caring for the ones suffering can be put inside this circle of prayer by us as we bring them before the throne of God and seek the blessing of a safety which would provide protection for them from all the sides of their lives.