Caim Prayer

 

 

 

 

Circle me O God                                                        

Keep hope within

Despair without

 

Circle me O God

Keep peace within

Keep turmoil out.

 

Circle me O God

Keep calm within

Keep storms without.

 

Circle me O God

Keep strength within

Keep weakness out

 

New verses can be written  to meet new situations, as appropriate.

The Mighty Three                            

My protection be

Encircling me.

You are around

My life, my home *

Encircling me

O Sacred Three.

 

* The fifth line can be changed to encompass any person or situation we choose.

 

 

These are modern Caim prayers, written in the Celtic style by David Adam, a former vicar of St Mary’s Church on Holy Island.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The compassing of God and his right hand

Be upon my form and upon my frame;

The compassing of the High King and the grace of the Trinity

Be upon me abiding eternally,

     Be upon me abiding eternally.

 

May the compassing of the Three shield me in my means,

The compassing of the Three shield me this day,

The compassing of the Three shield me this night

From hate, from harm, from act, from ill,

      From hate, from harm, from act, from ill.

The compassing of God be on thee,                  

     The compassing of the God of life.

 

The compassing of Christ be on thee,                                   

      The compassing of the Christ of love.

 

The compassing of the Spirit be on thee,

      The compassing of the Spirit of Grace.

 

The compassing of the Three be on thee,

      The compassing of the Three preserve thee,

      The compassing of the Three preserve thee.

The Carmina Gadelica is a collection of hymns and incantations collected during the second half of the nineteenth century by Alexander Carmichael. They come from the highlands and islands of Scotland. Several examples of Caim prayers, passed down from long ago are included in the collection.