CARMINA GADELICA

Ortha nan Gaidheal

THE CONSECRATION OF THE SEED

I will go out to sow the seed

In name of Him who gave it growth;

I will place my front in the wind,

And throw a gracious handful on high.

Should a grain fall on a bare rock,

It shall have no soil in which to grow;

As much as falls into the earth,

The dew will make it to be full.

Friday, day auspicious,

The dew will come down to welcome

Every seed that lay in sleep

Since the coming of cold without mercy;

Every seed will take root in the earth,

As the King of the elements desired,

The braird will come forth with the dew,

It will inhale life from the soft wind.

I will come round with my step,

I will go rightways with the sun,

In name of Ariel and the angels nine,

In name of Gabriel and the Apostles kind.

Father, Son, and Spirit Holy,

Be giving growth and kindly substance

To every thing that is in my ground,

Till the day of gladness shall come.

The Feast day of Michael, day beneficent,

I will put my sickle round about

The root of my corn as was wont;

I will lift the first cut quickly;

I will put it three turns round

My head, saying my rune the while,

My back to the airt of the north;

My face to the fair sun of power.

I shall throw the handful far from me,

I shall close my two eyes twice,

Should it fall in one bunch

My stacks will be productive and lasting

No Carlin will come with bad times

To ask a palm bannock from us,

What time rough storms come with frowns

Nor stint nor hardship shall be on us.