I’m always inspired by the beginning of a new year. There’s something potent and significant about turning that calendar page. This year has been especially challenging for the world. But it’s comforting to know that human disagreements and difficulties have always been present, and humanity has survived.
Throughout history, prayers and benedictions have been offered to ensure the safety and well-being of people. These blessings from different faiths and traditions from around the world show us that humans, despite their differences throughout the centuries, have many things in common.
Here are my favorites:
An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
A Nigerian Prayer
May togetherness of this earth continue to guide us and may the divine bring peace and understanding to protect the world.
A Hawaiian Prayer
May the earth continue to live.
May the heavens above continue to live.
May the rains continue to dampen the land.
May the wet forests continue to grow.
Then the flowers shall bloom
And we people shall live again.
A Buddhist Prayer and Healing Chant
Just as the soft rains fill the streams,
pour into the rivers, and join together in the oceans,
so may the power of every moment of your goodness
flow forth to awaken and heal all beings–
those here now, those gone before, those yet to come.
Scottish Blessing Prayer
May the blessing of light be on you, light without and light within.
May the blessed sunlight shine on you like a great peat fire, so that stranger and friend may come and warm himself at it.
And may light shine out of the two eyes of you, like a candle set in the window of a house, bidding the wanderer come in out of the storm
Celtic Rain Blessing
May the blessing of the rain be on you—the soft sweet rain.
May it fall upon your spirit
so that all the little flowers may spring up,
and shed their sweetness on the air.
May the blessing of the great rains be on you,
may they beat upon your spirit
and wash it fair and clean,
and leave there many a shining pool
where the blue of heaven shines,
and sometimes a star.
Signing off for another year, and may you, my wonderful readers, find peace and love in 2019,
Diane
Thank you, Diane! I wish you the very best of health and happiness in 2019.
Thank you, Lynne!
Diane, I am so glad you and this precious community are in my life. I also love to turn the page and await the new adventures. Wind, rain, light, spirit and new growth, may they all point us towards peace.
Beautiful Blessing at the end of your comment, Alexandra! May we especially have Peace!
Thank you Diane for making my Sunday morning so enjoyable. Wishing you and Bob a healthy and happy New Year!
Cheers, Brenda
Thank you, Brenda! My sincere wishes for a wonderful 2019 for you!
All of these blessings and prayers are just lovely. Thanks so much for this post. May 2019 be a good year for us all. Happy New Year and biggest of hugs. Write on!
Yes, Stephanie, I hope to write like crazy this year! And I wish you much happiness and success in your writing as well! Happy New Year!
Thank you, and Happy New Year!
One of my favorite poems is this ancient Sanskrit one:
Look to this day!
For it is life, the very life of life.
In its brief course
Lie all the truths and realities of existence:
The joy of growth,
The splendor of action,
The glory of power.
For yesterday is but a memory,
And tomorrow is only a vision;
But today, well lived, makes every yesterday
a memory of happiness,
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore, to this day!
The last verse is especially evocative, Jean. This is a beautiful passage, and bears reading over and over. Thank you, and have a wonderful 2019!
Such beautiful blessings, especially the Sanskrit one. I did have a little chuckle, though, that so many refer to soft or gentle rains. No wonder there isn’t one from Australia, our land of “droughts and flooding rains” to quote Dorothea Mackellar (Australian poet). Have a Happy New Year and all the best for 2019.
True—possibly they all originated in England—land of mists and mellow fruitfulness! Thanks, Gwen, and have a great 2019!
Hi Diane. All the best to you and yours. See you in the new year.
Neil
Et tu, Neil. See you then!
thank you Diane for all your inspiration throughout the year… both ancient thoughts and new.
it’s much appreciated. as are You!
Happy New Year dear bean! xo
And thank you, tammy j, for your excellent support throughout the year—it was very much appreciated! Have a happy 2019!
I might be an atheist but I’ve always liked that Irish one, It says it all without useless flowery words
It does get to the heart of the matter, doesn’t it. For me, it’s between a hymn and a poem—very moving. Thanks, Lord BOB, and Happy New Year to ye!
Thank you Diane, I hope your New Year brings you much happiness 🙂
Thank you Diane and it gives me great pleasure to reciprocate and greetings and good wishes for the new year.
Rummuser, I’m happy that my post resonated with you! Thank you for being a friend and a great support!
Your good wishes reciprocated, Diane. May our friendship continue
Connecting through our blogs has been a wonderful experience, Derrick! Many happy returns!
🙂
What lovely words to read at the change of the year! Thank you, Diane, and I wish you a Happy and Peaceful New Year!
Thank you for those thoughts, and may you have a wonderful and healthy 2019!
I greatly enjoyed reading these blessings, Diane.
Wishing you a wonderful 2019 ahead!
And you as well, Donna!
Happy New Year Diane to you and your family.
I’m late to the party as usual – however I did enjoy all those little blessings above. And of course the Irish one is well known to me and close to my heart ❤️
Best wishes for a Happy Healthy and Wealthy New Year ( in all manners, shapes and form)
So lovely to hear from you, Cathy! I’ve been watching your blog, just to soak in some of that sunshine—since we are having nothing but rain, here on the Pacific West Coat of Canada! Enjoy what’s left of your summer, and a Happy New year to you!
What beautiful blessings! And considering that we are expecting a Saturday full of chilly rain, a nice reminder of how important rain is to the life of so many. Blessings to you and yours for the New Year, Diane.
I’m beginning to like the rain, Pam—might as well, there’s been so much of it this year! I can’t imagine how hard it is for plants and wild life when everything’s dry—rain gives us life, for sure!
There’s nothing like the pitter patter of rain on the rooftop and windows to create a beautiful lullaby for napping or reading. 🙂
I was quite sure those blessings wouldn’t offend anyone—no matter what their faith or lack of! Hope you have a happy and healthy 2019!
A very Happy New Year to you Diane. Even this old atheist can accept the odd blessing, although I don’t make a habit of it … 😉
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