… of an Irish mind.
author of wellness books and books about Irish culture.
In the Irish seanfhocail tradition you often find the best advice wrapped in wonderful imagery – it sinks the lesson in that bit deeper. One of my favourites is Ná bris do loirgín ar stól nach bhfuil i do shlí – Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way. […]
MoreThere is an Irish version of an universal proverb – An te chuireas, ‘se baineas – He that sows will reap. That’s often thought of as ‘put the effort in and you will gain, don’t and you wont’ – a sort of timely reminder to pull the finger out. In a mindful context, this seanfhocail could […]
More“The luck of the Irish” is a phrase that came out of the American and Canadian gold and silver rushes of the 19th century, were quite a large number of the most successful strikes were by prospectors/miners of Irish or Irish-American birth. There was a bit of racism in it – as if we were just lucky to make […]
More“There are seven herbs that nothing natural or supernatural can injure; they are vervain, John’s-wort, speedwell, eyebright, mallow, yarrow, and self-heal. But they must be pulled at noon on a bright day, near the full of the moon, to have full power.” -ANCIENT LEGENDS, MYSTIC CHARMS, AND SUPERSTITIONS OF IRELAND WITH SKETCHES OF THE IRISH […]
MoreSometime in our prehistory, Amairgen glúngel mac Míl aka Amergin (who came to claim Ireland as his own) set his right foot upon the shore of Ireland and pronounced the following magnificent utterence “Am gáeth i mmuir, Am tond trethan i tír, Am fúaim mara, Am dam secht ndírend, Am séig i n-aill, Am dér gréne, […]
MoreThe Song of Wandering Aengus (W.B Yeats – The Wind Among the Reeds. 1899) I went out to the hazel wood, Because a fire was in my head, And cut and peeled a hazel wand, And hooked a berry to a thread; And when white moths were on the wing, And moth-like stars were flickering […]
MoreExplore an exciting new book from ixia press – all about how to become more mindful and emotionally resilient through the wisdom of ancient Irish proverbs. Available from all good bookstores and online retailers. Ixia press (a Dover Imprint) presents inspiring books on leadership, business, spirituality, and wellness that foster a spirit of personal […]
MoreThe three good reasons of mindfulness. Trí saghas incheann: inchinn reatha, inchinn cloiche, inchinn chéarach – The three kinds of brains: a running brain, a rock brain, a wax brain. In Ireland we have a long tradition of triads – poetic, insights clustered in threes; like the one quoted above. Three is quite a sacred […]
MoreThere is an old Irish saying Is train de’n obair tus a chur – Making a beginning is one-third of the work. It does acknowledge that it is difficult to make a start but it also quantifies the reward and sets out the secret to success – the sacred three steps. So there is a […]
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