"May my strength be increased,
May my tomb not be readied,
May I not die on my journey,
May my return be ensured to me."
____early Irish invocation (trans. CM)
Whenever we set out on a journey, fears and anxieties beset us. We repeatedly check our money, passport and plane tickets, and we leave instructions for the smooth running of the household in our absence. Even while we are busy with those details, part of us fears the dangers of travel - dangers that are perhaps no worse than those our ancestors faced. We are now more concerned with material things and less concerned with the spiritual support that accompanies us wherever we go.
Because some difficult journeys are unavoidable and come upon us suddenly, it is good to have our own ritual sequence to help us deal with anxieties of travel. My own ritual procedures for departing and returning are to bid farewell to my home and household and to speak to the spirit of the land to explain that I am going away. I seek protection and direction for my journey. At the airport I say final to the land on takeoff and commit myself to the spirits of the air; on landing, I greet the spirits of the land I am visiting and ask their help during my stay. I use my free time to explore the place I am visiting and to greet the local spirits of place. On leaving, I bid farewell and give thanks to all who have helped me. I reverse my procedures on coming home, greeting all in my own land and giving thanks to them.
I cannot say that this keeps me invulnerable from the dangers of travel, but it is a good way to travel, with its own cycle unfolding and continual support. It also banishes homesickness and enables me to truly engage with each land I visit.
"Meditate upon your own procedures for departing and returning. Make your own invocation for a safe return."
[From: The Celtic Spirit by Caitlin Matthews]
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