In need of spiritual resource, help!

[Fox]

Here is something a little different concerning tattoos of paritta. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sak_Yant

[MacLowlife]

I expect you have already acted, but if not, consider
PERADVENTURE

This comes from the story ( passed on by Ian Fleming ) that spies will say "peradventure" when wishing to be disguised, from Psalm 139:


If I say , Peradventure the darkness will cover me then shall my night be turned to day.


It will give you something to discuss, at any rate...

[Heming]

"the lord protect your entry and exit" is a common blessing here. There is also a verse from the old testament (sorry, no idea what the books are called in English): it is better to be two than one, for if one falls, the other may help him up. A doubled twine will not break as easily.

[kiltedwolfman]

How about,

I shall not fear the dawn before me for those I have known have already gone there, and none who travel after me shall fear the sunrise as I have gone before and made the way safe.

It's not religeous in most contexts but something with a spiritual seed that I came up with. It implies simply that if those older than us have faced the dawn and done so safely then all those after them can too.

[JamieKerr]

Thank you for the great suggestions guys. And no, I have not acted yet. I will be going to my artist on Saturday. In the meantime I made a sign to put up in my kitchen...


It's lyrics from the Moody Blues song "minstrel's song"

[Paul]

I think a dreamcatcher would be a good idea... it filtered through good dreams and ridded of the bad ones according to tradition.

[CDNSushi]

Not my bailiwick but what if, instead of an actual St. Christopher medallion, you got an image of one tattooed on you?


hotlinked image.

[Bugbear]

Actually, I think you should have some prehistoric-like, archetypal cave art tattooed on you. Something shamanistic and primal.

[MacRobert's Reply]

Probably too late for your tatoo but there is a large collection of Gaelic hymns and incantations from the highlands and islands of Scotland, collected by Alexander Carmichael in the 19th Century. Known as the Carmina Gadelica, it is published in English by Floris Books, Edinburgh, 1992. Pages 209 to 222 have prayers for protection.

There is also the Lorica (brestplate or shield) of St Patrick. Here are some of the lines from one translation:

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward;
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan’s spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart’s idolatry,
Against the wizard’s evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave, the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
By Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

Iain

[NewGuise]

Too late to be of use to you, and not exactly an emblem of protection, but certainly all about life as journey: a labyrinth. Many styles to choose from, classical through medieval to modern.

What did you end up getting?