Tree of Many Feathers:

The Tree of Many Feathers Sings Blessing on You

By

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Completed 9/27/2015
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The blessings of many feathers and flight upon you:
Lightness, love of air, love of sky,
May diaspora always be kind.
The blessings of trees and their branches and shade to you.
The blessings of migration, flocking together, finding home.
The brightest blessings of many colored feathers hung upon
The limbs of the earth tree.

As we scatter, may we remember,
As we remember, may we return.

For you, each of these feather-touched marvels sings sweet blessing—Dreathan-donn, Gocan, Iolar, Fitheach, Feannag, Druid
Faoileann, Uiseag, Gealbhonn, Seabhag, Gèabh, Eala, Gòbhlan-gaoithe, Snagan-daraich, Coileach-coille, Cuthag—

The blessing of quill and hook and wing are ever on you.
May you lay with utter confidence upon the back of the wind.
May the water be cool and clear, the seed filling, and the wine potent.
May this song, our song, be ever on your lips, the warmth lifting, leaves stirring—

May you rise. May you soar. May you fly.

Tha fios fitheach agaibh (The knowledge of the raven is on you)
Gheibheadh thu na feannag-firich (You could find the very Crows in the wood)
Cha chuala sibh a’ chuthag a-riamh gun bhiadh nur broinn (You will never hear the cuckoo before tasting food)
Druidheach—Magic—is not just a word spoken here. It is lived in flight.

On the boughs of the feather tree, we meet, we breathe in moonlight.
Beside the fire, we meet, we stretch together like wings,
We meet, we sing: Blessings, blessings, of the many feathers,
The blessed feather tree, the living home.
Where ever you may travel, whatever song may touch your ear,
You will be ever wise in our ways—and wiser for you, we are—
Where the tree of many feathers reaches for the sky.

 

Glossary:
Dreathan-donn—the wren
Gocan—tit
Iolar—eagle
Fitheach—raven
Feannag—rook/crow
Druid—starling
Faoileann—gull
Uiseag—lark
Gealbhonn—sparrow
Seabhag—hawk
Gèabh—goose
Eala—swan
Gòbhlan-gaoithe—swallow
Snagan-daraich—woodpecker
Coileach-coille—the black cock
Cuthag—cuckoo