The winter festival season is upon us. The winter solstice is of course December 21, and many celebrate Festivus. Then there's Squidmas and Christmas and Kwanzaa.
Here is my seasonal wish for you:
Peace with me, Peace before me, Peace behind me,
Peace in me, Peace beneath me, Peace above me,
Peace on my right, Peace on my left,
Peace when I lie down, Peace when I sit down, Peace when I arise,
Peace in the heart of every person who thinks of me,
Peace in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Peace in every eye that sees me,
Peace in every ear that hears me.
Peace with you, Peace before you, Peace behind you,
Peace in you, Peace beneath you, Peace above you,
Peace on your right, Peace on your left,
Peace when you lie down, Peace when you sit down, Peace when you arise,
Peace in the heart of every person who thinks of you,
Peace in the mouth of everyone who speaks of you,
Peace in every eye that sees you,
Peace in every ear that hears you.
Readers familiar with Christian writing will recognize this as an adaptation of the prayer and hymn known as St. Patrick's Breastplate. However, in my youth, I read a great deal of North American ethnography and these sentiments have been also expressed there. I imagine it is a fairly universal expression.
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