DASG Blog

Eòlas air Euslaint Dhaoine: Pàirt 5 (Seuntan an aghaidh Thinneasan Dhaoine)

Welcome back to "Eòlas" about illnesses! This week we will have a look at charms and spells against illnesses of others. You can find more information about the spells and charms in an article written by Mr A. MacBain in the Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, XVII.

Buaidh Casgadh Fola [For Staunching Blood]
“Tha mise dùnadh an lot seo mar dhùn Dia Flaitheanas air luchd-gearraidh fuilt agus feusaig air latha na Sàbaid”!
[“I am closing this wound as God closed heaven against those who cut hair and beard on the Sabbath day.”]
I am hopeful that this isn't the case, I wouldn't want to hear that after cutting my face shaving myself on a Sunday!

Grèim-Mionaich/Snaim Mionaich [Colic]
“An ainm an Athar, a’ Mhic ’s an Spioraid Naoimh!
Duine fiat/dian a-muigh,
Bean fhial a-staigh,
Crìosd na laigh air calg an lìn –
‘S math an leigheas air an t-seilg sin.”
[“In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!
A fierce churlish man without,
A hospitable wife in the house,
Christ a-lying on the beard of flax –
That is a good cure for the spleen.”]

Sùilean goirte [Sore Eyes]
“Obaidh nan geur-shùl,
An obaidh ‘s fheàrr fon ghrèin;
Obaidh Dhè, an uile-mhòr.
Fèile Mhàiri, fèile Dhè,
Fèile gach sagairt ’s gach clèir;
Fèile Mìcheal nam feart,
’Chàraich anns a’ ghrèin a neart.”
[“A charm fr sore smarting eyes,
The best charm under the sun;
The charm of God, the all great.
Beneficence of Mary, beneficence of God,
Beneficence of each preist and each cleric;
Beneficence of Michael, the strenuous,
Who bestowed on the sun its strength.”]
 
Obaidh Leamhnad à Chataibh [A Stye Spell from Sutherland]
“Thàinig cailleach à Loch Abair
’Shireadh sgadain à Loch Bhraoin.
Cha d’ iarr i air peighinn
Ach na chunntadh i gun anail –
Sgidear sgadan h-aon, sgidear dha, sgidear sgadan trì... sgidear sgadan ceud!”
[“A carlin came from Lochaber
To seek herring from Lochbroom
She did not ask for the penny
But what she could count without drawing breath.
Scatter of herring one; of scatter herring two, scatter of herring three... scatter of herring one hundred!”]
 
2) Seun Leamhnad [Stye Spell, version 2]
“Leamhnad a h-aon
Leamhnad a dhà
Leamhnad a thrì...”
[“Stye one,
Stye two,
Stye three...”]
 
3) “Ma thig a h-aon ort,
Gu m’ ann nach tigeadh dha ort;
Ma thig a dhà ort,
Gu m’ ann nach tigeadh trì ort;
Ma thig...
Ma thig naoir ort,
Gu m’ ann nach tigeadh deich ort,
Ma thig deich ort,
Gu m’ ann nach tig leamhnad ann ad shùil sin tuilleadh.
*Anail a tharraing*
Ma thig deich ort,
Gu m’ ann nach tigeadh naoi ort,
Ma thig naoi ort...
Ma thig ochd ort...”
[“Is one come on you,
May it be that two don’t come;
If two come, may there not come three...
If ten come on you,
May it be that nine won’t come...”]
 
Leigheas Sùl [Eye Healing]
“Luibh Chaluim Chille agus spèir,
Meannt agus trì-bhilead còrr,
Bainne atharla nach do rug laogh;
Bruich iad is càirich air brèid,
‘S cuir sìd rid’ shùil aig trà-nòin,
Air an Athair, am Mac agus Spiorad nan gràs,
‘S air Ostal na seirce; bidh do shùilean slàn
Mun èirich a’ gheallach ’s mun till an làn.”
[“(Take of) St Columba’s wort and dandelion,
(Of) min and a perfect plant of marsh trefoil,
(Take of) milk from the udder of a quey
(That is heavy with calf, but that has not actually calved),
Boil, and spread the mixture on a cloth;
Put it to your eyes at noon-tide,
In the name of Father, Son, and Spirit of Grace,
And in the name of (John) the Apostle of Love, and your eyes shall be well
Before the next rising of the moon, before the turning of next flood-tide.”]
 
Èirigh Chìoch-Shlugain/Chìoch-chinn [Raised Uvula]
[“Eòlas Cìoch-shlugain”] A piece of seaweed with a nipple-like appearance would be found, of the name “alltuinn dhearg”, in salted waters and it would be attachted to the crook, reciting –
“Ann an ainm an Athar, a’ Mhic agus an Spiorad Naoimh, air cìoch-shlugain _”
[“In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, for the uvula of _”.]

We will continue next time with more “Eòlasan” against people's illnesses. I hope you are not suffering with any illnesses of the sort aboce and that you are all well and healthy. Do you know any of the “eòlasan” or charms above? Do you know of any other ones? Let us know on facebook, twitter and our website!