Sacred Texts  Legends/Sagas  Celtic  Index  Previous  Next 

 

p. 42

p. 43

CRONACHDUINN SUIL [140]

THWARTING THE EVIL EYE

 

THE results of the evil eye appear in yawning and vomiting and in a general disturbance of the system. The countenance assumes an appearance grim, gruesome, and repulsive--'greann, greisne, grannda.'

This formula for removing the effects of the evil eye is handed down from male to female, from female to male, and is efficacious only when thus transmitted. Before pronouncing it over the particular case of sickness, the operator proceeds to a stream, where the living and the dead alike pass, and lifts water, in name of the Holy Trinity, into a wooden ladle. In no case is the ladle of metal. On returning, a wife's gold ring, a piece of gold, of silver, and of copper, are put in the ladle. The sign of the holy cross is then made, and this rhyme is repeated in a slow recitative manner--the name of the person or animal under treatment being mentioned towards the end. In the case of an animal a woollen thread, generally of the natural colour of the sheep, is tied p. 43 round the tail. The consecrated water is then given as a draught, and sprinkled over the head and backbone. In the case of a cow the horns and the space between the horns are carefully anointed.

The remnant of the water, no drop of which must have reached the ground previously, is poured over a corner stone, threshold flag, or other immovable stone or rock, which is said to split if the sickness be severe. Experts profess to distinguish whether it be a man or a woman who has laid the evil eye:--if a man, the copper adheres to the bottom of the upturned ladle, significant of the 'iomadh car,' many turns in a man's dark wily heart; if a woman, only the silver and gold adhere, the heart of a woman being to that of man--not in this case, 'as moonlight unto sunlight and as water unto wine'--but as gold and silver to copper and brass. Old women in the Highlands say that if men's hearts were laid bare they would be found to contain many more twists and turns and wiles than those of women.

 

 

p. 42

 

p. 43

C

             CO a thilleas cronachduinn suil?
             Tillidh mise tha mi ’n duil,
             Ann an ainm Righ nan dul.
             Tri seachd gairmeachdain co ceart,
             Labhair Criosd an dorusd na cathrach;
                  Paidir Moire a h-aon,
                  Paidir Righ a dha,
                  Paidir Moire a tri,
                  Paidir Righ a ceithir,
                  Paidir Moire a coig,
                  Paidir Righ a sia,
                  Paidir Moire a seachd;
             Tillidh seachd paidrichean Moire
                  Cronachduinn suil,
             Co dhiubh bhitheas e air duine no air bruid,
                  Air mart no air earc;
             Thusa bhi na d’ h-ioma shlainte nochd,
                       [An t-ainm]
An ainm an Athar, a Mhic, ’s an Spioraid Naoimh. Amen.

 

             WHO shall thwart the evil eye?
             I shall thwart it, methinks,
             In name of the King of life.
             Three seven commands so potent,
             Spake Christ in the door of the city;
                  Pater Mary one,
                               Pater King two,
                  Pater Mary three,
                  Pater King four,
                  Pater Mary five,
                  Pater King six,
                  Pater Mary seven;
             Seven pater Maries will thwart
                  The evil eye,
             Whether it be on man or on beast,
                  On horse or on cow;
             Be thou in thy full health this night,
                           [The name]
In name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

Next: 141. Exorcism of the Eye. Eolas A Bheum Shula.