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Adapted from Carmina Gadelica
“Smooring the hearth fire” basically means making the hearth safe for the night – and presumably preventing house fires. Judging from several prayers associated with it in Carmina Gadelica, there was a ritual of protection associated with it. In the modern context we may extend it, symbolically, to blessing and protecting the home right before we retire for the night. For instance, one may check the lights, lock the doors, bring the dog in, make sure the gas is turned off and the candles blown out, that sort of thing. And, of course, if you do have a wood stove or a fireplace in your home, make it safe for the night as well. While doing that, something like the following ritual prayer may be said:
Brighid’s Smooring:
I am smooring the fire
In the eye of the One who bears me
In the eye of the Kindreds who guide me
In the eye of the Spirit that gives me life.
I am smooring the fire,
As the Lady Brighid would smoor,
As Brighid the Hearthkeeper would smoor,
The encompassment of Brighid of the mantles be upon us,
On the fire and on the floor,
And on the household all.
To save,
To shield,
To surround
The hearth,
The house,
The yard,
This eve,
This night,
Oh! this eve,
This night,
And every night,
Each single night.
In the name of All that is Holy, so be it.
A General Smooring:
I am smooring the fire
In the eye of the Mother who bears me
In the eye of the Father who begets me
In the eye of the Spirit that indwells me
I am smooring the fire
In the eye of the Gods who inspire me
In the eye of the Ancestors who guide me
In the eye of Nature Spirits who are kin to me.
The encompassment of Godde and all the Kindred Spirits be upon us,
On the fire and on the floor,
And on the household all.
To save,
To shield,
To surround
The hearth,
The house,
The yard,
This eve,
This night,
Oh! this eve,
This night,
And every night,
Each single night.
In the name of All that is Holy, so be it.
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