Celtic Wisdom Quotes

Spirituality is the art of transfiguration. We should not force ourselves to change by hammering our lives into any predetermined shape. We do not need to operate according to the idea of a predetermined program or plan for our lives. Rather, we need to practice a new art of attention to the inner rhythm of our days and lives. This attention brings a new awareness of our own human and divine presence. ~ John O'Donohue

Three things which inspire the poet:An eye to see the world clearly A heart which feels sincerely And courage to render faithfully Little Book of Celtic Wisdom compiled by Giuletta Wood ~ Colette Ni Reamonn Ioannidou

An old Celtic proverb boldly places death right at the center of life. 'Death is the middle of a long life,' they used to say. Ancient people did things like that; they put death at the center instead of casting it out of sight and leaving such an important subject until the last possible moment. Of course, they lived close to nature and couldn't help but see how the forest grew from fallen trees and how death seemed to replenish life from fallen members. Only the unwise and the overly fearful think that death is the blind enemy of life. ~ Michael Meade

Sometimes our spiritual programs take us far away from our inner belonging. We become addicted to the methods and programs of psychology and religion. We become so desperate to learn how to be, that our lives pass, and we neglect the practice of being. ~ John O'Donohue

In the Celtic world, and especially in the Celtic world of the senses, there was no barrier between soul and body. Each was natural to the other. The soul was the sister of the body, the body the sister of the soul. As yet there was no negative splitting of dualistic Christian morality, which later did so much damage to these two lovely and enfolded presences. The world of Celtic consciousness enjoyed this unified and lyrical sensuous spirituality ~ John O'Donohue

It is far more creative to work with the idea of mindfulness rather than the idea of will. Too often people try to change their lives by using the will as a kind of hammer to beat their lives into proper shape. This way of approaching the sacredness of one's own presence is externalist and violent. It brings you falsely outside yourself, and you can spend years lost in the wilderness of your own mechanical, spiritual programs. You can perish in a famine of your own making. If you work with a different rhythm, you will come easily and naturally home to yourself. Your soul knows the geography of your destiny. Your soul alone has the map of your future, therefore you can trust this indirect, oblique side of yourself. If you do, it will take you where you need to go, but more important it will teach you a kindness of rhythm in your journey. There are no general principles for this art of being. Yet the signature of this unique journey is inscribed deeply in each soul. If you attend to yourself and seek to come into your presence, you will find exactly the right rhythm for your life. ~ John O'Donohue

Far sooner than your mind, your body knows how privileged it is to be here. It is also aware of the presence of death. There is a wisdom in your physical, bodily presence that is luminous and profound. Frequently the illnesses that come to us result from our self-neglect and our failure to listen to the voice of the body. ~ John O'Donohue

Sure as I am breathing, sure as I'm sad I'll keep this wisdom in my flesh I leave here believing more than I had This love has got no ceiling ~ Eddie Vedder

You have beautiful ears if you listen to the plight of others,
beautiful hands if you carry the burdens of others,
beautiful eyes if you look out for others,
beautiful feet if you visit others,
a beautiful tongue if you encourage others,
a beautiful mind if you enlighten others,
a beautiful heart if you comfort others,
and a beautiful soul if you love others. ~ Matshona Dhliwayo

If God is satisfied with the work, the work may be satisfied with itself. ~ C.S. Lewis

It is not our right to punish one for thinking as he does, no matter how much we disagree. ~ Oliver Bowden

The same thing happened to me that, according to legend, happened to Parmeniscus, who in the Trophonean cave lost the ability to laugh but acquired it again on the island of Delos upon seeing a shapeless block that was said to be the image of the goddess Leto. When I was very young, I forgot in the Trophonean cave how to laugh; when I became an adult, when I opened my eyes and saw actuality, then I started to laugh and have never stopped laughing since that time. I saw that the meaning of life was to make a living, its goal to be- come a councilor, that the rich delight oflove was to acquire a well-to-do girl, that the blessedness of friendship was to help each other in financial difficulties, that wisdom was whatever the majority assumed it to be, that enthusiasm was to give a speech, that courage was to risk being fined ten dollars, that cordiality was to say "May it do you good" after a meal, that piety was to go to communion once a year. This I saw, and I laughed. ~ Soren Kierkegaard

The ultimate aim of the quest must be neither release nor ecstasy for oneself, but the wisdom and the power to serve others. ~ Joseph Campbell

Foolish people laugh at things they do not understand, producing the sound of braying donkeys. ~ Wayne Gerard Trotman

Water is happy when it falls; water is happy when it rises! We call this as wisdom! ~ Mehmet Murat Ildan

Words, they say, are the food of minds. But, like other foods, they can do little by themselves. ~ Idries Shah

There is no real distinction between who can and cannot be a teacher. All that matters is that this person should have knowledge of the subject matter, empath and compassion with others, and, above all, a great sense of humor which is the true mark of wisdom. ~ Charbel Tadros

When we share intelligence, wealth, or love, we grow. ~ Debasish Mridha

Letter from Philippus of Athens to Lucius Annaeus Seneca: Yet the Empire of Rome that [Octavius] created has endured the harshness of a Tiberius, the monstrous cruelty of a Caligula, and the ineptness of a Claudius. And now our new Emperor is one whom you tutored as a boy, and to whom you remain close in his new authority; let us be thankful for the fact that he will rule in the light of your wisdom and virtue, and let us pray to the gods that, under Nero, Rome will at last fulfill the dream of Octavius Caesar. ~ John Edward Williams

There are two possibilities: accept the reality or change yourself to get ready to accept the reality. ~ Debasish Mridha

Basically, being alive means keeping yourself ready for the sky to fall in on you at any time. If you start from the assumption that existence is only an ordeal, a test we have to pass, then you're equipped to deal with its sorrows and its surprises. If you persist in expecting it to give you something it can't give, that just proves that you haven't understood anything. Take things as they come; don't turn them into a drama. You're not piloting the ship, you're following the course of your destiny. ~ Yasmina Khadra

I see a lot of people complaining about the things they can fix, and a lot of people being accepting of the things they cannot change.
Maybe tragedy really is the catastrophic event, for the way people view their lives.
I would rather be wise, than nieve. ~ Nikki Rowe

There is no love in war but there is a lot of war in love. ~ Katja Michael

If I could, Sister James, I would certainly choose to live in innocence. But innocence can only be wisdom in a world without evil. Situations arise and we are confronted with wrongdoing and the need to act. ~ John Patrick Shanley

Never forget to see the beauty, even in ugliness. ~ Debasish Mridha

Increase in vision comes with wisdom to reap the harvest ~ Sunday Adelaja

There is no wall strong enough that love and kindness can't reach through. ~ Debasish Mridha

The only limitations are the ones we put on ourselves. ~ Ita Buttrose

Better guide the young than reclaim them when old For the voice of true wisdom is calling "To rescue the fallen is good, but tis best To prevent other people from falling" Better close up the source of temptation and crime Than deliver from dungeon or gallery Better put a strong fence round the top of the cliff Than an ambulance down in the valley. ~ Joseph Malins

Never pursue happiness, just be happy. ~ Debasish Mridha

Knowledge, idea, belief stands in the way of wisdom. ~ Jiddu Krishnamurti

Those who hate rain hate life. ~ Dejan Stojanovic

What is it, Father?" Picket asked as Mother tenderly took Jacks from him. "It's only that, when you're older, you hand out wisdom to your children like you know everything, but it is sometimes hard to follow your own advice. ~ S.D. Smith

Before, you are wise; after, you are wise. In between you are otherwise ~ David Zindell

We like to forget and underestimate the power of love and kindness, more often than not, it can change a life and a society. ~ Debasish Mridha

Knowledge is a tenant in the house of wisdom. ~ Matshona Dhliwayo

Balance is the key to my serenity. I attain balance by listening to my inner wisdom and to the wisdom of others. There is no situation in which I cannot find a point of balance. There is no circumstance in which I cannot find inner harmony. As I ask to be led into equilibrium and clarity, I will find that my answers come to me. I am wiser than I know, more capable of right action and attitudes than I yet believe. In every event, I seek the balance point of God's action through me. ~ Julia Cameron