Celtic Chant, Poetry and Stories

Posted by Jackie O’Carroll

Celtic Chant, Poetry and Stories Posted by Jackie O’Carroll On Monday June 29th we welcomed Stefan Waligur to Liverpool, to St Bride’s and to our hearts! This was the first joint event of St Bride’s and Make Space – a community of people, based in Liverpool, seeking more joy and fulfilment in their lives.

Stefan Andre Waligur is also known as Macushla, an Irish term of endearment meaning "heartbeat of the Beloved". He is a contemplative, musician/composer, retreat leader and leader of new chant and kirtan around the world. Stefan brought an open heart, a clear voice and a deep, deep connection with all things Celtic, opening the evening by asking us all to introduce ourselves and then speak of our most beautiful memory. Many people spoke of the birth of their children, others spoke of sunsets, swimming in the sea. One person spoke of meeting with a Carthusian monk who stood with arms wide open, shouting ‘LIVE’, which he repeated three times! Thus the atmosphere for the evening was set…

We had wonderful stories of ancient Ireland, poetry of W.B. Yeats and a final blessing of John O’Donahue. In between we experienced Kirtan Chanting, with Stefan singing one line and us repeating it. So beautiful to be an echo of such heartfelt words and breath.

Stefan opened and closed with the same chant –

‘Arise my love, my dove, my beautiful one

Arise and come with me’

These words have stayed with me, echoing in my mind and my heart.

You can hear the whole chant here http://www.songsofpeace.net/home.html Stefan’s website is called ‘Songs of Peace’. Throughout his stay in Liverpool that is exactly what we felt – such peace and joy!