Walking the rounds
A central Celtic practice at sacred sites, such as churches, graves, crosses, and holy wells, is known as “walking the rounds.”
This involves walking sunwise (or clockwise) in a mindful way around various markers or monuments. The number of rounds varies but is often three to reflect the sacredness of that number in the Celtic imagination. There are pattern days associated with different holy places and a set number of rounds to walk in specific places along with certain prayers.
Walking helps to arrive to a place and slow down. Walking in a circular manner helps to move us out of linear ways of thinking and to open our hearts to receive God’s grace.
In daily life
Find a holy place to walk around. It might be a sunwise journey around a favorite tree, your church, or around the edges of a labyrinth. While walking the rounds, you might say traditional prayers like the Hail Mary and the Lord’s Prayer, but any prayers of the heart are welcome.
Scripture meditation
When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” — Exodus 3:4–5
Gracious God, as I journey today, may you be found not only in quietness of prayer, ocean’s edge or mountain peak, but in the bustle of everyday life; in children’s laughter, conversation, a beggar’s bowl, a busker’s song, market hall or production floor, sparkling eyes, a smile, a tear, lover’s embrace, high five, a hug, the struggle of increasing years. May you be found in pain and joy, gain and loss, for you are there, around, within, if we have eyes to see. Amen
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