Seun Chaorach (Sain for Sheep)

Tha an t-earrach air thighinn a-nis agus ‘s e àm breith nan uan a th’ ann, agus mar sin, tha seun agam dhuibh a tha freagarrach ma bhios sibh ag obair le caoraich.

The spring has come and now it’s lambing season, so there’s no better time for a charm for sheep if you work with them.

Bha mi ri caraidean san leabharlann na bu thràithe an-diugh agus bha mi a’ sealtainn do aon dhiubh an dearbh leabhar seo – Ortha nan Gàidheal is nuair a dh’fhosgail mi an leabhar, landaig mi air an duilleag seo le ‘Sian Chaorach’ is smaoinich mi nach eil àm às freagarraiche ann air a shon.

Today I was in the library with some friends, showing one of them my favourite book – Carmina Gadelica, and when I opened the book I landed on this exact charm “Sain for Sheep” and thought to myself that there’s no better time to talk about this than now!

Seo agaibh, ‘Sian Chaorach’ à Ortha nan Gàidheal:

Here is the charm – Sain for Sheep from Carmina Gadelica:

Leis an t-seun a tha seo, tha e a’ gairm air Naomh Moire mar a bha tòrr seuna ron a seo. Tha e gu math cumanta ann an Eòlas (mar phractas draoidheachd) a bhith a’ gairm air Naoimh agus spioradan eadar-dhealaichte gus rudeigin a dhèanamh. An- seo ’s iad Naomh Moire agus Dia fhèin a chaidh ainmeachadh ach uaireannan chì sinn Naomh Calum Cille ’s an leithid.

With this charm we are calling upon the Virgin Mary just like many charms before this. It’s common in Scottish folk practice to call upon Saints and many different spirits in order to perform a magical act. The spirits called upon in this charm are the Virgin Mary and God himself.

Mura h-eil an creideamh seo a’ còrdadh riut, dh’fhaodadh tu Brìde a chur ann an àite Dia no Naomh Moire, no fiu ’s A’ Chailleach agus Am Bodach. Chan eil mi air an seun seo a chleachadh (leis nach eil mi ag obair ann an tuathanasachd) ach cuideachd, dh’fhaodadh tu seo ath-sgrìobhadh mar sheun dìdeanach do choin, agus pheataichean a dh’fhaodadh a bhith agad.

If you don’t practice Catholicism or aren’t a fan of the language in here, feel free to replace Mary with Brìde or even with A’ Chailleach and Am Bodach (the grandparent spirits of Scotland who created the land and rule over the animals). I personally haven’t used this charm because I don’t actually work on a farm, but it’s possible to change the wording to create a protective charm for, for example, dogs, and other pets you might have.

Co-dhiù, seo aon de na iomadach seuntan a th’ againn à Ortha nan Gàidheal agus bha mi dìreach airson criomag a shealltainn dhuibh agus airson a innse dhuibh gum faod sibh na h-ùrnaighean seo a dheasachadh mura h-eil iad ag obair dhut mar a tha iad mar-thà. Chan fheum sibh cead bhuam, ach tha e fhathast math a bhith a’ cur cuideam air a’ phuing ud co-dhiù.

This is just one of the many charms that we have from the Carmina Gadelica, and just one I wanted to show yous as I was inspired, but I also wrote this to let yous know that you can change and edit the prayers as you need if they don’t work for you already. Not that you need my permission to do this, but it’s nice to just emphasise that point anyways.