A Circle of Stones: Journeys and Meditations for Modern Celts - Erynn Rowan Laurie 1995

The Double Spiral Gate

Here is the spiral gate of Life and Death. It is the two High Days of the year, Samhain at the beginning of night, and Bealtaine, the day's bright dawn. The Double Spiral Gate represents the ebb and flow of time, and the passage of life and death. By flow and beginning we approach the Goddess Danu to begin the journey.

Tonn tuili

ocus ind I aithbi áin:

a ndo-beir tonn tuili dait

beirid tonn aithbi as do láim

Tonn tuili

ocus ind aile aithbe:

dom-áncatarsa uili

conda éolach a n-aithgni

(Irish source: Murphy, Gerard, Early Irish Lyrics, Eighth to Twelfth Century, Clarendon Press, Oxford 1956. From the eighth century poem "The Lament of the Old Woman of Beare.")

The flood-wave

and that of swift ebb

what the flood-wave brings you

the ebb-wave carries away.

The flood-wave

and that second wave which is ebb:

all have come to me

so that I know and control them.

tohn TILL-i

AH-kus inth ALL-a AHTH-vee ahn

ah NO-vayr tohn TILL-i dod

BAYR-ith tohn AHTH-vi as do lawv

tohn TILL-i

AH-kus inth ALL-a AHTH-va

dov AHN-ka-tar-sa WILL-i

CON-tha AY-a-lok a NAHTH-nyee

Moving meditations on the Double Spiral Gate

Meditate on the meanings of evening as the start of day, and Samhain as the year's beginning

Sit and watch a sunset

Examine the “gateway” points in your life and catalogue your significant personal and spiritual beginnings

Read about the initiatory process

Participate in the birth of someone or something

Learn the art of drumming, and meditate on the use rhythm as a gateway

Affirmation for the Double Spiral Gate

Today I acknowledge the sacred flow of time; beginning and ending; flow and ebb; the gateway that brings all things to birth.