My godson has recently negotiated the maelstrom that is the first few days at university. I wish I had written this earlier, but I’m grateful to him that he’s inspired me to write something that I (and if you want, you too) can dedicate to freshers of future years.
Blessing (after John O’Donohue)
May you land gently in your new world.
May your living space fold around you like a cloak.
May your things find their space and settle into invisibility.
May you find friends who will brave your fragility, hold your insecurity, cherish your uniquity.
May you spend a lifetime’s laughter in a night, and do the same tomorrow; may you find layers of self surfacing from the inner unknown; may you dance and dream and create and love – yet not come home drunk in the morning.
May your studies reward you with new insight and skills and re-weave the network of your mind; may you give expression to originality and beauty; may you find fulfilment in creating newness, as your Father does.
May your life uncurl and extend and reach for the future. May love capture you and bring you home. May you be Blessed, now and always.
Apart from the coming home drunk and study specific phrases, this is a lovely blessing for all changes of circumstance throughout life- moving home, or for adopted / fostered children… new family.
I’m glad you think so! Feel free to adapt to your own circumstances should you need to. I’m not patenting anything yet!