The Paidirean - Céile Dé Prayer Beads. and Paidirean Pouches
(Gaelic. pron, Pahj-urinn). Some say that the Paidirean may be Druidical in origin but we cannot know for sure. They have always been used within the Céile Dé tradition and are also known to have been used in the days of St Columcille, or Columba.
There are specific prayers that can be spoken with the paidirean. Some of these are included on our Fonn CDs.
Each paidirean comes with a leaflet giving instruction on how to use these Celtic prayer beads, as well as two traditional Gaelic prayers (with translation and phonetics) to help start you off. For more detailed instructions, see also our instruction CD, ‘Praying with the Paidirean’ available for sale in the miscellaneous CDs section in our little shop.
The encircled cross is an ancient symbol found all over the world. Like the Céile Dé tradition, it spans both Pre-Christian and Early Celtic Christian Spirituality. We have chosen some very special Celtic crosses to accompany our prayer beads, one of which has been specially commissioned for us.
The Paidirean may be strung with different types of beads (see below). Whenever possible, the beads are carefully sourced from craftspeople for whom creating their beads is a spiritual practice.
Finally... drawing together all of these special ingredients, each Paidirean is ceremonially strung in Scotland by a Céile Dé Order member. One of the things that makes these prayer beads so special is that each ceremony takes place exclusively for each individual paidirean that is ordered. It takes two hours in total and involves prayer, meditation and continuous chanting during the stringing. Finally a blessing is spoken over the completed paidirean, which is anointed with oil and with water from our local holy well, which has been in use for at least 1500 years.
Most of the crosses are carefully chosen to match the beads. If however you would like to discuss a combination of a particular style of cross with certain beads that we have not included in the selection below, please contact us and we will be glad offer advice. If you have a particular semi-precious stone that is special to you and it is not shown below, do get in touch with us and we will let you know if we are able to specially order it for you.
This photograph will help you to get a better sense of the three different cross sizes.
Paidirean re-stringing
Since February 2010 we have been stringing our paidirinean in a new way that is much stronger and more durable. Accidents always happen though and you may need to have your paidirean re-strung sometime (a paidirean break is said to be a good omen!). Of course, you could always do it yourself or take it to a jewellers, but we are also happy to re-string it for you if you prefer to know that it will be well-strung and in a sacred context.
Below is our basic cost for a re-stringing, but the price may vary, depending on whether or not you need any replacement beads, etc, which is why we ask you to get in touch with us first.
Paidirean re-stringing |
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Price: £12.00 | Add To Cart |
Paidirean Pouches
Although a Céile Dé wears his or her paidirean all the time, there may be times when you need to keep yours in a safe and sacred place…
Pure, plain-woven white wool has long been associated with things spiritual. It is said that the Druids wore robes of white wool.. and the Céile Dé have continued this tradition. Our Paidirean Pouches are woven from the very same material that is used to make the Bán Tlacht (white habit) of a Céile Dé.
Made from pure, organic undyed tweed from the wool of Hebridean sheep, woven on the Isle of Mull overlooking the sacred Isle of Iona, each pouch is meditatively hand-stiched and embroidered with an equal armed Celtic cross by a Muinntireach (a member of the Céile Dé community). Finally, it is blessed with a 1200 year-old prayer of protection.
“Á Dé móir...Fri trudrach in domuin, olis mór a dínert, immutsa co mbántlacht.”
- Old Gaelic.
”O Great God... Against the incitement of the world, for great is it’s might, we stand around thee in white raiment.”
Paidirean Pouches |
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Price: £10.00 | Add To Cart |
NEW Bofhind Paidirean with Pewter Cross
'Bofhind' is Old Gaelic for 'White Cow'. Bofhind is a powerful Celtic Goddess after whom the river Boyne in Ireland was named; its source is said to be the Milky Way. Mother of the Goddess Brìghid, Bofhind is a Goddess of Fertility and 'Imbas Forasnai' – Spiritual knowledge.
The beads of this paidirean are made from the horns of sacred cows in India, who have been honoured in life and allowed to die naturally. The Celtic Cross is of pewter and is only a hair's breadth larger than our silver Céile Dé cross.
NEW Bofhind Paidirean with Pewter Cross |
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Price: £30.00 | Add To Cart |
Long Tiger Ebony Paidirean with Céile Dé Cross
These Tiger Ebony Beads are varying shades of warm brown. The colours deepen after use to rich shades of chestnut and charcoal. The wood feels lovely and smooth to use and is very hard wearing.
Don't let the photographs fool you. These crosses are larger and more solid than the more delicate 21 mm crosses on some of our other paidirinean. The large silver Celtic cross, based on a rock carving found on the sacred Isle of Iona. has been especially commissoned and hand-made for us by AosDana Silversmiths on Iona. The antique-finished cross bears the unique Iona hallmark.
Long Tiger Ebony Paidirean with Céile Dé Cross |
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Price: £45.00 | Add To Cart |
Iosa Paidirean with Iona Cross
The simplest, smallest and least obtrusive of all of our paidirinean. "Iosa", pronounced ee-sah, is Gaelic for Yeshua.
These little beads are prayerfully hand-carved in olive wood from Bethlehem. The honey-coloured beads, veined with dark brown very hard wearing, will last a lifetime and will deepen in colour with frequent use.
The silver cross is based upon an ancient rock carving, known as St Columba's pillow. found on Scotland's sacred Isle of Iona The antique-finished cross is specially hand-made for Céile Dé on Iona and bears a unique Iona hallmark.
Iosa Paidirean with Iona Cross |
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Price: £45.00 | Add To Cart |
Iosa Paidirean with Universal Cross
The simplest, smallest and least obtrusive of all of our paidirinean. "Iosa", pronounced ee-sah, is Gaelic for Yeshua.
These little beads are prayerfully hand-carved in olive wood from Bethlehem. The honey-coloured beads, veined with dark brown very hard wearing, will last a lifetime and will deepen in colour with frequent use.
The simple silver encircled cross is the most ancient image of the cross we know. Found in both early Celtic Christian and Pre-Christian carvings, it is a universal symbol, sacred to people from cultures everywhere.
Iosa Paidirean with Universal Cross |
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Price: £45.00 | Add To Cart |
Iona Rose Paidirean with Iona Cross
Since ancient times, the fragrance of Roses has been associated with the sacred. These unstained rosewood beads are left immersed in 100% pure rose essential oil for a whole month. As well as scenting the beads, the oil gives the naturally pinkish wood a rich amber colour. The fragrance will perfume your neck and fingers when you wear and use your paidirean.
The silver cross is based upon an ancient rock carving, known as St Columba's pillow. found on Scotland's sacred Isle of Iona The antique-finished cross is specially hand-made for Céile Dé on Iona and bears a unique Iona hallmark.
Iona Rose Paidirean with Iona Cross |
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Price: £50.00 | Add To Cart |
Iona Rose Paidirean with Céile Dé Cross
Since ancient times, the fragrance of Roses has been associated with the sacred. These unstained rosewood beads are left immersed in 100% pure rose essential oil for a whole month. As well as scenting the beads, the oil gives the naturally pinkish wood a rich amber colour. The fragrance will perfume your neck and fingers when you wear and use your paidirean.
Don't let the photographs fool you. These crosses are larger and more solid than the more delicate 21 mm crosses on some of our other paidirean. The large silver Celtic cross, based on a rock carving found on the sacred Isle of Iona. has been especially commissoned and hand-made for us by AosDana Silversmiths on Iona. The antique-finished cross bears the unique Iona hallmark.
Iona Rose Paidirean with Céile Dé Cross |
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Price: £50.00 | Add To Cart |
NEW Anam-choille paidirean with Céile Dé Cross
"Anam-choille" - is Gaelic for "Soul of the forest". These wild Baltic amber beads make this paidirean look like a necklace of living fire. Because the beads are wild amber, they are not uniform in size or colour - that raw and natural state is part of what makes them so special.
Amber, along with Pearl and Jet, have always been considered especially sacred... perhaps because, although they look like gemstones, they are of course not stones at all.
Amber is warm to the touch and is said to collect energy... a wonderful way to gather up the power of your prayers and carry them with you close to your heart.
NEW Anam-choille paidirean with Céile Dé Cross |
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Price: £55.00 | Add To Cart |
Rose Quartz Paidirean with Céile Dé Cross
This soft-rose shaded semi-precious gemstone is said to activate the heart, which, in the Céile Dé tradition is often called the "virgin womb of our spiriitual re-birth".
Don't let the photographs fool you. These crosses are larger and more solid than the more delicate 21 mm crosses on some of our other paidirean. The large silver Celtic cross, based on a rock carving found on the sacred Isle of Iona. has been especially commissoned and hand-made for us by AosDana Silversmiths on Iona. The antique-finished cross bears the unique Iona hallmark.
Rose Quartz Paidirean with Céile Dé Cross |
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Price: £55.00 | Add To Cart |
Moss Agate Paidirean with Céile Dé Cross
We especially love the variegated shades of soft blue-green of this gemstone, because the colours reflect exactly the many colours of the water off the coast of the Western Isles of Scotland on a sunny day.
Don't let the photographs fool you. These crosses are larger and more solid than the more delicate 21 mm crosses on some of our other paidirean. The large silver Celtic cross, based on a rock carving found on the sacred Isle of Iona. has been especially commissoned and hand-made for us by AosDana Silversmiths on Iona. The antique-finished cross bears the unique Iona hallmark.
Moss Agate Paidirean with Céile Dé Cross |
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Price: £55.00 | Add To Cart |
Amethyst Paidirean with Céile Dé Cross
A deepest, rich shade of purple. These gemstones seem to make the silver of the cross glow with life.
Don't let the photographs fool you. These crosses are larger and more solid than the more delicate 21 mm crosses on some of our other paidirean. The large silver Celtic cross, based on a rock carving found on the sacred Isle of Iona. has been especially commissoned and hand-made for us by AosDana Silversmiths on Iona. The antique-finished cross bears the unique Iona hallmark.
Amethyst Paidirean with Céile Dé Cross |
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Price: £60.00 | Add To Cart |
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