Poet Craig A. Roberts, tangata-tiriti, is from Aotearoa New Zealand,  the emergent island highlands of a vast drowned continent Te Riu-a-Māui (Zealandia). He lives above the deep realm of oceans on e Ika-a-Māui (North Island),  one of over 700 isles. There is a mountain close by called Kapakapanui. From its slopes the waters of the Waikanae River flow to the sea. His father’s forbears left their beloved mountains and glens of Central Highlands of Scotland to Glasgow, and his mother’s left the ripe fields of Northumbria. Over the generations the journeys of Craig’s forebears brought them to these tectonic isles. 

Nowadays he writes through a Celtic lens on the restorative grace of Solas Chrìost [Christ’s Light] transforming yesterday’s fight with tomorrow’s life. 

He has published five books on journeying with Ìosa Crìost amid the ‘otherness of life’ around us.

When asked to express his core Christian beliefs he says, ‘there is One God Father Almighty made known to us through the God the Son and the Spirit’, and recites this poem:

Pilgrim Journeys

We are partakers of God 

through the Holy Spirit.


We are transformed by God

through the power of the Cross.


We become made fully human,

the image of Christ - the glory of God.


It’s an intimate journey 

with our Triune God.

An Gèadh Fiadhaich 

As you read Craig’s writings you will find he draws treasured phrases from the poetic language of his forebears, Scots-Gaelic. 

The Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost) also has a poetic name  used by Celts, The Wild Goose. In Craig’s writings he transcends our cluttered urban worlds, comfortable cultural norms and tamed imaginations using the Scots-Gaelic name for The Wild Goose, An Gèadh Fiadhaich.

Anthropologist Brian Fagan in his book ‘The Little Ice Age’ records how in the eighth century Irish Monks, skilled seamen, often followed the Spring migration of wild geese as far north as Iceland. As they journeyed across dangerous seas towards hidden lands they placed their trust and lives in these wild geese.

The monks did not settle permanently on isles in these journeys, these were pilgrim journeys. As they journeyed the monks listened for and followed the call of the Holy Spirit with a deep sensitivity and commitment, just as they did in following the wild geese. Their practical accomplishment as ocean sailors to follow the wild geese and their pilgrimage to follow the Holy Spirit were inseparable as lungs are to our breath.

The name  ‘An Gèadh Fiadhaich’ permits us to engage with the Holy Spirit with deeper Celtic intimacy. It calls us pause for just a moment to reflect afresh on the movement of God’s Spirit within, before, beyond and through us.

Spend a few moments with these two poems:

 Heart of the Wild Goose.

An Gèadh Fiadhaich