Rabbit rabbit to wish you good luck for the new month!
The Calleigh and Brigid by Sue Ellen Parkinson
Brigid is considered the patroness of poetry, smithing, medicine (midwifery,) arts and crafts, cattle and other livestock, sacred wells, and the arrival of early spring.
As of 2023, Brigit's Day was declared a national holiday in Ireland.
Imbolc, another term for this day, was to celebrate the earliest spring milk in the sheep...which in our area in North Carolina don't lamb for another month. But ancient ways cannot be ignored.
Brigid was honored as a goddess first...of smithcraft, poetry and healing. The most miraculous events in her life were retold at this time yearly. All of our first histories were oral history. Until someone started writing down the old stories. So earliest stories may differ from place to place.
The Catholic church came into Ireland later (you've heard of St. Patrick?) and there soon was this wonderful Saint Brigid. Her good works seemed very similar to the goddess Brigid. There was a physical well where healing might take place. And an eternal fire that was tended by the followers of the Saint, only women allowed. The story was that they would tend the fire for 19 days, and then on the 20th Brigid herself would keep it burning. The original well still exists, and the place where fires were tended.
Brigid Dark and Bright
In the steep and common path of our calling,
Be it easy or uneasy to our flesh,
Be it dark or bright for us to follow,
May your perfect guidance be upon us.
Brigid of the Forge, be thou a shield to us!
Brigid of the Fold, be thou our shepherd and our healer!
In each secret thought our minds may weave, Brigid of the Loom, give us sweet clarity.
In our grief or pain or sadness,
Brigid of the Well, heal us, strengthen us, stand with your mighty shoulder near to ours.
And in our joys and in our bliss, Brigid of the Hearth, Keeper of the Bread plate, Maker of Beer,
Dance with us as we waken the great round garden of the world.
This is an approximation, I think. But you get the point.
Beautiful images and post Barb! Happy February! Have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your good wishes. Have a great week yourselves!
Delete...keep looking for the light and have a Fabulous February.
ReplyDeleteOle Sol is shining again though the temperatures are still in the pits.
DeleteWhite rabbits, and happy St Brigid's Day. She's the patron saint of practically everything a person needs.
ReplyDeleteThe Irish figured out a good saint for many needs, didn't they?
DeleteI like how you and Vicki do the rabbit thing.
ReplyDeleteHappy St Brigid Day.
I was quite impressed with Vicki’s artwork today.
DeleteYes! "And a huge level of gratitude for those who are standing up and resisting."
ReplyDeleteI do really appreciate them all! It's amazing how many people were out in the freezing cold this weekend.
DeleteDays are definitely getting longer. When I drive to El Campo at 5 for yoga at 5:30, the sun is higher and no longer right in my face. Try as the patriarchy might it cannot erase our goddesses.
ReplyDeleteNature will continue, perhaps in slightly different forms, like the climate changes of storms and temperatures. Goddesses are so connected to the natural world. Glad you're doing yoga!
DeleteWe may be at the half way point on the calendar but winter lasts a lot longer here in New Hampshire.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely still winter but somehow Imbolc is halfway to the spring solstice. The next half we could consider downhill, even though we'll still be dealing with grey skies and nothing much green outside.
DeleteNot sure I'd feel all comfortable using that teapot... ;-)
ReplyDeleteI agree completely...it's more sculpture than functional! Good luck to you in the next month, no matter whether we use the rabbit teapot or not!
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