Brigid, bright shining red one and Imbolc

Yes, a ceramic Teapot! 

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.

-----------------------------------

 

A Brigid statue at a well, Ireland.

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I also bring my deepest love to those who are suffering from political power moves that are cutting into the lives of innocent peoples. And a huge level of gratitude for those who are standing up and resisting.

Reposting a favorite painting, by Wendy Andrew

The Buddhist monks on The Walk for Peace

---------------------------

This is an approximation, I think. But you get the point.

Finally a day of snow

 If you are one of my northern or Canadian friends, I understand that this would not be an event in your lives.

But after our not-much-of-a-storm last weekend, I dutifully planned for a day or even the weekend being stuck inside in case the 4 inches forecast of snow actually happened.

As usual the expected arrival Friday afternoon changed from 3 pm to 9 pm to after midnight, and before 2 am there was actual snow on the ground. Wow!

When I awoke at 5 am, more snow out there, so I rolled over till 8-ish, happy to be warm. There would be photo opportunities out my various windows. And if it kept up all day, it was unlikely that I could go anywhere else to get more photos for my friends.

Jan 31, 26, 8:19 am bedroom window looking downhill to the next building

8:22 front door window - that's my car's tail-end on the right. and it looks like 3-4 inches in the first 8 hours on the porch railing.

 8:26 from living room window

10:15 living room window - the same light pole was used in header, which was taken  around 8:20 am.

12:32 front door window...there's a man with a leaf-blower making snow fly - he cleared garbage bins as well as cars.

12:34 pm. He disappeared for the next hour (understandably since it was about 17 degrees F out)

He was back at 2:06 and blew the snow off steps and porch and sidewalk!

But it hadn't stopped snowing, so by 3:45 snow was coating everything again...just not as deep.

The landscape crew is hired to also provide snow clearance. This is the first year (well, the first snow amounting to anything) that they've done this service with a leaf-blower. There was just the one man, and his beard had icicles hanging from it. I'm glad the apartment management paid for this service, but wish he'd had a bit of help. However, many Latino people that have worked for their crews are looking for their own safety from ICE these days. I missed seeing them at the Mexican restaurant yesterday. 

At 4:15 the snow stopped, and I could finally see as far as I-40 through the trees over the buildings down the hill. A bit of traffic went by, not much! But the far ridge is still hidden from sight with fog and clouds. More snow is quite likely. And the temperature is dropping, it was 13 F at 4:20.

Tomorrow is Imbolc, Brigid's Day

The Walk for Peace continues in the cold of Virginia today, but they've canceled their visitation this evening. I wonder when snow will hit their area (again.)

Imbolc or Brigit's Day

As of last year, a great new national holiday in Ireland! 

Brigit's Day on February first! Here's an article from the Irish Times in 2023 where they said:

"Our first St Brigid’s Day public holiday. Brigid, Brigit, Bridget, Bríd, Bridie: whatever we call her, she was some woman, and her day, Lá Fhéile Bríde, or Imbolc, on February 1st has long heralded renewal and the traditional start of spring in Ireland."

Brigid the Triple Goddess, by Courtney Davis

Imbolc, another term for this day, was to celebrate the earliest spring milk in the sheep...which in our area don't lamb for another month. But ancient ways cannot be ignored.

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.

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. She taught her skills to other women - midwifry, or metal working, or writing of poetry. She is noted for teaching people how to keen after losing a loved one. And she is noted as the person who first used whistles to send signals to mates during nighttime battles (I won't go into why she ended up in a battle.) 

Brigid, the bright firey red one

Once she asked the king for an area where she could build a nunnery, or maybe to raise her animals and crops. The king smiled (you know that kind of smile) and said that she could have all the area her cloak could cover. Like that was a gesture of good will!

But Brigid had a magical cloak, and when she threw it out over the green hills of Ireland, it covered the whole of the island (or at least as far as the eye can see.) 

The Catholic church came into Ireland later (you've heard of St. Patrick?) and yet 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.

That the whole country of Ireland has made this a holiday speaks to the love of the Irish toward their historic goddess/Saint.  And having February 1 as her holiday gives a good celebration that's needed in grey winter...though with a promise of spring.

Of course there are rituals associated with Brigid. Kindling a fire. Blessings with pure waters. Blessing of the candles (fire sources). Reading poetry. Tying little ribbons, clouties with wishes for healing on branches of trees at her well, or other trees. Putting your own mantle (or any fabric) across a bush the night before Brigid's day. Making tiny straw Brigid crosses or little effigies of her.

I'll be at a Brigid's ritual on next Sunday afternoon. Our earlier UU church service will also speak about Imbolc.

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.

Bridgid and Imbolc

 A great new national holiday in Ireland! Brigit's Day on February first! Here's an article from the Irish Times yesterday.

Brigid the Triple Goddess, by Courtney Davis

Imbolc, another term for this day, was to celebrate the earliest spring milk in the sheep...which in our area don't lamb for another month. But ancient ways cannot be ignored.

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.

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. She taught her skills to other women - midwifry, or metal working, or writing of poetry. She is noted for teaching people how to keen after losing a loved one. And she is noted as the person who first used whistles to send signals to mates during nighttime battles (I won't go into why she ended up in a battle.) 

Brigid, the bright firey red one

Once she asked the king for an area where she could build a nunnery, or maybe to raise her animals and crops. The king smiled (you know that kind of smile) and said that she could have all the area her cloak could cover. Like that was a gesture of good will!

But Bridgid had a magical cloak, and when she threw it out over the green hills of Ireland, it covered the whole of the island (or at least as far as the eye can see.) 

The Catholic chuch came into Ireland later (you've heard of St. Patrick?) and yet 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.

That the whole country of Ireland has made this a holiday speaks to the love of the Irish toward their historic goddess/Saint.  And having February 1 as her holiday gives a good celebration that's needed in grey winter...though with a promise of spring.

Of course there are rituals associated with Brigid. Kindling a fire. Blessings with pure waters. Blessing of the candles (fire sources). Reading poetry. Tying little ribbons, clouties with wishes for healing on branches of trees at her well, or other trees. Putting your own mantle (or any fabric) across a bush the night before Brigid's day. Making tiny straw Bridgid crosses or little effigies of her.

I'll be at a Brigid's ritual on next Sunday afternoon. 

And then there's this...completely separate from all that's gone before:

idiolatry noun: Self worship.

Happy Imbolc

A gathering of women shared some of the old ways from when goddesses were talked about freely.

 Brigid crosses were made of many different things.

Brigid, the Celtic bright gold/red goddess of poetry, smith-craft, midwifery, animal husbandry, and healing!

Our carved candles arrayed around a simple altar, full of fun images like Brigid crosses, a Celtic Wheel, an album of an Irish pilgrimage, and musical instruments. We shared poetry, creativity, dance, singing songs to goddesses, eating wonderful snacks and getting to know each other better. Inanna's Daughters meet at the local UU Church on cross-quarter days of the old calendar. Today was Imbolc, or Candlemas.

The light of Imbolc

Brigid, bright and firey one.

Here's a great little song about -
Don't be afraid of the light that shines within you

Luka Bloom 2008

Shared on another blog, Here.

Snow everywhere!

It's mid December, and we had snow starting to fall a week ago Saturday.  I've actually been out every day except Sun and maybe Mon.  Just to drive around where it's been plowed.  Schools in Buncombe County were closed M-W, and a 3 hour late start on Thurs, but open Fri I think.  I wonder how working parents deal with having youngsters with no school to go to.  I bet lots of the parents are also home bound.

The Black Mountain Christmas Parade (rescheduled for Saturday) was canceled.  Today (Friday) has been in 40s and almost constant rain.  Fortunately tonight is due to stay warm, so perhaps more snow will melt away.  The piles along all the roads and parking lots have limited some of the places we can go.  And that's probably why nobody wanted to try to see a parade, since you can't even stand next to the main streets to watch it go by with the 2 foot high piles of snow.  Wet weather isn't going to bring many people out either.

I'm parking so that at least one of my front wheels is on pavement, which makes for interesting angles in the parking lots.  But everyone else is also dealing with this.  I wear snow boots, which have some nice grooves on the bottom to grip in icy snowy places.  There is just a bit of slush, which is finally responsive to an indent from my boot.  For several days, the snow had too much ice and I'd clump my boots in it to get traction.  And hold onto any solid thing nearby (like cars I was walking by.)

I worked in the BMCA* studio yesterday and today, made a small figure of Brigid...every time I've attempted to make that goddess/Saint, I've had trouble with the clay drying too fast.  So she's bagged up and hopefully will dry slowly since the rain will make the air in the studio damp.  It also may leak under the walls and flood the floors.  We had the shop vac out today trying to keep the floor dry...but we left at 1 pm.  I'm thinking it may or may not be open as scheduled at noon tomorrow.

*Black Mountain Center for the Arts.

I'm looking forward to a day with sunshine, even if the nights are growing longer each day until the 21st, Winter Solstice.  I've got several rituals to attend, so that's something I'm looking forward to.

I'm not quite feeling 100% these days...having finished the antibiotics, now working on the residual side effects. So I had a nice long nap this afternoon. Today I did my evening breathing treatment with the nebulizer while watching "It's a Wonderful Life" with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed...script and acting were so intricate even in a black and white film.

Bright goddess Brigid

As the light begins again in the turn of the wheel of the year, I am dealing with multiple physical problems. I can't even do what I most want to do to ignore them, because lying down to sleep brings one of them on. Hopefully medical professionals can help.

Brigid, whose day is celebrated Feb 2 every year, on a holy day of Imbolc. (which I originally published as Feb 1, but nobody who reads this knew I was wrong or bothered to correct me.  We've got to find some Celtic people out there to read this sometimes.)

These Brigid prayers are adapted from prayers and incantations collected by Carmichael.

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.

And we cannot forget she taught the Irish how to keen for their lost loves, and to whistle so that in the dark friends would know each other's positions when soldiering.

I lie half awake, at least comfortable for a while, and tears start pouring out.  My cat lies next to me, her tip of tail still twitching while the rest of her settles into relaxation.  Twitch twitch twitch...just an inch of it says she's still alert.  I stay alert rather than closing my eyes.  The tears are saying, I'm not done yet...there's more to do still in this lifetime.  Twitch.