Last night I came home from my trip to Ireland, where I had important time with friends and Brigit, and presented devotional poetry, song, and meditation at the Brigid of Faughart Festival as part of Brigid 1500. It was for me a profound and nourishing trip. I didn’t go out into the yard last night and I was busy inside till I went out just now to cut my month old fingernails. And this is what I saw.
Brigit of the mantles, Brigit of the peat-heap, Brigit of the twining hair, Brigit of the augury.
Brigit of the white feet, Brigit of the calmness, Brigit of the white palms, Brigit of the kine.
Brigit, woman-comrade, Brigit of the peat-heap, Brigit, woman-helper, Brigit, woman mild.
Brigit, own tress of Mary, Brigit, Nurse of Christ, Each day and each night That I say the Descent of Brigit,
I shall not be slain, I shall not be wounded, I shall not be put in cell, I shall not be gashed,
I shall not be torn in sunder, I shall not be despoiled, I shall not be down-trodden,
I shall not be made naked, I shall not be rent, Nor will Christ Leave me forgotten
Nor sun shall burn me, Nor fire shall burn me, Nor beam shall burn me, Nor moon shall burn me.
Nor river shall drown me, Nor brine shall drown me, Nor flood shall drown me, Nor water shall drown me.
Nightmare shall not lie on me, Black sleep shall not lie on me, Spell sleep shall not lie on me, “ Luaths-luis” shall not lie on me.
I am under the keeping Of my Saint Mary, My companion, beloved Brigit.
From Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations, in Gaelic with English translations, Volume III. Collected byAlexander Carmichael.
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