What is it to be a Devotee of Brigid?

Image: A green square topped with a large pair of yellow quotation marks, followed by the quote:

What is it to be a Devotee of Brigid?

It is a whole life, it is every part of life, it enters everything, whether you are aware of it or not. It starts as a small connection, a simple offering, a lightbulb going off when something in her lore makes sense of a part of your existence, and before you know it she has her hearthlight shining in every question, every crisis, every calling, every song.

Mael Brigde

(At the bottom is the logo og Moon Books, publisher of A Brigit of Ireland Devotional - Sun Among Stars by Mael Brigde.)

Join Mael Brigde for Daily Brigit Devotions, Nineteen Days & One

 I have been wanting to make contact with the Brigit community in January, but have been uncertain what offering I could make. An online gathering? A long contemplation, as I did last year? Nothing felt exactly right, particularly as I have been hard hit by the death of my brother in October, and have very little bandwidth for anything energetic.

 

Finally I realised that what I most wanted was to spend some quiet time with Brigit and her devotees over the days leading up to her festival – regular, repeated, simple, and brief – as an offering and as a way of preparing for Imbolc.

 

Therefore…

 

I would like to share my daily devotions with you for the nineteen-plus-one days leading up to and culminating in Lá Fhéile Bhríde, Saint Brigit’s Day, and Imbolc.

 

Beginning on Thursday, 13 January 2022, I will be streaming via Facebook Live each day at 11:45 A.M. Pacific Standard Time // 7:45 P.M. Irish Standard Time // 6:45 A.M. Australia Time (this last is on the following date).^[1] Just come to my profile page: 

www.facebook.com/mael.brigde/ at that time. I'll be there as close to that time as tech allows.

Reading to Brigit

 

One of the reasons I wanted to write a book of Brigit was so that I would have a book of Brigit. Now that I have an advance copy in my hand I can do what I wanted with that unknown book:

Use it in my devotions.

I was a little apprehensive that reading my own poems and prayers, which form the lion's share of the book (the divine cow's share?) would feel odd. But I'm not finding that at all. So far, when I am doing my daily devotional, I have been reading one piece aloud. I began the practice with the thought that it was "for" me, but for the last couple of days they have been addressed to Brigit, specifically. I've realised that, of course, although I benefit enormously from having them to focus my mind on her and what she is, has been, and means to me, more than anything, these writings are hers. The sense they immediately return to me, from the decade of moments when I sat and wrote them, is of great love for, and strong connection to the saint and goddess who embraced me long ago.

This is a good thing. Something to cherish, and not to feel embarrassed by. I wrote us a book -- Brigit, and me, and you, if you can benefit from this companionship, these stories of Brigit, these words of petition and praise. It feels wonderful to finally hold it, and use it as it was meant to be used. 

The poem I read today was "Well Offering," and that reading was part of what prompted me to write this post. You can read it on my Brigit poetry blog, Stone on the Belly.

Image: The poem "Well Offering" in the advance copy of A Brigit of Ireland Devotional - Sun Among Stars.

What? Not Another One of Those!

I have a nascent Page on Facebook where I intend to bring together the various streams of my Brigidine activities, but as I'm in the thick of other things as well, it's developing slowly. Of the posts I have, this little altar shows up several times--in different capacities, of course. So when I was moved to put yet another image of it up, I had a little inward laugh, thinking of the groans of people who've seen all of the others already.

What? Another picture of my main Brigit altar? Where's the variety? Well, that's kind of the point. Being here again, sitting with her.

I almost skipped my devotions today. I’m up late after a poor sleep, and I have work to do. I've spent time on the necessities of the day, so I should get straight to work—right?

So I always think. But I was reminded again that this IS my practice: finding time for self-care, time with Brigit, time with silence and sound and awareness beyond "getting things done." Then on top of it all I discover that the dish the candle sits in has waxy spills. I think, "This needs to be cleaned. She needs something new there." And another fifteen minutes are spent on that.

So, yes. I’m getting started on what I don’t discount as "work" rather—very—late today. But I am coming to it fed not only by what is given and received in the doing, but by the fact that I made it my priority when I was kidding myself that it was less important. It is as important to me as working on my book, another offering to Brigit. It is even more important than keeping up with my Irish lessons, much as I love doing that work and much as I dislike falling behind. So I wanted to share this quiet moment of contentment with you before I go do what I can to get my Brigit devotional out into the world.

Sweet blessings.

***

My Facebook Page, Brigit's Portal, can be found at this link.

Image: Brigit altar, photo by Mael Brigde.

Brigit Meditation, Daily Devotional with Mael Brigde

I went to perform my daily devotional and meditation today when it struck me that this might be a useful thing to share--that some folk may find it helpful or enjoyable to do a Brigit devotional along with someone else, so I made a very humble video of it. I ended up uploading it on Facebook on Brigit's Portal. If this embed doesn't work, you can find it at this link.

Twenty Day Brigid Devotion with Clann Dord Fiann (Starts Today!)

I am very keen to participate in this shared-yet-solitary daily offering to Brigit as we move toward Imbolc. What a wonderful idea! We begin in less than an hour--8 PM Irish time, noon British Columbia time--but the devotion may be done any time during each twenty-four hour period. Whatever works best for you. I'll let Clann Dord Fiann explain.

FLAMEKEEPING/ BRIGIDMAS/ IMBOLG 2019

For 2019 Clann Dord Fiann are working each evening from the 12th of January to the 31st with a 20 day devotional work with and to Brigid. As part of the extension of our work to have a public face, we invite others to join this activity if they wish. It is solitary and requires no other involvement.

Each day at 8pm (Irish time) we light a candle to Brigid and speak or sing the text of Gabhaim molta Bríghde/ I Give Praise to Brigid, a traditional Irish song and poem. This time is ideal, but need not be followed if not fitting with your life. This may be done at any time each day. We will post daily reminders at 7 daily for the 20 days. For those who would like to work with the text as gaeilge, but who do not speak the language, Gaol Naofa has a phonetic version. http://www.gaolnaofa.org/library/music/gabhaim-molta-bride/ . For the first 19 days we light and extinguish the candle after speaking Gabhaim molta Bríghde and a period of reflection. On the 20th day, Brigids eve, reeds are gathered for crosses, and an effigy of Brigid is brought to the place of the candle, be it an image or a Brideóg. An accompanying verse may be desired of this arrival of Brigid. A historical example is:

Oiche Bhríde brichíneach
Bain an ceann den croiceanach,
Gabhaigí ar na glúnaí,
Déanaigí umhlú
Is ligigí isteach Bríd Bheannaithe.
‘Sé beatha, ‘sé beatha, sé beatha.

"On St Brigid’s night
Take the head off the rushes,
Go on your knees,
Make obeisance
And let St Brigid in.
You’re welcome, you’re welcome, your welcome."

The candle is lit in a safe container and allowed to burn out in the company of Brigid, for on the 20th day Brigid keeps the flame.
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Gabhaim molta Bríghde Text (Gaeilge/ English)

Gabhaim molta Bríghde, iníon í le hÉireann
Iníon le gach tír í, molaimís go léir í.
Lóchrann geal na Laighneach, soils’ ar feadh na tíre
Ceann ar óigheacht Éireann, ceann na mban

Tig an Geimhreadh dian dubh, gearra lena géire
Ach ar lá le Bríghde, gar dúinn Earrach Éireann.
Iníon le gach tír í, molaimís go léir í.
Gabhaim molta Bríghde, iníon í le hÉireann

I give praise to Brigid, daughter of Ireland
Daughter of all lands, let us praise her.
The bright torch of Leinster, shining across the country
The leader of Ireland’s youth, leader of women.

The house of Winter is dark, cutting with its sharpness
But on Brigid’s Day, Spring in Ireland draws near to us.
I give praise to Brigid, daughter of Ireland
Daughter of all lands, let us praise her.