Celebrate Brigit with Mael Brigde & Friends

 

This is my last call to those who may want to spend some time with myself and friends celebrating Brigit (and of course launching my book, A Brigit of Ireland Devotional - Sun Among Stars).

Inspired by Geraldine Byrne's book launch*, I wanted to make mine a community celebration centered on Brigit and on our poetic connections to her, not just about me or my (beloved!) book.

You are welcome to join us on 28 August from 1:00-2:30 PM Pacific Time (starts 9:00 PM Irish Time) for poetry, prayer, & song. To receive a Zoom link on the day, you will need to register (see link below), or you can watch on Facebook Live on my Page, Brigit's Portal.

REGISTER to attend via Zoom.

BRIGIT'S PORTAL to watch on Facebook (live or later).

I am very much looking forward to seeing how our joint celebration unfolds.

Brigit's blessings. 💖

Note: The Body Politic by Geraldine Moorkens Byrne.

Competition: Win a Copy of A Brigit of Ireland Devotional

Win a copy of A Brigit of Ireland Devotional - Sun Among Stars by Mael Brigde.

Follow this link to Brigit's Portal - Classes, Gatherings, Poetry, Tools for a chance to win a signed advance reading copy of my upcoming book (on sale 27 August 2021).

TO ENTER:

METHOD ONE:    

* Like my Facebook page, Brigit's Portal - Classes, Gatherings, Poetry, Tools -

* Share the competition post to your Facebook homepage (and anywhere else you like!)

* Comment below the competition post on Brigit's Portal with something you treasure about Brigit, Goddess or Saint (or both).

METHOD TWO:

If you are not on Facebook:

* Subscribe to this blog, Brigit's Sparkling Flame

* Share this post &/or the meme above on social media

* Comment below with something you treasure about Brigit, Goddess or Saint (or both).

The winning name will be drawn on 31 January 2021.

Good luck!

Orlagh's Blog - Brigid's Forge

For those of you not aware of it, Orlagh Costello, founder of the Facebook group, Brigid's Forge, also has a blog of the same name (subtitled: Fiction and research about Brigid, Irish deity, saint, and so much more). In it she writes clear, insightful posts, in which she draws on her experience as an Irish woman, and a devotee of Brigit. Her teachings are accessible and very human. They can aid us not only in our devotional practice, but simply as humans seeking to live well in an often troubling world.

About her blog, Orlagh writes:

Brigid’s Forge is a place for me to blog about Brigid, Irish deity, saint, nun, ollamh, and much, much more. Being Irish, I’ve grown up with stories about Brigid, practices about Brigid, superstitions about Brigid my whole life. Our landscape here in Ireland is covered in sacred wells, placenames and other indications of our love of the being in question. This blog is a mix of fiction (clearly labelled as such), the results of my research into our Irish lore on her and the topics I think link to her, as well as my writings on my energetical practices and modern issues I believe she would be interested in.

Today's post is Native vs Non-Native Brigid. I invite you to have a read, and follow Orlagh wherever you can. 

Great news, by the way: Orlagh is working on a book about Brigit. I can't wait to read it. 

Watch Together on Boxing Day: "Brigit as a Constant Companion"

 

Watch Party: 26 December 2020 NOON Pacific Time (UTC +8) 

Please note that depending on where you are, this date and time will be quite different. Eg it is 7 PM on the 27th in Melbourne.

(More details at the bottom of this post)
____________________________________________

After the stress of the last year and in the wake of a public holiday, I want to invite you to spend time quieting your mind and body and joining me in contemplation of Brigit. I will be there the whole time and around afterward for a while if anyone wants to comment or ask any questions. Though you may be feeling too inward for that then. You are welcome to talk to me later if you like.

"Brigit as a Constant Companion, a Contemplation" employs images, words, and silence. You may wish to bring something small—a photo or object—that reminds you of yourself in a positive way and something else that reminds you of Brigit. If it would help you create a better environment for contemplation, you may want to light a dedicated candle and prepare a dish of water, perhaps with healing herbs floating in it. Have ready a comfortable place to sit, a snuggly blanket to pull around you if you get cool, and a flask of water in case you get thirsty.

WHAT: "Brigit as a Constant Companion, a Contemplation" Watch Together (not really a party  )

LENGTH: This video is approximately an hour and twenty minutes

WHEN: 26 December 2020 NOON Pacific Time 

WHERE: On the day, please follow the link at the top of this page to see the video. If you aren't there at noon, fear not. You can join us at any time. There is an introduction, an opening meditation, a few moments of me talking without the mike on (oops!), and then a restart. 

WHAT TO BRING: Water, a warm blanket if you are somewhere cool, and, if you like, an object to remind you of yourself, and another to remind you of Brigit.

REMEMBER: This is a chance to Watch Together. The video is already available at the same link as above. Feel free to enjoy the practice any time, maybe even gather your own group to Watch Together (have a Watch Party). 

____________________________________________

"Brigit as a Constant Companion" was my offering for Land, Sea, Sky Travel's 2020 event, Brigid: A Friend For Our Times

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.

Meditation tomorrow: Brigit as a Constant Companion

Tomorrow I will be leading a meditation on Brigit to which you and anyone you care to invite are welcome. It is free, and will be about an hour long, or a bit less.

This is an opportunity for us to quiet ourselves and spend a while in contemplation. In these difficult days, quiet connection with ourselves and deity can be elusive. My hope is to open a small window onto that possibility with you.

You may wish to bring something to represent yourself, and something to represent Brigit, and have them where you can easily see them, perhaps on a special altar. These need not be elaborate. Two leaves, two stones--anything that you can engage with symbolically.

Prepare a space where you can be comfortable and focussed.

I look forward to being there with you.

Blessings of Brigit on us all.

***

This is a Facebook event, which I believe means an account is needed. Click here for more information and to register.

Brigit's Portal

     I so timidly put together on Facebook something I have been thinking of for a long time that I hesitated to tell you about it. I kept thinking I needed to have everything ready, have lots of stuff up there—but that's not really how life works, is it? We aren’t born fully capable of whatever we might aspire to or need to accomplish in life. So let me continue the process I began last week, where I told maybe five or so people at a time, gradually gathering my nerve and inviting more at one time.

Allow me to introduce Brigit's Portal: Classes, Gatherings, Poetry, Tools.

I have so many different Brigit-related things I do. I want to gather them together so that they are more available to people. That means more building on my part to get Brigit’s Portal fully functional, but it is open, and you are welcome to come in and have an initial look around.

Brigit's blessings on us all in these turbulent times, so filled with pain, so full of the promise of change.

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.

Kildare Cathedral Lit Up with Images of Brigit

What a stunning display of Brigidine art!

Find them on Facebook:

Into Kildare

23 hrs · 

Kildare Cathedral looking stunning this evening illuminated with images of Brigid of Kildare for
Herstory Ireland!

Pictures by @miss_susanboyle

#StBrigid

Images: Thank you to Melody Dickson on Facebook for sharing Into Kildare's post of @miss_susanboyle's photographs.

LAD Saint Bridget Spinner

A sweet gag from Facebook:

NEW! From Ladfleg products. The perfect gadget to keep the childer quiet at the Clonard Novena.

Well done, LAD! And thanks, Amy Lynn, for drawing this to my attention.

LAD

@BELFASTLAD

A Question For Brigit Lovers

I know that there is a vastness of kinds of folk who love Brigit. I'd like to get a clearer sense of the sorts of people and perspectives are involved--not all of us write books or even blog posts about her.

So I ask you,and encourage you to spread the question either through sharing this post or a similar one on Facebook--who are we?

What draws you to her? What is your background--Christian, Wiccan, Celtic Reconstructionist, Environmentalist, Feminist, Poet, Healer, Smith?

Donna's Cross
Mael Brigde