Mael Brigde Interview, Oracle of Luna with Bridget Engels

 

After the flurry of activity last year around this time, with interviews and talks and so on ahead of my book's release, I decided I needed a quieter Imbolc this year, and didn’t organise anything beyond sharing my daily devotional with folk and having a gentle ritual and supper with fellow Daughter of the Flame, Seba.

Into this scene enter the lovely Bridget Engels, who invited me for an interview, to be conducted once the dust had settled. We had our conversation on Sunday and two days later it is ready for interested ears. See below for links to where you can find it.

I enjoyed talking with Bridget, although afterwards of course I found myself thinking, "oh! I didn’t explain that very well. I completely forgot to say the other thing. Etc., etc." As when I said I wanted to bring (describing me in the 1980s) not just the flame but a devotion to Brigit back into the world. Well, despite the fact that I live an ocean away from Ireland, I knew even then that the saint still had her fans. I meant the goddess, who I wanted to see become as known to goddess worshippers as Inanna and Aphrodite.

Earlier in the conversation, I talked about whether or not Brigit’s perpetual flame was an ancient pagan practice or a mediaeval Christian one. I completely forgot to say, as I got carried away with I what I was trying to explain, that whatever my opinions or anyone else’s about that question, tending Brigit’s flame remains a meaningful and precious practice which I have no intention of ever giving up.

So! Enough of my dithering and bum coverage. I invite you to listen to the Oracle of Luna with Bridget Engels and Mael Brigde.

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/18K4q6zxaHiWSX28cXKxyT

 

Apple:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oracle-of-luna-with-bridget-engels-presents/id1537504464?i=1000550275300

 

Amazon Music:

https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/dfdcd50b-35f7-485d-86c1-7b06979ae749/episodes/73d0d065-0cfd-4371-a8d2-0bc5a4607ef8/the-oracle-of-luna-with-bridget-engels--conversations-with-goddesses-the-oracle-of-luna-with-bridget-engels-presents-mael-brigde---devotee-of-the-goddess-brigit-author-poet-founder-of-the-daughters-of-the-flame

 

Pandora:

https://www.pandora.com/podcast/the-oracle-of-luna-with-bridget-engels-conversations-with-goddesses/the-oracle-of-luna-with-bridget-engels-presents-mael-brigde-devotee-of-the-goddess-brigit-author-poet-founder-of-the-daughters-of-the-flame/PE:8809601

Image: by Bridget Engels.

Mael Brigde Interview - The Oracle of Luna With Bridget Engels

 

I am so looking forward to this! Bridget Engels will be interviewing me on The Oracle of Luna With Bridget Engels podcast next week, airing on 8 February. I've been listening to her interviews and she talks with some very interesting people. She writes:

"Next podcast episode on 2/6 I chat with the amazing: Mael Brigde

"☘️🔥Mael is a devotee of the Celtic Goddess and saint, Brigit, and the founder of the Daughters of the Flame, and the author of A Brigit of Ireland Devotional – Sun Among Stars, a collection of essays, contemplative poetry, and resources for those seeking to deepen their understanding of and connection to Brigit. Her aim in founding Daughters of the Flame was to rekindle the perpetual flame burned by Saint Brigit’s order in Kildare, Ireland until the 1600s. She also publishes a general interest Brigit blog, Brigit’s Sparkling Flame, and a Brigit poetry blog, Stone on the Belly.

Mael has created three online classes for those wishing to learn more about Brigit and grow closer to her. The first, Discovering Brigit, introduces Brigit and many of the ideas associated with her. The second, Stepping into Brigit, guides the seeker into a deepening connection with her. The third, Journey with Brigit, Goddess of Poetry, is a longer, intensive class that explores reading and writing poetry as a sacred act, offering meditations, historical information, and the model of both ancient and modern Irish poets.

"This episode will air on 2/8 on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, Pandora, etc."

 

 

 

Image: by Bridget Engels 

 

The Witch Next Door Podcast Interviews Mael Brigde

 

I had a great time talking with Emily Morrison of Wise Woman Witchery and The Witch Next Door podcast.

We laughed a lot — I worry I may have joked around too much — but also tackled serious topics, such as the origins of Saint Brigit, and differences and similarities between the goddess(es) and saint. I make a brave attempt to discuss the three goddesses Brig who are found in connection to the poet and historian Senchae, as well as the Brig who possesses the kings of the rams, oxen, and boars. Then we veered toward well- and flame-tending, my relationship with Brigit, the Daughters of the Flame, and briefly, my book, A Brigit of Ireland Devotional - Sun Among Stars.

I made a most regrettable mistake! I said no one else had been in Daughters of the Flame since the start but Brigit and me. Not true. Dear Erynn Rowan Laurie has, as well, and she has been a huge support to me in many ways. Like saying this flame-tending thing really did have value. (Did I ever need to hear that, a time or two.)

Honestly, though, I was not well when this interview took place and it does show. Yet at the same time, I felt at ease with the lovely woman I was talking with, making it a great pleasure to participate.

To listen to our conversation, click here. Enjoy!

Image: Mashup of Mael Brigde promo shot and book cover with Emily's podcast image.

Mael Brigde Interview with Round the Cauldron

 When I first contemplated this whole interview idea -- talking off the cuff?! -- I was a little nervous. Well, fairly nervous. Well, freaked.

But it is such fun and so interesting to get to speak with other people about Brigit, people who really want to know something about her or who already know her and have their own ideas and experiences to share. It really gets the old mental juices flowing.

This is my most recent experience, with Megan Black of Round the Cauldron. Megan began her YouTube channel as a Wiccan, and has slowly become a committed Irish Pagan with a special devotion to Brigit. I really enjoyed talking with her.

Here is our conversation.

Image: From Round the Cauldron.

Poetry Reading: Mael Brigde (Through Writers in Our Midst)

I had the opportunity today to read and talk a little about Brigit today, thanks to Erik D'Souza of Writers in Our Midst.

Erik hosted a special event in celebration of my book, A Brigit of Ireland Devotional - Sun Among Stars, which he helped shape as one of my fellow writers in the Port Moody Writing Group in days of yore. It was his idea to do a reading especially for our literary friends and my personal friends and family, many of whom are either unaware, or only vaguely aware, of the large part of my life that is dedicated to Brigit. It was a little unnerving at first, to consider it, as in a small minority of cases I have specifically not mentioned it because I worried about the reaction I would face. But it seemed like the best time and way to let even those folk know about this very important place in me.

I felt very relaxed reading and talking to people I know well, and on the other hand, enjoyed this big, quiet coming out as a Pagan. It was a lovely, brief event. And surprise, surprise, narry a negative reaction.

There is, unfortunately, glitching in the sound, but it is still listenable to.

You can watch the video here.

Oops -- Irish Radio Canada Interview of Mael Brigde

 

I've just noticed that I never did post about my interview on Irish Radio Canada after the fact. It was an enjoyable chat I had with Austin Comerton, who was "stuck" in Ireland because of pandemic travel restrictions, while I was "stuck" at my friends' house with slipped disc mobility restrictions. The wonders of the internet allowed us to speak face to face, although of course the interview is just audio. Downloadable, at that.

Enjoy!

Video: "St Brigid: Patroness and Prophetess"

 

It’s up! The video of my conversation with Sister Mary Teresa Cullen and and Anne Cassidy Carew Of the United Irish Cultural Centre of San Francisco. I don’t think she mentions it here, but it was Sister Mary T who lit Brigit's flame in Kildare in 1993.

UNITED IRISH CULTURAL CENTER

St. Brigid: Patroness & Prophetess. Live chat celebrating St. Brigid's Day 2021.

Image: Anne Cassidy Carew 

Podcast Mael Brigde, Founder of the "Brigit's Sparkling Flame" Blog and "Daughters of the Flame" Flametending Group, Discusses Her Work

Ah! Last spring I had a lovely visit with Amy Panetta when she came to Vancouver for the Celtic Studies of North America annual conference. Somewhere in there she managed to do this interview of me, and now it is up on her Celtic Feminine Podcast. You can listen now or download it for later.

Play Podcast in New Window

In this podcast, Amy has a conversation with Mael Brigde, about her work and connection with Brigid.  Since 2004, Mael has maintained the longest-running, most prolific blog about Brigid entitled, "Brigit's Sparkling Flame" where she collects a variety of different resources about Brigid, such as in links, books, music, and events. She also has her poetry dedicated to Brigid on her "Stone on the Belly" blog.  She founded "Daughters of the Flame," which is the first non-church-based flame tending group dedicated to Brigid, which interestingly enough lit their first flame on Brigid's Eve, January 31st 1993, the same year that the Brigidine sisters in Kildare Ireland relit Brigid's flame.  

Currently, Mael teaches online courses dedicated to Brigid.

Links:

Brigit's Sparkling Flame Blog

Stone on the Belly Blog

Daughters of the Flame

Mael's Brigid Courses:

Journey with Brigit - Goddess of Poetry

Stepping into Brigit – Goddess Activation Course

Discovering Brigit – Goddess and Saint with Mael Brigde

Intro and Outro Music from the album, "A Year In Ireland" by New Time Ensemble, Used with Permission

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