“This World and the Other – Magical Stories with the Saint and the Goddess, Brigit” - Reading & Meditation with Mael Brigde

 

 

[Sun Among Stars] reflects the long and deep journey that Mael Brigde has made with Brigit in her many guises … [Her] journey is a deeply embodied one, reflecting insights gleaned during her studies which have become a living part of her. She encourages readers/students to grasp this possibility for themselves as they engage with the material.
 
This work offers a portal into the mysteries of Brigit and the possibility of readers grounding her qualities of compassion, courage, love, wisdom and fearlessness in their own unique ways in their current lives.
 
Thank you for this important and comprehensive work.
 
Dolores T. Whelan, author of Ever Ancient, Ever New – Celtic Spirituality in the 21st Century, and co-founder of Brigid's Way Celtic Pilgrimage

(I stumbled across this endorsement for my book a couple of days ago. I had written Dolores asking for an endorsement when she didn’t know me at all, and I was blown away by her response. It was she who invited me to read at the festival — thus blowing me even further away than before. Thank you, Dolores!)

🔥

As mentioned, I will be in Dundalk, Ireland on 1 February, as part of the Brigid of Faughart Festival and Brigit 1500, reading and leading brief meditations.

I wrote much of A Brigit of Ireland Devotional - Sun Among Stars, because I wanted a book of poems and prayers to help me become grounded when I sat down to be with Brigit, something that would help me recall the connection I have with her and prompt me to contemplate the different sides of her. When I dip into the book, it is usually in such moments. I light a candle, meditate, offer songs and a poem or two.

I decided that this was the way I wanted to present them to the folk who gather with me in Dundalk. To start with a centering meditation, and to offer the stories of Brigit as part of a larger contemplation. I am even trying to rub some of the rust off of my voice box so I can sing the parts of the meditation I normally would in the privacy of my room.

If you are able to join us that night, you would be very welcome. Please feel free to say hello afterward.

🐦‍⬛ 

The event will be held at 6 PM at the County Museum on Jocelyn Street. Tickets are available through Eventbrite.

Venue: County Museum Dundalk 8 Jocelyn St, Townparks, Dundalk 54°00′17″N 6°23′49″W

Book: A Brigit of Ireland Devotional - Sun Among Stars by Mael Brigde

Image: festival banner with the words “Brigid of Faughart Festival - Celebrating Brigid, Celtic Goddess & Matron of Ireland.” On one end is a mandala of rings of water and fire and plants, with a four-armed Brigit’s cross in the centre and a white hand holding it up. On the right is a painting of a white woman, half goddess and half saint, with fire and water and other designs surrounding her.

💧

Solas Bhríde - Online Meditation, Sacred Dance Class

 

Last chance to book!   Autumn Meditation Series (Online) 
Autumn heralds a season filled with change, celebrates harvest and ushers in the brilliant beauty of letting go. This is a calling for us to pause, to reflect and to practice gratitude and thankfulness as a way of reaping our own inner harvest.
Join us online for our Autumn meditation series which celebrates the Season of Creation and reflects in particular on the concepts of 'letting go' and 'time to rest' as we seek to mirror the rhythm of nature at this time of year.

Book your place for Thursday 7th October     7.30pm - 8.00pm 

Book your place for Thursday 14th October   7.30pm - 8.00pm
Cost €5

Sacred Dance Returns to Solas Bhride
Have you every wondered what 'sacred dance' is? Curious?
Sacred dancing is an ancient tradition for marking special occasions, rituals, strengthening community and encouraging togetherness.
Come along to Solas Bhride in Kildare Town and experience the joy and peace of dancing together in a harmonious circle through gentle movement.
No experience is necessary as Terry and Betty will expertly guide us into each danced prayer to carefully chosen music from around the globe.
This is a perfect time to reconnect with our inner self, each other and the Earth. 

BOOK NOW  to secure your place for this very special event on Wednesday 20th October (7.30pm - 9.00pm)
Cost €15

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)
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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). 

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

Brigit as a Constant Companion - Video Available

 

I have just uploaded the full video of a guided contemplation I led in September as a belated part of Land, Sea, Sky Travel's Brigid: A Friend for Our Times conference. It took three attempts and several months but we finally managed it, and with one wee glitch it went off fine this time. (I left my mic off for a while, but luckily it was in the transition into the contemplation proper, so no harm done. 

Unfortunately, Blogger wouldn't accept it as it was too long, but I was able to upload it on my Facebook Page, Brigit's Portal. Here is the direct link to Brigit as a Constant Companion. It is an immersion, nearly eighty minutes long, so set some time aside to really allow yourself to move into that quiet, contemplative space.

Blessings of Brigit on you.

 

Image: "Moštanica Monastery, chapel for lighting candles. Municipality of Kozarska Dubica, Republika Srpska" by Petar Milošević. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

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 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.

Friends of Bride's Mound: Gathering, Archaeology, Hedge-Laying

C/O Glastonbury Opportunities, Unit 7 Abbey Mews, BA6 9DY.

Email; friendsofbridesnew@yahoo.co.uk 

January 2017 Newsletter

IMBOLC – Wednesday 1st February 2017 

The Friends of Brides Mound invite you to join us for the day, the feast day of St. Brigid. 

9.30am White Spring opens (tbc)

 10am Ceremony at the White Spring (tbc)

12 noon Meditation at the Well Head at Chalice Well

10.00 – 1.00pm Refreshments available at Chalice Well

1pm Walk to Bride's Mound with Serena Roney-Dougal; 

Meet outside the White Spring, where the White and the Red springs join.

Wear clothing and footwear suitable for wet and muddy conditions! 

2.30pm Gathering around the fire on Bride's Mound.

AGM.  The Library of Avalon, Glastonbury 22nd March from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.  All welcome.

Archaeology on the Mound 

Somerset skeletons are oldest evidence of monks found in UK

As you might have seen on the national news, Richard Brunning of Southwest Heritage Trust led a team doing the first archaeological dig on the mound since Philip Rahtz’s dig in the 1960s. All very exciting!

Meditation Matters - St. Brigid's Day

Ellie Finlay presents a lovely Brigid's Cross on her blog "Meditation Matters". She says, "Making a Brigid's cross is a wonderfully meditative experience. You can learn how to do it right here."

Original post: Meditation Matters - St. John's Center: St. Brigid's Day

Meditation Matters - St. John's Center - Reflections and announcements by Sr. Ellie Finlay of St. John's Center for Spiritual Formation.

Brigid's Cloaks

Below find info on Sara Jane Kingston's Brigid's Cloaks and other items related to the cloaks, including art, communities, a children's book... She also has a Brigit meditation CD available: http://www.brigidscloak.com/meditations.html

Sara Jane Kingston began making Brigid's Cloaks for sale last year after discovering their value as spiritual tools. You can make your own or order one from her, or from the Catholic Brigidine sisters at Solas Bhride in Kildare, Ireland.

A snippet of her story:

Brigid's CloakTraditionally, the brat bhríde, or Brigid's Cloak, was laid outside before sunset on the eve of Brigid's feastday, 1st February, and brought back in before sunrise.

Blessed by Brigid, ancient Spring goddess and saint, the dew which fell that night imbued the cloth with powers of healing and protection which lasted throughout the year.

Brigid's Cross, now usually associated with the 5th-century Christian saint, was made annually from straw or rushes and hung above the door. In pre-Christian times, it was probably a sun symbol and celebrated the power of the goddess to bring back the light at the Celtic feast of Imbolc. It holds the promise of fertility and abundance...

...As a child I had loved the story of how, when St. Brigid went to the King of Leinster looking for some land on which to build a church, he had tried to put her off by saying that he would give her as much land as her cloak would cover. Not to be daunted, Brigid asked four of her nuns to each take a corner of her cloak and as they began to walk, the cloak began to stretch in size until it was large enough to cover a substantial piece of land. The King, true to his promise gave her the land and she built her first church there. This seemingly miraculous power over land of the 5th-century Christian saint in this story holds the resonance of the more ancient Brigid, the great Celtic Land Goddess.

As I work in healing through the energy field, I used the symbol of Brigid's Cloak as a starting point to allow people to connect into seeing their own "energy cloaks" or auras by imagining that they were wearing a cloak and seeing what it was like. Was it old and frayed, heavy or light? What material was it made of - what sort of texture, or textures? And the colours - were they bright or dark or a mixture?

Go to Sara Jane's site at http://www.brigidscloak.com/ for more of her story. If you would prefer to make your own Brat Bhride, go wild--the possibilities are endless! Don't forget their use as healing tools. A cloak may be cut into smaller pieces and distributed to those in need of blessings once it has been used in ritual. Or the entire cloth laid over a sick person to aid in her recovery.

Many other sites refer to Brigid's Cloak.

• for a simply beautiful painting of Brigid's Cloak as the land of Eire, go to Barrie MacGuire's listing at http://www.maguiregallery.com/barrie/brigidscloak.htm. Barrie is also a quilter, and has included a video of his paintings of quilted Ireland. Go to his homepage to view it. http://www.maguiregallery.com/barrie/barrie.htm
• "St. Brigid's Cloak" a prayer circle for Christian women flame-keepers, dedicated to keeping the fire of St. Brigid of Ireland burning bright in the world today. Local members in Las Vegas, Nevada have an annual St. Brigid's Food Drive for the Poor in November and December.
• "Brigid's Cloak", a children's book by Bryce Milligan, published by WhipperSnapper Books.
• The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Inc says of St. Brigid's Mantle: "In very traditional homes, two devout practices are still observed on the Eve of St. Brigid's Feast Day (February 1st). A strip of cloth called "brat Bhride" (Brigid's mantle) is hung outside the door. A loaf of oat bread baked in the shape of a cross and a sheaf of straw are left on the windowsill. For on that night, Brigid travels through the land with her red-eared cow bestowing blessings on those who keep the old ways."
• Sr. Mary Minehan of Solas Bhride says, "I also remember my mother having an ulcer on her leg. A customer told her to leave out a piece of cloth on the eve of Brigid’s feast. There was a belief that St. Brigid left her curative powers on the cloth on the eve of the feast day. I can’t remember if it cured mam’s sore leg but I remember the faith and belief she had in Brigid. I have learnt since that the cloth is called the Brat Bríde. The custom is being revived in Kildare, so my earliest memories are of Brigid the protector, Brigid the healer."
  

Sweet Blessings on you all this Beautiful Bealtaine!

Brigit Meditation

Doreen at Celtic Crossroads has provided a short meditation for meeting Brigit. her site also includes information about herself (a charming and friendly woman), about the Morrigan, the Green Man, megalithic sites and all manner of stuff that interests her.

NOTICE: Unfortunately, the links here are broken and I'm unable to track it down elsewhere. If anyone discovers a new link, lemme know! 31 January 2010

Peace Beads

this site shows how to use prayer beads for peace, but also features information on a number of spiritual figures--goddesses and saints--who are concerned with peace. it saddened me to realize that although i had heard of the war god, mars, when i was just a child, i had never heard that there was a goddess named peace, pax, until today.

both the goddess Brigit and the saint Brighid are featured on this site, and there is a lovely picture of the goddess with a wolf:

http://www.thepeacebeads.com/ourlady/brighid.htm

http://www.thepeacebeads.com/ourlady/stbrighid.htm

Online Audio Meditation by Mara Freeman

guided meditation The Forge in the Forest Meeting Brigit--triple-goddess of healing, smithcraft, and inspiration.

Mara Freeman: voice and zither Gerry Smida: harp, keyboards, percussion

The goddess Brigit presides over the early springtime festival once known as Imbolc in Ireland, and is associated with smithcraft, a sacred art in many primal cultures. The smith transforms the ore from the lower world with the fire of the upper world to create something new and beautiful. The following meditation takes you to Brigit's forge to gain inspiration for your own creativity. Place a candle and matches in front of you before you begin.

Go to the Beliefnet site to hear this meditation. Bring a candle!
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/98/story_9865_1.html