Class Giveaway! Discovering Brigit - Goddess & Saint (with Mael Brigde)

 

Win free enrollment in Discovering Brigit - Goddess & Saint with Mael Brigde. Enrollment gives a discount on the following course, Stepping Into Brigit, but Discovering Brigit can be taken as a stand-alone, and will appeal to long-time devotees as well as those new to Brigit.

TO ENTER

*METHOD ONE*

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

* Share this post.

* Comment below the competition post on Brigit's Portal with one thing that drew you to Brigit, Goddess and Saint.

*METHOD TWO*

* Subscribe to this blog.

* Share the contents of this post & the image above on social media.

* Comment below with one thing that drew you to Brigit, Goddess and Saint.

The winning name will be drawn on 15 January 2023.

Good luck!

ENDORSEMENTS

"I can’t imagine reading this poetry and remaining untouched. I can’t imagine allowing this book to lie, languishing and ignored, at the back of the shelf. I can’t imagine allowing this book to pass you by."

from the foreword by Orlagh Costello, founder of Brigid's Forge.

“Sun Among Stars…is at once contemplative and deeply personal, educational and reflecting the evolution in understanding and belief that we all go through over time. For this alone it is an invaluable addition to the corpus of material on Brigid… Let the goddess or the saint or simply Brigid speak to you through the author’s words as you step into a deeper understanding…”

Morgan Daimler author of Pagan Portals: Brigid - Meeting The Celtic Goddess Of Poetry, Forge, And Healing Well

"It is a unique challenge to bridge the ancient past with the modern, and the Christian with the Pagan, but Mael Brigde does so with ease and grace. She tells the story of Brigid through remarkable poetry that is as much prayer as it is verse. This gorgeous text could be used as a guidebook for a Brigid devotee through different holidays and times of life. A must have for all lovers of Brigid."

Courtney Weber, author of Brigid: History, Mystery, and Magick of the Celtic Goddess

WEBSITE: https://bit.ly/MaelBrigde

IMAGE: a graphic design consisting of the words Class Giveaway going around a photo of a red-haired woman (pictured from the upper arms to above the knee-line. She is wearing a green dress and holding a candle lantern. The image rests on a photo of hawthorn leaves against a background of blue sky.

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

 

Win a copy of A Brigit of Ireland Devotional - Sun Among Stars by Mael Brigde. (Yes, me! Why do I feel so shy about this?)

TO ENTER

*METHOD ONE*

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

* Share this post.

* Comment below the competition post on Brigit's Portal with one thing that drew you to Brigit, Goddess and Saint.

*METHOD TWO*

* Subscribe to this blog.

* Share the contents of this post & the image above on social media.

* Comment below with one thing that drew you to Brigit, Goddess and Saint.

The winning name will be drawn on 15 December 2022.

Good luck!

ENDORSEMENTS

"I can’t imagine reading this poetry and remaining untouched. I can’t imagine allowing this book to lie, languishing and ignored, at the back of the shelf. I can’t imagine allowing this book to pass you by."

from the foreword by Orlagh Costello, founder of Brigid's Forge.

“Sun Among Stars…is at once contemplative and deeply personal, educational and reflecting the evolution in understanding and belief that we all go through over time. For this alone it is an invaluable addition to the corpus of material on Brigid… Let the goddess or the saint or simply Brigid speak to you through the author’s words as you step into a deeper understanding…”

Morgan Daimler author of Pagan Portals: Brigid - Meeting The Celtic Goddess Of Poetry, Forge, And Healing Well

"It is a unique challenge to bridge the ancient past with the modern, and the Christian with the Pagan, but Mael Brigde does so with ease and grace. She tells the story of Brigid through remarkable poetry that is as much prayer as it is verse. This gorgeous text could be used as a guidebook for a Brigid devotee through different holidays and times of life. A must have for all lovers of Brigid."

Courtney Weber, author of Brigid: History, Mystery, and Magick of the Celtic Goddess

WEBSITE: https://bit.ly/MaelBrigde

IMAGE: a graphic design consisting of the words Book Giveaway going around a photo of the copy of a green book, A Brigit of Ireland Devotional - Sun Among Stars. The face of a red-haired woman (painting) looks out from a circle of Irish knotwork. The book rests on a photo of hawthorn leaves against a background of blue sky.

Bríd Libh!

 

I love how Órlagh Costello signs off her newsletters:

"Bríd libh

 Órlagh"

It means, simply, "Brigit be with you."

I breathe those words in and they mean so much more to me than the simple five syllables on the page – or two syllables, if we’re sticking with the Irish.

They are a blessing. May she be with you in every moment, in every thing. May you never be without her, without her there to still the angry waves that threaten to drown you, without her helping to guide you to the shore. This blessing illumines the world as I look out at it. It awakens all the good and beautiful, around and in me.

They are a reminder. May you remember that she is with you, that you are not unaccompanied, not left on your own, that she can work through you as much as she can work in you. In this way, the words are a powerful antidote to my sense of isolation, my sense of not being enough.

For so long I have written, "Brigit’s blessings on you." And this is a mighty statement, too. But I think I like Órlagh’s version more. I hope I remember to write it at the end of an email one day. I hope I remember to say it to you.

"Bríd libh, mo chairde."

Brigit be with you, my friends.

Image: By AR in Düsseldorf. Found on Unsplash.

More from Órlagh.

New: Imbolc Ritual and Practice by Orlagh Costello

 

Imbolc (Imbolg) Ritual & Practice The Fire Festivals Ritual Series by Orlagh Costello at the Irish Pagan School

From the Irish Pagan School page for this class and ritual: 

"Class Series providing practical rituals for all seasons, as we work through the Fire Festivals Cycle in the Irish Tradition:

"Have you ever wanted to do a ritual to authentically celebrate the Irish Fire Festivals (Samhain, Imbolg, Bealtaine, or Lúnasa)... but weren't sure what to do or where to start? 

"Each session in this series will cover the basic associations and practices for each festival to give you a good grounding with regard to the ancient Imbolc (Imbolg) traditions in Ireland. Then you'll move into the main event - a ritual attuned to those associations, including guided meditation and original Irish language prayers.

"This ritual can be personalised afterwards for your own use, but will give you a solid framework right now, which you can develop further as your personal practice grows."

Click here to learn more and to sign up.

Image: Candle and sheaf of oats from IPS site.

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

 

This post gives an overview of my book, with quotes from readers (including Orlagh Costello and Morgan Daimler, who contributed a foreword and afterword), and links to buy it.

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. 

LAST DAY to sign up! Orlagh Costello's Five-Week Brigit Class

Wow! There is so much amazing Brigit related stuff that I am actually holding back on some posts because I think I've been posting too much! Gone are the days when I had to comb the internet to find something related to her that was worth passing on to you folk.

This one is too good to pass by, and I only wish I hadn't been so absorbed in other things that I didn't think to post it sooner.

This is the LAST DAY to sign up for Orlagh Costello's five-week Brigit class: Brigid in Ireland
through Lora O'Brien's Irish Pagan School.

It will be good.

Donna's Brigit: An Icon in Threads

One of the members of Orlagh Costello's Brigid's Forge group on Facebook, asked participants to share their favourite images of Brigit. My first contribution was of my brideóg, but today I felt the urge to share a piece made by the late Donna Amaral.

It used to be nearly impossible to get images of Brigit on this side of the pond. I love what a blossoming of Brigidine imagery there is now. Whether or not I like a particular image, I am so grateful for the inspiration artists receive to imagine her, and that we get to see so many of their results.

This pattern was designed by Donna Amaral, one of the early Daughters of the Flame, back in the 1990s. I only wish I did needlepoint, as I'd love to have it on my altar.

Thank you, Donna, for all you gave to Brigit, to me, and to your sisters in the Daughters of the Flame. I still miss you. 

                 

Below you will see that I enhanced the original scan she sent me--resolution was not awesome Back in the Day. But it isn't perfect. You may want to use a pen to touch it up. If you click on the pattern I've attached you will see the whole thing, though only part of it is visible in the post. If any of you stitch this up for yourself (or for me!), have fun! I'd love to see your work.

All Images: by Donna Amaral. Apologies for the poor quality of the pattern.

Online Brighid Course with Orlagh Costello

Irish Pagan School

 21 April 2019 

 

Introduction to the Goddess Brighid

€40  / $45  US

Online Course on the beliefs, Irish mythology, folklore and magic of the Irish Goddess Brighid and Saint Brigid - with native devotee and Pagan Catholic Practioner, Orlagh Costello.

Talking about her devotions to Brighid, Orlagh says:

"As a solitary practitioner and a lot of what I do has developed over time rather than being told to me or taken from a ritual book etc. I don’t tend to take part in group rituals or do things in public, my practice is centred around my home, my work, my own head rather than anything else. A lot of it might appear to be things that I do anyway, but it’s not. It’s very different to me to be cleaning the house and cleaning the house in preparation for a visit from herself. The intent is different. The attention to detail is different. The feel of the room afterwards is very different."

Learn the history and heritage of this fascinating Irish Goddess and Saint, from the perspective of someone who has grown up immersed in the vibrant culture of knowing and honouring her, and developed that into a personal practice firmly grounded in the authentic Irish traditions.

Your Course access enrollment includes:
-- Class Presentation Slides
-- Class Video
-- Class Audio
-- Class Chat Log/Resources

- Course Photo - Brigid's Crosses in Kildare Town, Courtesy of Alanna Butler Gallagher

Get It HERE: http://ed.gr/bdmon

Orlagh currently describes herself as a Pagan Catholic. Her main relationship in the Irish Pantheon is with Brighid, in whatever form She chooses to present Herself. Orlagh runs a group on Facebook dedicated to Brighid - called Brigid's Forge at https://www.facebook.com/groups/318562765289760/ and women's circles in the Clonmel Red Tent. She is a moon mother with www.wombblessing.com and practices reiki & reflexology for fun. By day, she masquerades as an engineer.