Brigid Jigsaw Puzzle

 Well! This came as a surprise, but why not?

docrabbits >  Myth and Fantasy art > Mist, Galaxis Goddess Brigid --

an online puzzle on Jigsaw Planet. docrabbits first posted it on Imbolc, 2020.

Image: Screenshot of puzzle.

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.

The Case of the Forgotten Book Launch

My humble apologies to anyone who follows this blog but not my other social media. In the flurry of things a-doing toward my book launch, I posted everywhere else an invitation to all to join me there, but not on Brigit's Sparkling Flame! So, ten days late but none the worse for wear, here it is:

I am very happy to invite you (yes, all of you!) to my formal launch of A Brigit of Ireland Devotional - Sun Among Stars, from Moon Books.

Let's celebrate Brigit together. I will be joined by several friends who will sing or read their writings to her. We are part of Brigit's vast community, and I am overjoyed to share this devotion with you.

Mael Brigde & Guests: Prayer, Poetry, & Song:

**28 August 2021**

**1 - 2:30 PM Pacific Time//9 PM Irish Standard Time**

On Zoom and Facebook Live (links below)

 If you want to attend via Zoom, you will need to register so that I can send you out a secure link to the meeting. If you would rather watch it live on Facebook, it will appear on my Page, Brigit's Portal. The recording will remain there afterward, so you can watch whenever you like.

Registration

Brigit's Portal

 

! The Pen Moved !

I wrote a poem today.

I was minding my business in my little yard, lifting my face to the sun on this gloriously cool and overcast day -- yes, to the sun. The clouds parted for an hour, and as I stood pondering this day and whether I could call it late summer or early fall I suddenly paid heed to her. She was looking in above the magnolia and between two maples. With her awful harshness eased, contrasted with the gentle grey, she suddenly seemed precious again, and I offered her the tilting back of my head, letting her rays touch my face and warm me. In that unguarded moment she penetrated all of my distraction, my excitement and my anxiety, my planning and my fatigue, burned all of that away and simply held me, like the two warm hands of my mother cradling my face.

And a poem began to lift in me. A sensation as I responded to her touch, a phrase, and then that once discarded eagerness, that determination to search out a notebook -- it couldn't be scrap paper, it had to be a notebook, as this prodigal moment had to be honoured as it deserved. The first poem I felt compelled like this to write since I forced myself to stop so I wouldn't drive my editor around the bend.

I wasn't going to type the poem into this post. It is a first draft, likely to change a lot over time, though maybe not. I like to let these things simmer, steep a long, long while, till we are done. Ready to emerge.

But I think I will share it, anyway. Some naked rawness for this splendid day. 

Blessings, friends.

August Sun

 

I can’t look at her face

it blinds

burns the core of eyes

reveals nothing

 

but her regard sets me ablaze

kindles   hope

action

stirs silted waters

churns up what has long settled

now seen once more

 

I worship her – I do

the sun among such distant stars

the one whose gaze

can kill or heal

feed or foster such drought

such fire as we have never seen

 

and then

come the clouds

and she is hidden once again

 

 

 

 

 

Image: Photo by Melissa Askew on Unsplash. I admit it isn't the dry late summer conditions of today in my town, but this girl is heedless of anything but the sun right now, as, for a moment, was I.

Book Giveaway! A Brigit of Ireland Devotional by Mael Brigde

 

COMPETITION!

WIN an Advance Reading Copy of A Brigit of Ireland Devotional - Sun Among Stars by Mael Brigde.

The winning name will be DRAWN on 27 August 2021.

To Enter:

*SIGN UP for my (occasional) newsletter here. (Look for "Contact.")

*SHARE this Giveaway with a friend.

*COMMENT below this post telling how you first heard of Brigit, and from whom.

-OR on Facebook

*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 telling how you first heard of Brigit, and from whom.

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.

"What is this UPG thing I keep hearing about?" - CR FAQ

 

Yesterday I was reviewing an interview I did with Megan Black of Round the Cauldron, and I realised I used the term "UPG" no less than three times without defining it. It has become quite a common term, but not exactly ubiquitous, and is a very important idea. So I have reprinted, with permission, the definition from The CR FAQ — An Introduction to Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism, the book that gave me my first clear understanding of the term -- a book, by the way, which is posted entirely online, though paper copies are available.

What is this UPG thing I keep hearing about?

UPG = Unsubstantiated Personal Gnosis. This is a label used to identify information gained through meditation, intense flashes of intuition, visions, and other spiritual experiences. Often this information may not be verifiable through primary or academic sources but seems to be usable in personal ways. CRs consider it highly important to label UPG which cannot be substantiated by lore or research as such, as this helps prevent misunderstandings about verifiable sources and preserves intellectual honesty. “UPG” and its variants are used specifically to indicate beliefs arrived at via mystical means, not ideas or intellectual conclusions reached from academic research.

Variant phrasings of UPG are Unverified or Undocumented Personal Gnosis.

Though it is unclear exactly who first coined the term UPG, consensus holds that the term and its variants originated in the Ásatrú communities some time in the 1990’s. These terms have been gratefully adopted by many Reconstructionist traditions and further refined and applied in our communities.

Related terms:

SPG (Shared Personal Gnosis) — indicating a mystical vision and belief shared by a number of people; preferably, one arrived at independently of one another and arising from people who are otherwise unconnected. For instance, a vision experienced collectively by the members of a small household may have more validity to it than a vision by a sole individual but, due to the possibility of group hallucination, it is debatable whether this small-group gnosis truly qualifies as SPG. A vision experienced by geographically separated people who have never met one another is more in tune with what we consider SPG.

CG (Confirmed Gnosis) — indicating that substantiating evidence for an incidence of UPG or SPG has later been found in the lore. This is also sometimes referred to as CPG (Confirmed Personal Gnosis). These instances are highly valued, and have served to bolster individual and community faith in the Deities, spirits or ancestors from whom the information was received. Instances of CG are also very important in that over time they help us learn to distinguish true imbas from imagination. (Imbas is the Old Irish word for “inspiration.” In Modern Irish it is spelled iomas. )

UPG is never an end in and of itself; rather, it is the beginning of a journey, the beginning of the process of testing the information through both spiritual practice and academic research. UPG is only useful when the community also values humility and fact-checking, and acknowledges that even the most experienced mystic can at times become deluded or make mistakes. At some point or another we have all had to discard some cool dream or “vision” if it simply does not line up with the lore, or if it threatened to take us in a direction that was counter to our values. Similarly, though we have some people who have shown skill in mediating for the Deities and spirits, and for bringing back information from the otherworlds, we have no desire to take the dangerous step of setting up anyone as an infallible guru or voice of the Divine.

When considering whether someone’s UPG or SPG may be worthy of inclusion in your spiritual practice, these “Laws of UPG” may serve as a useful guide:

No UPG should contradict known facts about the associated culture, and no practices based only on UPG should stand as more than modern inventions.

If a belief or practice based on UPG does not contradict known facts, but cannot be verified within the same body of knowledge, it remains a modern invention.

If an instance of UPG fits rule 2 and also fills a gap in known tradition, it is probably worth pursuing further, through experimentation and research, to see if it can become SPG or CG.

If an instance of UPG that meets the second law is arrived at by people who have had no real contact with each other, it remains modern but is Shared (SPG). This means the group just may be getting somewhere interesting.

If an instance of UPG becomes SPG, and said SPG is then incorporated into the practices of those outside of the groups who first experienced it, it becomes a modern tradition.

There is no way for UPG to become ancient lore unless it becomes generally accepted and then is kept mostly intact for at least 1,000 years.

 

Image: CR - FAQ cover. Copyright ©2006 NicDhàna, Laurie, Vermeers and ní Dhoireann.

Quote used by permission.

Mael Brigde Interview - Ev0ke: Witchcraft + paganism + lifestyle

 

Regular visitors may be wondering what more I can possibly have to say about Brigit, but I am happy to say that I don't seem to have run out yet. Rebecca Buchanan interviewed me for Ev0ke magazine's August issue, and you can find the interview here.

From their website:

"ev0ke is dedicated to supporting and promoting witchcraft and Paganism. We want to see them represented more, both in the real world and in fiction, so we publish essays, short stories, poetry, lifestyle features, pop culture commentary, interviews, and reviews. All of our articles and stories are selected to help us deepen our faiths and practices, and we are always open to hearing about ways we can improve the publication."

They have been publishing for two years this month, so feel free to dip into their archives, or send a submission -- or both!

Image: Ev0ke cover, August 2021

Alan Wells (Máel Loga): Brighid Art

ALAN WELLS - Brighid

I came across this beautiful icon of Brigit by Alan Wells (Máel Loga) when searching for something entirely other. How could I not ask to share them with you?

ALAN WELLS - Brighid: Ogam Closeup

Further searching found me this one:

ALAN WELLS - collab on Society6 - Superheroes SF - Brighid: protectress of the Irish community

 Wonderful work, Alan. Thank you.

All Images by Alan Wells.

Who IS this Woman, and What are her Poems About?

 

Looking for something else, I stumbled across a tiny image of a book with a title that looked very much like it referred to a goddess/saint I know. I put the title of the book by Isabel Blanco Ollero into DuckDuckGo's browser window and got a translation:

BRIGID - O EL FUEGO DE LA TRANSFORMACIÓN works out to:

BRIGID - OR THE FIRE OF TRANSFORMATION.

Now, I know I'm on to something.

But I can’t read it, or even find an article in English to tell me about her. Who will read and tell us what she says?

We live in hope!

***********

UPDATE

One reader says:

 It's a book of poetry, apparently there are four poems. I can't find any of the actual text without buying it and there doesn't appear to be an online copy.

I have found what appears to be an illuminating article, thouh' of course I am going on the strength of the odd word I can guess.

 "BRIGID O EL FUEGO DE LA TRANSFORMACIÓN, DE ISABEL BLANCO OLLERO" by MANU LÓPEZ MARAÑÓN.

Review of River Magic by M. A. Phillips, book one of The Rituals of Rock Bay

 

Review of River Magic by M. A. Phillips, book one of The Rituals of Rock Bay (2020) Shadow Spark Publishing

 

First, what I like:

 

I want to say right from the start that I really like this book. It has a kind of ebullience and innocence about it that is really charming. The protagonist, though imperfect, as we all must be, has an integrity that guides her actions, and a passion for life that goes beyond herself and her friends, to the beings, sometimes familiar, sometimes frightening, that dwell in the world around her. It also deals with something I haven’t seen represented much in fiction: The coming of age of a modern Neo-Pagan woman.

 

Lacey Moran has explored Paganism with her friend Lidia since their school days, but she hasn’t really found her spiritual home. When Lidia opens a metaphysical store in their village of Rock Bay (situated along the beautiful Saint Lawrence River – a visit there is now on my bucket list), a group of modern Druids book the space for their Imbolc ritual. This ritual introduces Lacey to the goddess Brigit, and a connection is made immediately. (Hurrah! This is why I decided to read and review this book.)

 

Lacey has also had cryptic dreams of a mermaid in the river. Coming from a family with a talent for premonition, Lacey knows that many of her dreams foreshadow events to come. Do these?

 

Now, I have completely left out the other main theme of this book: the love that Lacey has for her longtime friend, Cian, and her conflicting feelings about becoming romantically involved with him. Cian is a feature of these dreams, making them more concerning to her. What do they mean?

 

Guest Post on A Bad Witch's Blog: How Brigit Became a Bishop, by Mael Brigde

 My look at the different stories of Brigit's taking the veil (or her ordination as a bishop) from her primary Lives is up today on Lucya Starza's A Bad Witch's Blog.

Thank you, Lucya, for giving me space on your blog again!

You can find the post here.

Image: Saint Brigit statuette, photo by Mael Brigde.

Saint Brigit Statue

 

I was not looking for this, but I've stumbled across a site that sells this Saint Brigit statue in the U.K. (I'm sure they will send them overseas, too.) They are sometimes a little hard to find, so I am passing this on to you.

I have one of these and she has graced my altar for several years now. I have great affection for her. They are hand-painted (in Italy), so not everyone is the same. I chose one with a slightly wonky eye (because), but some of them are "perfect," as in this photo. They are 20 cm in height.

The store is called Holy Art, and you can find this figurine here.

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.

Megan Black: Growing as a Spiritual Person

 

I just listened to Megan Black's 103rd episode of her podcast, Round the Cauldron: Growing as a Spiritual Person. She talks about what the terms mean, then gives a very thoughtful, sometimes personal, inspiring talk on what this has meant in her life and how it touches the larger community.

I began to follow Megan because I thought she was a Wiccan (she was) and I wanted to see Neo-Paganism outside of my own community. How amusing to discover that over time she has moved from Wicca to something very like my own spirituality. Did I just hear the name #Brigit?

One thing that especially struck me was her discussion of how she has worked with Brigit in understanding her own spiritual needs, and these include finding the courage to look at her self and her behaviours honestly.

I just love this woman!

MoonCon 21 "Brigit Panel"

 

So this just happened! I really enjoyed our #Brigit Panel. And that swirling white streak beneath Erin Aurelia and I is actually Morgan Daimler, manifesting in our shared realm.

If you want to watch the rest of the Con, you can find the sessions on Facebook and YouTube :

https://www.facebook.com/MoonBooks

Our Brigit panel (available on video):

https://fb.watch/5XBxGpw-fs/

OR

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ2_r1CUgx8&list=PLuNR40Q7BCOkgs3wPiTw1GfJbOeLbovoL&index=9

Image: Screenshot, 5 June 2021, MoonCon 21 by Mael Brigde.

Interview with Druid Fiction Writer M. A. Phillips

 

I was just listening to a conversation between two lovely humans. I wanted to share this interview with you because the writer is a devotee of Brigit, as is the main character in her story.

M.A. Phillips is a modern (A.D.F.) druid from the United States. River Magic is her first novel and is also the first in her series, The Rituals of Rock Bay. Megan Black is proprietor of Round the Cauldron, which began as a podcast and has evolved from there. Megan, too, is a devotee of Brigit. So you can imagine my pleasure in listening to the two of them talk.

You can hear their conversation in a variety of places. This link will take you to the trunk from which those links branch off.

Happy listening. Happy reading.

Gathering with My Sisters

 

Today, Bealtaine, was the second online gathering of Daughters of the Flame. Not the whole bunch of us, just six this time. Roughly the same number as the first time we met, at Imbolc. I’ve been tending Brigit’s flame with the Daughters for going on three decades, and yet we'd never had a face-to-face gathering until this year. It was something I always wished for — I even had a dream twenty or so years ago that several of us had met together in Vancouver, and it was amazing — but the Daughters are in fact spread very far afield. In the first year or so there were four or five of us living in Vancouver, but it didn’t take long before I was the only one here.

Then as now, some were in other parts of Canada, some were in Australia, the USA, and Europe — Ireland, England, Wales and Switzerland — and one was as far off as Indonesia . So I’ve always had the comfort of knowing that I was not tending Brigit’s flame alone, and on a very few occasions I got to meet one of the Daughters of the Flame live and in person when I journeyed to their home turf. Once, the very lovely Terri travelled here.

So, after many years of being connected, first by letters and newsletters, then by emails, then listserves, and finally by the dreaded Facebook, it was amazing to gather with a handful of my sisters and just get to know each other a little, get grounded in our bodies, clear our minds of any need to get up and do something else, and just be together. On both occasions, we shared poetry and songs and prayers. We laughed a lot, and got very serious, speaking from the heart about that so important connection with Brigit and the changes she’s wrought in our lives.

Today, in the hours after we said goodbye, just as after our previous gathering, I am left with a feeling of deep and joyful gratitude. I am so happy to have other people in my life to whom Brigit is important, and through her we have such a strong bond.

I am profoundly lucky.

Brigit, Daughters of the Flame, and the many Brigit loving people I know now — thank you. So very, very much.

Image: Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

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!

Email Subscriptions Ending

 

I am sorry to say that Blogger will no longer be supporting email subscriptions as of July 2021. I do announce new posts on Facebook as they come along, so if you are on that platform, you could follow me there. If you have another idea of how I can continue to offer email alerts, do let me know.

Meanwhile, thank you for your support. It's been good to know that someone out there may actually be reading this blog.

Brigit's blessings.

Mael Brigde

Image: by Sigmund on Unsplash