Monday, October 05, 2009

Links to Websites and Publications (Institute of Feminism and Religion)


© Institute for Feminism and

Religion. All rights reserved.



Websites and Publications

This page lists other websites that relate to feminist theology.

Papers by Mary Condren, National Director

Publication Details:

“Sacrifice and Political Legitimation: The Production of a
Gendered Social Order”,
Journal of Women’s History,
Spring, (1995),

“Mercy Not Sacrifice: Toward a Celtic Theology”, Feminist
Theology
No. 15, May 1997.

“Sacred Spaces” published in German as "Von Menschen-
hand gemacht: Die gesellschaftliche Konstruktion heiliger
Orte" in
Schlangenbrut: streitschrift für feministische und
religioös interessierte frauen
Nr. 66 17. Jg. 1999, pp.28-31.

“Brigit: Soulsmith for the New Millennium,” pp. 39-49. Special
Issue of Irish Journal of Feminist Studies
, Cork University
Press, 2002. Volume 4, Number 2. Also published in
Concilium: In the Power of Wisdom eds. María Pilar Aquino
and Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, vol. 5, (London: SCM
Press, 2000), pp.107-119, and in
Irish Spirit ed. Patricia
Monaghan, (Dublin: Wolfhound Press, 2001): 120-133.

(Forthcoming in) “Melting Hearts of Stone,” (2007) in Lisa
Isherwood and Kathleen McPhillips (eds.) Post-Christian
Feminisms: A Critical Appraisal. Ashgate Press.

Article appearing in The Irish Times - Jan 31, 2005 by Mary Condren

Article appearing in The Irish Times - August 16, 2004 by Mary Condren

You can download these papers and read them with Adobe Acrobat
READ, which is free software.

Brigit: Soulsmith for a New Millenium

Final Annunciation.pdf

Sacred Spaces


CJ Chow's Brigid's Flame


C. J. Chow of Toronto, Canada has devoted a website to Brigid and to healing. Brigid's Flame offers information, links, and consultations, as well as a link to C.J.'s blog: Pneumatised! AN EVER-CHANGING LIFE INSPIRED BY THE PNEUMA.


ABOUT ME

I am a Chinese Canadian living in Toronto, Canada, who follows a unique, eclectic spirituality. First and foremost, I am pagan. I have found that being pagan has given me freedom to explore many different spiritualities (or maybe that's just my personality... hm...) At the very least, the path that I follow has led me to explore different mythologies, from classic Greco-Roman to Mesoamerican (Mayan, Incan, Aztec). I've always held it to be important to learn and explore different spiritual paths. My studies, though generally on pagan/Wiccan paths, include Native traditions, Buddhism, Taoism, Celtic mythology and spirituality, Mesoamerican mythology and basically any other mythologies out there.

I have a great interest in healing and wellness. I believe that healing takes place on the spiritual level first and that much suffering and pain can be avoided by taking good care of oneself. Taking care of oneself includes spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. I hold a black belt in taekwondo and I highly recommend martial arts to people because it works on all these levels. During the summer of 2002, I suffered a knee injury, putting my martial arts on hold. I underwent knee surgery and rehabilitation. It was going through this that sparked my interest in healing and subsequently, I sought not just reiki treatment, but to be attuned to reiki. I was attuned to reiki level one by Nancy Peel nearly a year ago. Healing however is not just an individual need, healing is also needed on a larger scale. The world itself needs to be healed - there is just too much suffering. This is the basic idea behind this website and my work...

POEMS FOR BRIGID

Below are two pieces from the Carmina Gadelica about Brigid. The original from the Carmina is shown followed immediately by a modern translation and interpretation. Sources are listed after each section.

SLOINNTIREACHD BHRIDE1

Sloinneadh na Ban-naomh Bride, Lasair dhealrach oir, muime chorr Chriosda. Bride nighinn Dughaill duinn, Mhic Aoidh, mhic Airt, mhic Cuinn, Mhic Crearair, mhic Cis, mhic Carmaig, mhic Carruinn.

Gach la agus gach oidhche Ni mi sloinntireachd air Bride, Cha mharbhar mi, cha spuillear mi, Cha charcar mi, cha chiurar mi, Cha mhu dh' fhagas Criosd an dearmad mi.

Cha loisg teine, grian, no gealach mi, Cha bhath luin, li, no sala mi, Cha reub saighid sithich, no sibhich mi, Is mi fo chomaraig mo Naomh Muire Is i mo chaomh mhuime Bride.

http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/gaidhlig/corpus/Carmina/G70.html

GENEALOGY OF BRIGIT

The genealogy of the holy maiden Brigit, Radiant arrow of flame, noble foster-mother of gods, Brigit the daughter of the Dagda, Dagda the Good God, the son of Ethlinn, Ethlinn the daughter of Balor, Balor the king of the Fomoire.

Every day and every night That I say the genealogy of Brigit, I shall not be killed, I shall not be injured, I shall not be enchanted, I shall not be cursed, Neither shall my power leave me.

No earth, no sod, no turf shall cover me, No fire, no sun, no moon shall burn me, No water, no lake, no sea shall drown me, No air, no wind, no vapour shall sicken me, No glamour out of Faery shall o'ertake me, And I under the protection of the holy maiden, My gentle foster-mother, my beloved Brigit.

http://www.shadowsrealm.com/paganshadows/carmina/index2.html#70

BRIDE BAN-CHOBHAIR2

Thainig thugam cobhair Moire gheal is Bride; Mar a rug Anna Moire, Mar a rug Moire Criosda, Mar a rug Eile Eoin Baistidh Gun mhar-bhith dha dhi, Cuidich thusa mise 'm asaid, Cuidich mi a Bhride!

Mar a gheineadh Criosd am Moire Comhliont air gach laimh, Cobhair thusa mise, mhoime, An gein a thoir bho 'n chnaimh; 'S mar a chomhn thu Oigh an t-solais, Gun or, gun odh, gun ni, Comhn orm-sa, 's mor m' othrais, Comhn orm a Bhride!

http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/gaidhlig/corpus/Carmina/G71.html

BRIGIT THE AID-WOMAN

There came to me assistance, Danu fair and Brigit; As Danu bore the Dagda, As Dagda's wife bore Brigit, As Brigit bore Ruadan Without flaw in him, Aid thou me in mine unbearing, Aid me, O Brigit!

As Lugh was conceived of Ethlinn Full perfect on every hand, Assist thou me, foster-mother, The conception to bring from the bone; And as thou didst aid the Mother of the Gods, Without gold, without corn, without kine, Aid thou me, great is my sickness, Aid me, O Brigit!

http://www.shadowsrealm.com/paganshadows/carmina/index2.html#71

The following is a modern poem about the goddess Brigid. However, I have noticed the title of the poem uses the modern name "Bridget" instead of Brigid which leaves me to speculate the poem is also dedicated to someone named Bridget Bright.

BRIDGET BRIGHT by Hedgewytch

She is known as Brigid Bright, Goddess who shines against the night. At Cille Dara, at the setting sun, Her sacred flame is kept by one. Nineteen times the earth turns round, As sacred springs come forth the ground. Twenty times the sun has burned, And now the Goddess has returned. Alone she tends her thrice-bright flame, Born of her heart that bears her name. The Dagda knows Brigid as Daughter, Triple Blessed by fire and water. Poets call her name to inspire. And healers oft gain from her fire. Wayland too would know her well As hammer and anvil ring like a bell. A sorrowful cry did she give meaning, When first she brought to Eire keening. Oh Sacred Fire against darkest night, Burn for Brigid, for Brigid Bright! Fire in the head...to quicken us. Fire in the cauldron...to heal us. Fire in the forge of the heart...to temper us.

"Bridget Bright" was found on the following sites: http://www.witchvox.com/vn/vn_detail/dt_po.html?a=usfl&id=902 http://www.earthspiritpagans.org/

The following was not written for the goddess Brigid (at least as far as I know), but the lyrics in this song are so beautiful and remind me of Brigid that I wanted to include the chorus here. The song is"Shine" by Hungry Lucy. The lyrics are by Christa Belle and can be found at www.hungrylucy.com.

Shine this light down on me forever My open eyes are so alive Break through these walls that leave me useless All of my fears have gone away

FOOTNOTES

1. Piece 70 from the Carmina Gadelica. 2. Piece 71 from the Carmina Gadelica.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

The Holy Sacred Sock

Okay. I don't normally put gewgaws and whatsits in this blog because although they're cool, shopping isn't really what it's all about spiritually, in my books.

But this is just too weird to mis
s.


Earthy greens and the warm tones of fall leaves stripe recall the highlands and sacred flames of the woman of Irish myth. RocknSocks label, made in the USA.$15.00 US
Please choose your preferred style:
Fiber Content: 85% regenerated cotton/acrylic/polyester, 10% nylon, 5% elastic.
Machine wash, tumble dry low.
Sizing Tips: 21 inches from heel to top of cuff.
Label says these fit US shoe size women's 6-11 and men's 7-10.
These fit a 19 inch calf fantastically as a knee high!
Additional Info: Image courtesy of RocknSocks.
RocknSocks creates original and unique socks made in the U.S.A. with regenerated cotton yarns. Regenerated cotton is a recycled textile made using a unique manufacturing process that conserves land, water, and energy.

Thanks to Vannah of the Daughters of the Flame for this one!

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Under the Oak: A Blogger Named Brigit

St. Bridget by Ó Dubáin

A very special blog exists out there. It's called
Under the Oak.

Under the Oak has at time of writing no less than 45 posts tagged St. Bridget, among a total of 306 posts altogether, yet the blog was started only nine months ago - to the day, in fact, on 19 January 2009.

The blogger, who calls herself only Brigit, is diligent and apparently tireless. There is surely a lifetime's worth of information to explore already on her site.

This was her first posting:

Monday, 19 January 2009

Under the Oak

Welcome to Under the Oak, a blog dedicated to the saints of Ireland and especially to our national patroness, Saint Brigid of Kildare. It was under the oak at Kildare that tradition claims Saint Brigid founded her famous monastery - a house of hospitality, learning and prayer. It was also under the oak, the oak of Mamre, that the Righteous Patriarch Abraham provided hospitality for the three heavenly visitors.

I hope, please God, to make available materials relating to the lives of the Irish saints - hagiographies, prayers, hymns - and to the early Irish church in general.

May we all be under the protection of the Most Holy Trinity and under the mantle of Brigid!


I leave you to explore this smith's treasury of information. As a teaser, I will give you the list of her tags, an impressive collection, indeed!

Labels

Catholic Ireland DOT Net: Brigit Offerings


CatholicIreland.net is, rather self-explanatorily, a site for Irish Catholics and their admirers and friends. A quick search of the site yields a small number of articles on St. Brigit. To whit:


February 1st, the feast of Imbolg in the old Celtic year, marked the beginning of spring. It was Christianised and adapted as the feast of St Brigid and many rituals still associated with the feast are best understood in the light of their pagan Celtic origins. After a Foreword on the life of Brigid as told in the Leabhar Breac, Seán Ó Duinn describes these rites and explores their relevance for today.

236 pp, Columba Press, 2005. To purchase this book online, go to www.columba.ie

On this page are the table of contents, foreword, and a large section of the first chapter of the book.


The Irish in the Middle Ages had an intriguing way of expressing devotion to the Child Jesus. And it was more than mere fancy, writes Gilbert Márkus.

This article, which first appeared in Spirituality, a publication of the Irish Dominicans, explores the idea of Brigit as the Mother of God, and extends it other Christians as well. It ends with the observation:

"Many nations and cultures, not only the Gaels, explored this imagery of the Christian disciple as the mother of God. The application of the Gaelic title már Choimded máthair to Brigit, ‘mother of the great Lord’, is not some kind of weird error or deviation. It is a natural flowering of the creative mind in love, part of that ever unfolding process of finding new ways to express the love poured into our hearts."


Brigid of Kildare is a patroness of those who have a care for the earth, for justice and equality, for peace and she is a model for a contemplative life. Brigidine sister Rita Minehan profiles her here.

"A great resurgence of interest in all aspects of our Celtic heritage is leading many individuals and groups to rediscover - and draw inspiration from - the lives of the early Irish saints. St Brigid, the patroness of Ireland, is emerging as one whose life has relevance and inspiration for us as we try to face the issues that confront our country and our world at this time. When we look at the life of Brigid and at some of these issues we can see more clearly why she continues to be relevant to us today."

The article looks at the many sides of spiritual life that St. Brigit models - carer, inspirer, etc.

For the full text of these articles, follow the links or go to http://brigitssparklingflame.blogspot.com/2004_09_01_archive.html