Update: Here’s Beyonce as the fiery Brigid!
It’s the cross-quarter holiday between winter solstice and the spring equinox—which helps to fuel the Superbowl frenzy here in the states. We want to party. For those of us with Northern Hemisphere bodies, this is the instinctive, genetically encoded turn towards the coming vitality and brightness of spring. If your pleasure endorphins aren’t released now in a festive communal way, you may find that your mood in the coming weeks gets dull and gray.
Another great way to celebrate this midpoint of the season is by invoking the god or goddess of the coming season. A good one to work with is the Celtic goddess of passion, poetry, inspiration and spring: Brigid. Here’s a simple Brigid ritual you can do tomorrow (February 4) when the Sun reaches 15 degrees of fixed sign Aquarius (marking this as a cross-quarter day). Or you can do it anytime this month.
For three successive nights, light a small candle at the same hour. Focused internally on your heart, recite Brigid’s prayer below. When the poem is complete, close your eyes and wait to be touched by the goddess. You may blow out the candle when you’re done, or leave it burning until you retire. (Be safe: don’t leave a burning candle unattended.)
Brigid’s Prayer
This is the genealogy of the holy maiden Bride*,
Radiant flame of gold, noble foster mother of Christ,
Bride, daughter of Dugall the Brown*,
Son of Aodh, son of Art, son of Conn,
Son of Crearer, Son of Cis, son of Carmac,
son of Carruin, Every day and every night
That I say the genealogy of Bride,
I shall not be killed, I shall not be harried,
I shall not be put in a cell, I shall not be wounded,
Neither shall Christ leave me in forgetfulness.
No fire, no sun, no moon shall burn me,
No lake, no water, nor sea shall drown me,
No arrow of fairy nor dart of fay shall wound me
And I under the protection of my Holy Mary
And my gentle foster-mother is my beloved Bride.”
From the Carmina Gadelica, by Alexander Carmichael
*“Brighid” is also known as “Bride” or “Breed.” If you read about Brigid first, you may find your connection to Her is strengthened.
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