Imbolc - Saint Brigid
Tuesday is a very special day on the wheel of the seasons called Imbolc, or St Brigid's Day in Christianity. Imbolc is a celebration in the Celtic/Pagan/Druid tradition for the goddess Brigid, considered the keeper of the light and flame. Traditionally a feast was held at the mid-point between Winter and Spring, planning for the crops and seeds, this brought an excitement of the warmth of the Sun, hearth and home. The days start to get longer in the northern hemisphere with the anticipation of signs of Spring. More here on the Druid tradition, it also shares information on how Brigid Day was Christianized and she was made into a Saint.
When I was living in Edinburgh Scotland in 2000, I took an art class at the University and we spent a lot of time at the National Gallery. At the end of the semester, the professor asked us to write a paper on the interpretation of a painting, with which we most resonated. I chose Saint Bride by John Duncan, from 1913. Painting is above for blog post.
My professor gave me a "D".
I was devastated! As a very young woman, I adored this painting, I really resonated with it. I had NO IDEA Saint Bride was Brigid, or Saint Brigid as Christians call her. Honestly, I didn't know the history of her significance and Google was not a thing back then, so I couldn't Google it. I only had a few books to read about the painting, nothing in-depth. I was going off feeling and what I thought it symbolized.
My interpretation of the painting was that this woman was the radiance in life, the angels were delivering light amongst the darkness on our path. Flying over the dark stormy seas (emotions) in order to rise above and fly into liberation of the light (seagulls say stay above the storm). One angel is stern and disciplined, looking forward on the path, the other angel is softly gazing on the woman, with love and compassion.
The professor was not impressed, he wanted a more Christian point of view, but this was supposed to be OUR interpretation. As I got older and learned more about Brigid, her role in Imbolc and also Christianity I started to understand her significance. I still believe my interpretation was not far off though. She is the keeper of the light, the flame, the fire and turns the wheel of the season towards Spring and new growth!
How do you mark the significance on your path to Spring and New Growth? Do you feel the warmth returning as we head toward Spring Equinox? Did you know the tradition of Imbolc? How does this painting below resonate with you?
Ritual Invocation for Imbolc - Saint Brigid’s Day
If you would like to honor this time between Winter and Spring, I created a mini-ritual to incorporate both the Druid and the Christian connection to her for Tuesday. This can be used with kids too!
Take a big mixing bowl, place snow in half of it or ice if there is no snow around. Gather together pine cones or needles, a rock/crystal, small sticks, maybe leaves from house plants. Sometimes I add flowers from the store. Just a handful, not too many. They represent the aliveness of Earth. Place them on top of the snow/ice. Keep the bowl on the dining room table.
Light candles on the table, in the room, or on your altar. Maybe add any seeds around the candles that you may be planting for Spring.
Make hot beverages - tea, coffee, hot chocolate, warm milk, enough for everyone joining and one extra for the bowl. Place the small hot beverage bowl on top of the snow/ice/nature items in the bigger bowl.
As you enjoy your hot drink, watch as the offering of the hot drink starts to melt the snow/ice in the bigger bowl. Call up any negative thoughts, emotions, dark stories that keep playing in your mind. Infuse them into that snow and ice that is melting away. Allow that hot drink to represent the warmth and return of the light of the sun to melt away the cold darkness. Blessed Be.
Another fun activity is to make St Brigid Crosses. Video here, you can buy reeds or rushes at plant stores or fake ones at craft stores. Once the crosses are made, hang them around your home until Spring Equinox and infuse them with the following beautiful blessing:
Invocation to Saint Bride
by John Irvine
Dear Saint Brigid of the Kine
Bless these little fields of mine,
The pastures and the shady trees
Bless the butter and the cheese,
Bless the coats with coats of silk
And the brimming pails of milk,
Bless the hedgerows, and I pray
Bless the seed beneath the clay,
Bless the hay and bless the grass,
Bless the seasons as they pass,
And heaven's blessings will prevail,
Brigid - Mary of the Gael.
In-Joy and Love,
Sirena
