“Dubthach Versus the Druid” by Mael Brigde

Dubthach Versus the Druid

much is made of your father

Dubthach

how you lived with him and worked

in his dairy

how you gave away his splendid things

his gold   his sword

his butter and meat

but what of the druid

who bought from him

your pregnant mother

your birth on his threshold

his care as you grew

was he not the true father

of your childish heart

did not his love of gods

obedience to sun and earth

his store of lore and genealogy

shape your vision of your world

give you perfect apprehension

of this sacred pagan place

if in time you drank

from another cup

where a Son

not the Sun

predominates

were you not still at ease

in flesh and heart

among the spirits

of land and beasts

so the oaks embrace you

you know the fox’s speech

the snowdrop lifts its head

where you have trod

in you they recognize

the blood of one

who lives upon the limen

walks in bright accord

with sanctity

Copyright: Casey June Wolf (2015).

Image: "The mountains known as the Twelve Bens in Connemara at sunset." By No machine-readable author provided. Morna assumed (based on copyright claims). [GFDL   (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

“Divine Cow” by Mael Brigde

Divine Cow

luminous white the cow who nursed you

when taken from your mother’s breast

ears of silken red   eyes of warm pitch

called from the Land of Youth

by the clear-sighted druid

the sweet cow’s milk the only food

you could endure

was the land below his dwelling

alive with crying mists

as she trod the hillside’s quickened flanks

in answer

had the sidhe-mound quivered with new light

when you dropped to the druid’s threshold

your mother’s knees resounding

one on rush-strewn floor

one on naked earth without

did the cow then lift her large

and thoughtful ears

so far away and listen for your cry

Copyright: Mael Brigde, 2015.

Image: J. West Cattle Company.

“I Will Kindle My Fire” (Song) by Mael Brigde

I will kindle my fire this morning

in the presence of Brigit and her holy women.

Brigit, kindle in my heart within

a flame of love to my neighbour

to my foe, to my friend, to my kindred all

to the brave, to the knave, to the thrall

without malice, without jealousy, without envy, without fear

without terror of anyone under the sun.

Click here to hear the song on SoundCloud.

This is a reworked Scottish prayer. The original was collected in the Carmina Gadelica by Alexander Carmichael. I made the changes out of a desire to have a prayer I could use when I lit the flame at the start of my shift. The tune arose spontaneously as I recited the prayer.

   Original  Prayer:

       I WILL kindle my fire this morning

   In presence of the holy angels of heaven,

   In presence of Ariel of the loveliest form,

   In presence of Uriel of the myriad charms,

   Without malice, without jealousy, without envy,

   Without fear, without terror of any one under the sun,

   But the Holy Son of God to shield me.

        Without malice, without jealousy, without envy,

        Without fear, without terror of any one under   the sun,

        But the Holy Son of God to shield me.

God, kindle   Thou in my heart within

   A flame of love to my neighbour,

   To my foe, to my friend, to my kindred all,

   To the brave, to the knave, to the thrall,

   O Son of the loveliest Mary,

   From the lowliest thing that liveth,

   To the Name that is highest of all.

        O Son of the loveliest Mary,

        From the lowliest thing that liveth,

        To the Name that is highest of all.

     Source: Carmina Gadelica, Volume 1, by Alexander Carmichael, [1900], at sacred-texts.com, pg 231. Modified by Mael Brigde.

Image: Deutsch: “Bäuerin, am Herdfeuer sitzend”, English: “Peasant-woman sitting at the Hearth-fire”, by Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) (Wikimedia).

Two Poems at the MotherHouse of the Goddess

I am happy to say that The MotherHouse of the Goddess, the school which hosts my Brigit courses, has published two of my poems on its blog. You can follow this link to read “Brigit – Keeper of Cattle”, and the following to see “At Your Healing Well”.

Thank you, Kim, for your appreciation and support of my work and devotion to Brigit.

For those interested in the courses, the introductory course is called Discovering Brigit, and the month-long activation course is Stepping Into Brigit. If you enroll in the first (for $15 US), you will have an opportunity to continue to the second course at the end, and will be rebated most of that money in the enrollment process.

“All-Giving Sun, Father of Brig” by Mael Brigde

All-Giving Sun, Father of Brig

Good God

Shapeshifter

Glowing Head

Beautiful Fire

Ruddy One of Much Wisdom

Father of All

such is the vast Dagda   Brig

the one who gave you life

perfector of divine science

possessor of triads

the god of druidry

to the gods

the sun itself in heaven

able and magnanimous

he cleared twelve plains in a single night

cut the path of twelve rivers

governs weather    crops for the Tuatha Dé

by night he dwells with the dead

by day   the living

binds together winter and summer

dark and light

builder   warrior

provider and protector

he dwells in the sublimest sidhe

at Brugh na Bóinne

the Hostel of the Mound

voracious and potent

there he lay with the Morrigan

ah  he lay with many goddesses

you have half-sisters    half-brothers

throughout the land

his cauldron a huge and mighty treasure

his dreadful iron club

one end rough and one end gentle

nine men it kills in an instant

nine men in an instant revives

your father   The Dagda

who birthed in you the mighty sun of inspiration

bequeathed you the cauldron generous

ignited in you poet and healer both

Image: "Soleil Coronographe" by Rogilbert (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

“Night of Sorrow” by Mael Brigde

Night of Sorrow

you chose your penance

in an icy pool

wept and prayed all night                  

God could not bear

such self-reproach

dried the waters

forced you into warmth

then perhaps

Darlughdacha came to you

held your grieving head

Brendan your confessor

gently heard

Conlaeth and the virgins

gathered round your bed

till light returned

and

as it pinked the Curragh

as it gilt the rising oaks

you spied wren and crow

fox and finch

wolf and cow and crane

bearing silent witness

to their love

See: Ó Cathaín, Festival of Brigit, pg. 25, for the story referred to here.

Image: By Miguel Mendez from Malahide, Ireland (Malahide at Dawn (version 1)) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons CROPPED. For the full image click here.

“To You Brigit We Cling” by Mael Brigde

To You Brigit We Cling

the king of the boars and the king of the cattle

to you Brigit   to you Brigit

the king of the rams is proclaiming his battle

to you Brigit   to you Brigit

with shoutings and groanings

and terrible moanings

the demons are wailing tonight

to you Brigit   to you Brigit

we cling in our terrible plight

a goddess—three sisters

the proudest turn to you

to you Brigit   to you Brigit

the sky cracks the sea overflows

the earth splits open wide

to you Brigit we cling

we cling in our terrible plight

This poem quickly became a song. You may hear it in its a capella glory on SoundCloud. 
copyright Casey June Wolf (2017).

Brigit Bé Bithmaith

English

Brigid, ever-good woman,

flame-golden, sparkling,

may she bear us to the eternal kingdom,

(she) the sun, Fiery, radiant!

May Brigid free us

past crowds of demons!

May she win for us

battles over every disease!

May she extirpate in us

the vices of our flesh,

she, the branch with blossoms,

the mother of Jesus!

The true-virgin, dear

with vast pre-eminence,

may we be free, at all times,

along with my Saint of Leinster-folk!

One of the two pillars of the Kingdom,

along with Patrick the pre-eminent;

the vestment beyond even splendid

vestments;

the royal Queen!

May they lie, after old age,

our bodies, in sackcloth,

but with her grace may she bedew us,

may she free us, Brigid!

Irish

Brigit bé bithmaith

breo orda oiblech.

donfe do 'n bithlaith

ingrian tind taidlech.

Ronsoera Brigit

sech drungu demna

roroena reunn

catha cach thedma.

Do rodha innunn

ar colla císu

in chroeb co mblathaib

in mathair Ísu.

Ind firóg inmain

co norddain adbail,

biam soer cech inbaid

la'm noeb do Laignib.

Leth cholba flatha

la Patraic prímda

in tlacht vas ligdaib

in rigan rígda.

Robbet iar sinit

ar cuirp hic cilicc;

Dia rath ronbroena

ronsoera Brigit.

Image: Kenneth Allen. Hawthorne blossoms, Omagh. Pictured along Hospital Road. 28 June 2009. Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

Text: Trinity College Dublin MS 1441, the “Irish Liber Hymnorum” Ireland,11th c. (see http://www.vanhamel.nl/codecs/Brigit_bé_bithmaith for more information.)

Translation: Ruth Lebrnam

“Nineteen Flames for Brigid” by Lunaea Weatherstone

Following is a series of prayers, or a long poem, to Brigit from Tending Brigid's Flame by Lunaea Weatherstone.

Nineteen Flames for Brigid

by Lunaea Weatherstone

This book[1] opened with a woman lighting a candle in devotion to Brigid. Let’s close in the same way, with nineteen candles this time. This prayer litany can be done all at once or over nineteen nights. You can offer one prayer each night or do it “twelve days of Christmas” style: on the first night offer Flame 1’s prayer, on the second night offer the prayers for Flames 1 and 2, and so on until on the last night you offer all nineteen. However you get there, when you’ve lit that final flame, remember that Brigid holds the twentieth flame, which is eternal.

Flame 1: Welcome

Brigid of brightness, I bid thee welcome,

Brigid of blessing, come thou in.

Brigid of strength, I bid thee welcome,

this night and every night, this day and every day.

Flame 2: Hearth and household

Brigid of the threshold, come thou in,

Brigid of the hearthfire, take your ease,

Brigid of the cook-pot, sup with us,

Brigid of all comforts, dwell in our hearts.

Flame 3: Ancestors

Ancestors all, I embody your legacy,

Ancestors all, I ask for your blessing,

Ancestors all, I offer Brigid’s flame

to light the needfires of deep memory.

Flame 4: Flamekeepers

Brigid of the timeless flame, bless your daughters:

Those who keep the circle bright,

Those whose faith has never failed,

Those who keep your name ablaze.

Flame 5: Healing

Brigid of the holy waters,

Brigid of the soothing hand,

Brigid of the miracles,

Touch me with healing.

Flame 6: Poetry

Brigid of lore, deepen my understanding,

Brigid of bards, increase my eloquence,

Brigid of poetry, lead me to beauty:

Beauty of word and beauty of thought.

Flame 7: Courage

Brigid of the golden shield,

Brigid of courage,

Brigid of the sunbeam,

Increase thou my trust.

Flame 8: Righteous causes

Brigid, lend your righteous sword

To those who work for justice,

To those who speak the truth,

To those who seek a better world.

Flame 9: The oppressed

In the name of Brigid, who empowers the oppressed,

In the name of Brigid, who releases the enslaved,

In the name of Brigid, who lifts up the downtrodden,

May all her people be honored and free.

Flame 10: Children

Brigid the midwife, bless every birth,

Brigid foster mother, protect every child,

Brigid of springtime, bestow on each childhood

The innocence of wonder and the magic of joy.

Flame 11: Women’s causes

Mighty Brigid, your keening women call to you:

Strengthen our voice,

Strengthen our resolve,

Strengthen our sisterhood.

Flame 12: The earth

Brigid, preserve this planet,

The stones and the seas and the skies.

Brigid, spread your green mantle

For the greening of the earth.

Flame 13: Animals

Brigid, protect the earth’s animals,

The fish and the beasts and the birds.

Brigid, shelter your creatures

As your sheep shelter lambs from the wind.

Flame 14: Water

Brigid of the clear dewdrop,

Brigid of the pure wellspring,

Brigid of the pool of knowledge,

Teach us to honor the gift of water.

Flame 15: Creativity

Bright Brigid, flame of creation,

Kindle my enthusiasm,

Fire up my passion,

Ignite my imagination.

Flame 16: Nourishment

Brigid of the overflowing milk,

Brigid of the good brown loaf,

Brigid of the endless butter,

May all beings be nourished.

Flame 17: Peace

Peace of the swan and peace of the kine,

Peace of the hearth and peace of the open door,

Peace between neighbors and peace between nations

The deep peace of Brigid within.

Flame 18: Gratefulness

Brigid, I thank thee three-times-three:

For my birth, my body, my spirit,

For my kin, my clan, my tribe,

For my home, my work, my knowledge of thee.

Flame 19: The three flames of Brigid

May the hearthfire of welcome warm me,

May the temple fire of faith sustain me,

May the forge fire of change strengthen me,

And Brigid’s love encompass me, now and evermore.

---

[1] Tending Brigit’s Flame by Lunaea Weatherstone (2016).

Poem/Ritual: "Nineteen Candles" by Lunaea Weatherstone from her book Tending Brigit's Flame (2016). By permission.

Image:  Español: Noche de velas, 2015, by Marrovi (talk | contribs), Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International

“The Curragh Wrens” by Mael Brigde

The Curragh Wrens     [1]

heroic Fionn MacCumhail

dust now in the sidhe

Brigit’s abbey

crumbled musty ruin

who dwells on the proud Curragh?

pennants fly   bugles sound   gleaming bayonets

barded mounts rumble cross the plain

host of a foreign Queen

outside the troops’

untarnished bone-white tents

clasp close for bare necessities

the Curragh Wrens

shelters burned   commerce refused them

furze their only nest

in starched gowns they huddle   baby at breast

drink with wandering soldiers

by the barrack wall

these your little

neglected night birds   Brigit

following love   selling their lives

flogged in the streets for their sins

Inspired  by “Stoning the Desolate”, by Charles Dickens, from All The Year Round, No. 292 1864.

http://www.kildare.ie/library/ehistory/2012/02/stoning_the_desolate.asp

For James Greenwood’s article in Dickens’ Pall Mall Gazette (1867):

http://www.kildare.ie/library/ehistory/2008/07/the_wrens_of_the_curragh.asp

---

[1]    “...the poor wretches of whom we have spoken are called ‘wrens,’ ‘because they live in holes in the banks’...” James Greenwood in Dickens’ newspaper the Pall Mall Gazette, 1867.

“Thereupon she entered” by Ani Greenwood

Thereupon she entered

Thereupon She entered
And on the right hand: wonder
And on the left hand: hope
To the north of her red rock
To the south of her climbing sandy hills
To the east of her croft in ruins
To the west of her crashing sea

Thereupon She entered
Singing that pierces time
And Her long gown, wetted
In the pink soaked sand
Clung to my entrails
And Her hands swept down
Like a hawk upon the heart

She the Lady of Hoy
She the Lady of Callanish
She the Lady of the Western Isles
Lady Brede, Lady Wildness, Lady Mother of the Sea
She the yearning that pierces the heart
Always calling

Ani Greenwood, 6 Dec. 2007

Image: Callanish Stones by Mlm42~commonswiki