Writing Brigit


Writing Brigit

Many years ago I wrote my first Brigit prayer. Poem. Blessing... I have been writing them ever since, but seldom publish them. Some are carefully researched and crafted, some are simple and straight from the heart. (Belated update: I did eventually publish a book called A Brigit of Ireland Devotional - Sun Among Stars. It contains many of my Brigit poems and prayers, essays, and resources.)

The prayers and blessings of my sisters in the Daughters of the Flame and other Brigit-loving women and men, living and long-dead, fill me with surprise and delight, as well.

I would like to share some of these writings with you.

Following is the one that signs off each of my emails, a reminder to guide my words and intentions with care when I write to anyone. It's as good a place to start as any.


Flame Offering

In the name of the three Brigits

I light the candle of my heart

May I offer it to everyone

gentle and steady

warm and bright



30 November 2017

“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

03 November 2017

“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.