36 Comments

Thank you for sharing! Blessed be!

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Thanks a million Matt, happy Imbolc to you! ✨️

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😲😲😲

I had no idea that my birthday was on Brigid’s Eve!! That’s amazing! I’m even more excited for this now!

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What a potent time to enter the world Megan on the threshold of Imbolc ✨️ Your Brat Bhríde will be supercharged with magic given that it's your birthday! Brightest of blessings for this year's circuit around the sun 💚

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Mile buiochas! I didn't know about the magic cloak.

Last night I started drawing a scene from pictures of 'old Ireland' West Cork (where my g grandfather grew up) the thatched cottages, the donkey and cart, the women all wearing cloaks hauling water and seaweed or móin in their huge willow baskets.

I've imagined my life as a tapestry of experience, smooth and rough, holes and lumps in places. Like a well worn cloak imbued with everything.

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What a gorgeous image Sue of your life as a tapestry, a well worn cloak imbued with experience with threads that weave back to your ancestors in West Cork. Galánta ar fad. Thanks a million for sharing! 💚

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So interesting Jen, the term bratt boinne. I immediately saw Bóinn.. being Brigid's mother 👨‍🍼 ❤️

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I feel this too Treacy - boinne is a form of buinne in Old Irish - torrent, flood, stream etc. all of which Bóinn offers on the land in the river and in the stars with Bealach na Bó Finne 💫❤️

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Me three, me three! I love this "accident" of language.

And thank you for helping to solve the mystery of when to put our Brat Bhríd out for her. "On this day, but also on any day around now" is the answer I was looking for! 💚

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Sure I put mine out first on Wednesday because the eldest wee man was heartbroken his friend was leaving school - we asked Brigid to ease his heartache and it seems to be working 😍

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Oh sweet, wise boy!

I didn’t put mine out last night because it was still doing its good work and minding me as I got through the last of the cold/flu that poor Mairéad brought home. (Must’ve been mighty charged up last year to take me all the way to January 31!) I think we’ll be called to do it on 2/2 - Mairéad’s birthday eve.

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Belated Lá Fhéile Mairéad! An Imbolc babe I love this timing! ✨

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Ready for the best part? Last night, I put it out before bed and a while later Mike comes in, “I found your scarf on the porch. Or, Nuala found it. She freaked out and pulled me over there. Did you spill something on it or something? It seemed ok,so I brought it inside and hung it up.”

And so, my brat Bhríde spent about 45 minutes outside and that’s all it took for me to be shown I was being cared for and watched over. It didn’t seem like I needed to run out into the snow to lay it out again as Brigid had already made it quite clear she has assembled a lovely crew to look out for me. 🤣💗

When

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Thanks for sharing this history, Jen. Celtic folklore endlessly fascinating ... but your extra detail here on the history of Brigid captured me. I might write something for Imbolc too. I wrote this last night about hearing the whispers of Spring ...

https://theseainme.substack.com/p/alchemy-voiced

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I've just listened Síodhna, what beauty emanating, thanks a million for sharing. Your words, your incantation guiding us to listen 'Winter into Spring' ✨

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There is almost no evidence a goddess by the name of Brid ever existed in Ireland.

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Thank you for this information!! Can you recommend more articles on Imbolc and its history? I’m trying to get some together for my spiritual book club this month

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Thanks a million Elizabeth. It can be a struggle to find good resources on Imbolc. There's lots of references within books but I'm not familiar with a book specific to Imbolc. One book that maps out the Celtic Calendar rooted in the Irish tradition is Ever Ancient, Ever New by Dolores Whelan who really blazed a trail here on cyclic living. In terms of articles, I'd recommend OBOD, the order of druids led by Eimear Burke, The Druid's Cauldron is another good source, also Dúchas Ireland's National Folklore Collection. I hope this helps. Lá Fhéile Bríde!💚

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Thank you Jennifer, Blessed Imbolc!

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Go raibh maith agat :) I have my Brat Bríde ready for tonight!

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Oh beautiful Devon, may it bring may blessings to you this year! Lá Fhéile Bríde 💚

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Thank you for this Jen ✨ Tomorrow I'm co-hosting an Imbolc women's circle here on the beach, something I have felt called to do for a while, and your words have been a great source of inspiration. I'm leaving my brat Bhríde outside tonight 🏹🦢🔥

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What lucky women Annette! & I love that you're bringing Brigid to the beach, yes! I just facilitated women's circles in Balbriggan Library over the past couple of days and it was so heartening, humbling and magic to see how Brigid comes to life in her own way through each one of us. ❤️‍🔥 Maybe I'll make the next one you host! Grá mór mo chara agus lá fhéile Bríde duit! 💚

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Glorious! I'm doing this ritual tonight... thank you so much for sharing it! 🔥✨️🌀

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Oh beautiful my love, may Brigid bring you many blessings! 💚

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The story of Bridget’s cloak has been very much on my mind recently - thank you for this! 🙏

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Oh amazing Gabriel, such a lovely synchronicity, thanks a million for sharing! ✨

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Well this was fabulous. Thank you so much! Imbolc is my favorite holiday; it’s very meaningful, and imbued with Celtic feminine wisdom and lore.

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Oh that's beautiful to hear that Imbolc is your favourite holiday Erin, an incredibly magical time! Wishing you every blessing as we cross this threshold 💛

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Thank you, Jennifer! Are you by chance standing at the Ring of Brodgar in your photo? So magical!

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I am indeed Erin! I brought my two little lads there last year, we drove from Dublin all the way to the Orkney Islands, it was an incredible adventure!

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Wow! That’s fantastic! It’s such an epic destination. The ferry ride, Skara Brae, Maes Howe, Kirkwall, Stromness, the magical feeling of the stones, sea and sky there... 💚

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Absolutely Erin, it's so magical and I could really feel the connection with our ancestors across these islands. From Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange) to Maeshowe... Truly a wonder! 💛

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I have a practice of envisioning Bridget‘s sacred cloak around me when I enter a building or other public space in which I need extra support. I imagine all the details, color, fabric, trim, length, weight. It has been so healing and helpful in reducing anxiety! Thank you for sharing all of these legends and wisdom around Bridget’s mantle. I love it. 💖

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What a gorgeous practice Joanna, thanks a million for sharing! Such a powerful honouring of Brigid consciousness ✨

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