Journey of the Heart

  Bright One   Blessings to you from the earth  This Brigids day morning  Dawn of the new day  And new season has sprung.  Blessings to you from the wind  On which your poetry carries  Far and wide, land to land.  Watching over the people who see That the maiden breathes warm air  Over flowers for land  Be they edible or medicine  Blessings from the bright one  Brigid sends blessings among you  As water runs clear and cool The babies will come now winter ends  All hail Brigid bringing her blessings  To you bright one.  ©️AilsaCawleyPoetry 2020 Ailsa Cawley :   I have written since I can remember, devouring the stories of Roald Dahl under the covers by torchlight. I have always loved fairy tales, myths and magic. A good deal of the things I write has some truth in it. Others, not. You may find my writings on my website  here , or follow  me on  Twitter  or  Facebook . *For s...

  Return to Brigid’s Altar Puddles, broken oak tree branches, sharp stones interrupt her voyage. Many crossroads ahead, voices echoing turn right, turn left, turn back. Without a map, onward she boldly steps.   The song of honey bee guides her forward. Burning rushes lingering scent, soothing any inner lament. Walking now past a graveyard,  smouldering bones of all   she walked away from, all who walked out on her. Cackling laughs at her chosen cloaked path. Alas! Hope smiles snowdrops and fresh grass, signs of Spring breathe Winter has passed.   Fearless she tip-toes towards the foggy green forest. The mist fingering her bare blackened feet. No time to rest. The beat of her warrior heart thieves any fears of defeat.   Her soul is nourished by the distant sight, the fire, the skies, the flames alight. Daughter of Brigid, on your path though you may falter, you too will arrive. One day you will return to Brigid’s Blessed Imbolc Altar. Yvonne Brewer  ...

It's been nearly a quarter century since I first encountered the figure of Brigid of Ireland.  She befriended me immediately and has not left me since. Hers is a beautiful, trusted presence in my heart and soul; a deep source of healing, inspiration, and encouragement.  On this, Her Feast, I bring this offering, with gratitude and great love! A Sacred Surrender by Brigid Clare Oak Brigid of the Christ Light; Keeper of the Eternal Flame; Mother, Muse, Melder of Home and Hearth.   Fair Bride, Fierce Bride; Bright Sun, Mysterious Moon; Star-clad, Sky-cloaked Woman of Peace and Power! In this most pure and potent Hour, and in All Moments, surrounding; Be my lifting, be my grounding; Be my gifting; my soul's true sounding; That I may shine forth Your hospitality and grace; That I may embody Your warm embrace; That I may with strength the weak protect, and with Your Light; despair deflect. That I may with Your Dear Hands heal, and forge connections strong...

The inspiration for this poem came after I watched a magical winter sunset and full moonrise from the top of Firle Beacon in the South Downs... Unusually for me, I wrote the poem quite quickly and changed it very little before publishing it – perhaps the energies were working through my pen! Imbolc is the mid-point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It’s a fire festival which I particularly love because of its associations with Brigid, the Celtic Mother Goddess of arts and crafts, clear sight, healing, inspiration and nurturance of creative talents – something which, through my writing, I am always trying to connect with.  I also love Imbolc because, with so much darkness and negativity in the world today, it is a time for hope, potential, visioning and initiation. With love and blessings as the light returns. Photography by Chanel Baran IMBOLC    by Caroline Mellor I am the dream of awakening. I am the returning of the night.  I...

Since childhood I have had a strong connection with Naomh Bríd, St. Brigid… Growing up in Ireland, I always enjoyed St. Brigid's Day, February 1st in school when we brought reeds to school and made St. Brigid's crosses. Even at a young age I questioned why St. Patrick's Day in Ireland was celebrated more than St.Brigid's Day and always felt that St.Brigid had to live on in the shadow of male saints such as St.Patrick! As a Celtic Triple Goddess She rules Healing, Poetry and Smithcraft. In particular as a Healer, She watches over childbirth and all creation. As a Goddess of Poetry She inspires and protects ideas and also shares prophesies. She has been a special Guide to me and She especially came to my awareness when I was pregnant and I have felt her presence with me through all various creative journeys I have embarked on! On Feb 1st I will honor Her by lighting candles all day as She is associated with the element of fire and St Brigid’s Flame burns eter...

 Imbolc is one of my favorite festivals...   It’s celebrated on 1st February, in the Northern hemisphere,  and marks the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. It's the celebration of the end of Winter and the beginning of the “Light Half” of the year.  Imbolc is a Pagan festival in honour of the Goddess, Brighid, but, as with many Pagan festivals, it was also celebrated by Celtic Christians and later by the Roman church, who called it “Saint Brighid’s Day” or “Candlemas”.  All these celebrations - and similar festivals in other traditions at this season - are a joyful acknowledgement of Light, physical and spiritual, coming into the world. I have suffered with a sunlight deficiency condition since I was a child and our dark British winters, though possessed of a certain beauty, are particularly difficult.  Imbolc is, for me, the Stirring time - the Quickening time - when I begin, like the spring flower...