Post by Senbecc on Jan 16, 2007 21:33:39 GMT -5
All hail! Breo-Saighit! The fiery arrow which pierces winter, leaving open the path to spring!
Bridhe is an interesting goddess to study because she is in fact at once pre-Celtic, Celtic, and Christian, aside from being Irish, Scottish, British, and Gallic. Imbolg by nature is a festival associated with women, the land, and fertility. The Cailleach steps though the very zones between heaven and earth, from beyond the cave of death which lies beneath the elemental abyss, once again repeating the cycle of the sun fire goddess.
The goddess Bridgett as well as Imbolg is a carry over from the days when both were associated with the Tuatha de Danann. Bridgett was the daughter of the Dagdha, the Druid, and one of the kings of the Gods. Making Bridgett a symbol of nobility, this point driven further as she is also wife to Bres, a king of the Fomorii.
In classical Greek philosophy, as well as more modern idealisms there are five elements, the fifth- spirit I suppose, being an extension of the other four. To the Irish Druid there are considered to more than five, the fifth being "Goath" or breath/wind according to the Dúile. Within my own practice and study of Draíocht, I make use of nine "elements" or qualities of being. Goath is also described in essence by the word anam, or spirit, or soul. Spirit as the center of the nine to me represents the center of the universe, and of my own individual qualities of being, and is the cause of everything coming to pass, be it within, or with out.
This to me seems appropriate especially on the day of Bridhe, for it is she who is the breath of life, the warmth of the hearth, and the and the spirit of the world, she is the inspiration of creativity. Imbolg is a time for us to renew ourselves in her many blessings as we behold her light which has been hidden within the depths of darkness. Dark Oak awakens, the Red One sees and the White Lady walks the land. The Star River bridges the night skies and the Wavesweeper moves by will alone, oaths of long ago are renewed and honored, as Land seeks Sea and Sky surrounds.
This is Bridhe's most sacred of festivals, The time of the small sun is drawing to a close, a the fires of life begin a new, as the grip of winter slowly begins to loosen its grip on nature. Tree sap begins to move in the grove, and we Druids give thanks to Bridgett for the returning warmth of spring!
This festival marks the coming of spring, and through this doorway we recognize the life force of nature as the flowers push and fight their way through the snow, and frozen ground, new births of lambs and calves in the fields, and the Druid Shamans turn their attentions away from inner workings, and magical studies, turning their attentions to great work, more spiritual and more group oriented practices of spring and summer. The practices of the Celtic Shaman will always mirror the wheel of the year, and the actions of the green world!
Hail Brighid on this day, your day and every day! An Dúil Cúigeach!
Slan go Foill!
Senbecc
See the thread on Brigid for more information: paganmystics.proboards101.com/index.cgi?board=spiritualgrowth&action=display&thread=1167777945
Bridhe is an interesting goddess to study because she is in fact at once pre-Celtic, Celtic, and Christian, aside from being Irish, Scottish, British, and Gallic. Imbolg by nature is a festival associated with women, the land, and fertility. The Cailleach steps though the very zones between heaven and earth, from beyond the cave of death which lies beneath the elemental abyss, once again repeating the cycle of the sun fire goddess.
The goddess Bridgett as well as Imbolg is a carry over from the days when both were associated with the Tuatha de Danann. Bridgett was the daughter of the Dagdha, the Druid, and one of the kings of the Gods. Making Bridgett a symbol of nobility, this point driven further as she is also wife to Bres, a king of the Fomorii.
In classical Greek philosophy, as well as more modern idealisms there are five elements, the fifth- spirit I suppose, being an extension of the other four. To the Irish Druid there are considered to more than five, the fifth being "Goath" or breath/wind according to the Dúile. Within my own practice and study of Draíocht, I make use of nine "elements" or qualities of being. Goath is also described in essence by the word anam, or spirit, or soul. Spirit as the center of the nine to me represents the center of the universe, and of my own individual qualities of being, and is the cause of everything coming to pass, be it within, or with out.
This to me seems appropriate especially on the day of Bridhe, for it is she who is the breath of life, the warmth of the hearth, and the and the spirit of the world, she is the inspiration of creativity. Imbolg is a time for us to renew ourselves in her many blessings as we behold her light which has been hidden within the depths of darkness. Dark Oak awakens, the Red One sees and the White Lady walks the land. The Star River bridges the night skies and the Wavesweeper moves by will alone, oaths of long ago are renewed and honored, as Land seeks Sea and Sky surrounds.
This is Bridhe's most sacred of festivals, The time of the small sun is drawing to a close, a the fires of life begin a new, as the grip of winter slowly begins to loosen its grip on nature. Tree sap begins to move in the grove, and we Druids give thanks to Bridgett for the returning warmth of spring!
This festival marks the coming of spring, and through this doorway we recognize the life force of nature as the flowers push and fight their way through the snow, and frozen ground, new births of lambs and calves in the fields, and the Druid Shamans turn their attentions away from inner workings, and magical studies, turning their attentions to great work, more spiritual and more group oriented practices of spring and summer. The practices of the Celtic Shaman will always mirror the wheel of the year, and the actions of the green world!
Hail Brighid on this day, your day and every day! An Dúil Cúigeach!
Slan go Foill!
Senbecc
See the thread on Brigid for more information: paganmystics.proboards101.com/index.cgi?board=spiritualgrowth&action=display&thread=1167777945
