Celebrating a year of Flame tending with Clann Bhride

In January 2015 a couple of weeks before Imbolc last year I received an email from the Clann Bhride blog announcing the formation of a Clann Bhride flame keeping cill.  I had two other happenings the same day as I received that email which led me to send an email requesting to join the  Clann Bhride cill.  My first flame keeping shift, along with the others of that group, was Imbolc 2015.

A few minutes ago at sunset here in Glasgow I began my first anniversary flame tending shift in the knowledge that in various places in the world others in the Clann Bhride cill would also be tending flames to mark Imbolc, a festival that more than any other is devoted to Brigantia in all Her many names and faces.

Flame tending was the first step on a journey of deepening my devotional practice to the deities I love best.  This year I intend to further deepen my devotional practices by adding practices intending to strengthen my relationship with the local spirits of my home and environment in addition to continuing the other practices that have developed over this year.

Here in Glasgow I’m also a member of Tuatha de Bridget an open group that holds rituals for each of the main eight festivals that are open to the public.  This afternoon we held our Imbolc ritual which I had the privilege of writing and leading.  I have chosen to share the text of this rite below.

Imbolc 2016

Guide: We come together to honour Brighid on this Imbolc day. Let us start with peace.

North: May there be peace in the North

East: May there be peace in the East

South: May there be peace in the South

West: May there be peace in the West

All: May there be peace throughout the world.

Guide: Let the Spirits of this place be honoured.

Libation offered to the Spirits of Place.

Guide: Let the circle be cast to focus our energies and hold our purpose together.

Circle is cast.

Guide: Today we celebrate Imbolc. Seasonally this brings our attention to the first small signs of the coming spring in the land around us. More importantly it is a day to honour Brighid in Her many names and faces. We are Tuatha de Bridget, the tribe of Bridgid, it is right that we honour and praise her as we call ourselves her children.

Is Bridey the same as Bridget? Are they the same as Brigantia or St Brighid? Are the tales that remain fragments from different individuals sharing that name or remaining threads of a once whole mythos?

Does each aspect reflect a facet of a whole being like the faces of a gem? Or is each aspect more like a unique stained glass window lit by the same source of light?

These questions are part of Her Mystery and any answers may be different to each of us.

She is unique as a being whose stories and devotion spans both Pagan and Christian worlds. Today we honour Her.

North 2: I call to Brigantia of Justice, She who was known to the Lands of Northern England and Southern Scotland as tribal deity of the Brigantes tribe. Lady, we honour you.

All: Lady we honour you

East 2: I call to Bridget, Lady of Poetry, She who inspires artist, poet and storyteller, She who brings Awen. Lady, we honour you.

All: Lady we honour you

South 2: I call to Bridey of the Forge, Lady of Fire, She who will forge our souls to Her purpose if we let Her. Lady, we honour you.

All: Lady we honour you

West 2: I call to Saint Bridget, Generous Lady of Healing, She who is known as a Patron saint of Ireland and whose flame burns once more at Kildare. Lady, we honour you.

All: Lady we honour you

Above: I call to Bridget the creator who sings out with the stars of the universe. Lady, we honour you.

All: Lady we honour you

Beneath: I call to Brigantia of secrets and mysteries whose voice awakens the land. Lady, we honour you.

All: Lady we honour you

Centre: I call to Bridey of Hearth and Home, mother and protector. Lady, we honour you.

All: Lady we honour you

Guide: Many are Her faces, Many are Her names. Many names of one being or one being reflected in many incarnations. Today we honour Her mystery.

(Pause for silent contemplation)

Guide: I ask that the youngest and oldest among us join together to offer this libation of milk to Her on behalf of all of us.

(Eldest to speak on behalf of us all, youngest to pour out the libation)

Guide: I now call on three children of Bridgid to come forward and together bless the food and wine for sharing among us.

(One to hold the wine, one to hold the food, one to speak words of blessing for food and wine)

(Food and drink to be shared in the usual fashion for our group)

Guide: We have now shared food, drink and toasts, would anyone like to share music, song, story or poetry?

(sharing of music, song, story or poetry)

Guide: It is time to draw this rite to a close so let us thank Brighid for Her blessings.

Centre: I call to Bridey of Hearth and Home, mother and protector. Lady, we thank you for your presence in our lives.

All: Lady we thank you.

Beneath: I call to Brigantia of secrets and mysteries whose voice awakens the land. Lady, we thank you for your presence in our lives.

All: Lady we thank you.

Above: I call to Bridget the creator who sings out with the stars of the universe. Lady, we thank you for your presence in our lives.

All: Lady we thank you.

West 2: I call to Saint Bridget, Generous Lady of the Healing, She who is known as a Patron saint of Ireland and whose flame burns once more at Kildare. Lady, we thank you for your presence in our lives.

All: Lady we thank you.

South 2: I call to Bridey of the Forge, Lady of Fire, She who will forge our souls to Her purpose if we let Her. Lady, we thank you for your presence in our lives.

All: Lady we thank you.

East 2: I call to Bridget, Lady of Poetry, She who inspires artist, poet and storyteller, She who brings Awen. Lady, we thank you for your presence in our lives.

All: Lady we thank you.

North 2: I call to Brigantia of Justice, She who was known to the Lands of Northern England and Southern Scotland as tribal deity of the Brigantes tribe. Lady, we thank you for your presence in our lives.

All: Lady we thank you.

Guide: Let the circle holding our purpose and focus together be opened.

(circle is opened)

Guide: Once more we thank the Spirits of this Place for holding us for our rites.

Let us end as we began with peace.

North: May there be peace in the North

East: May there be peace in the East

South: May there be peace in the South

West: May there be peace in the West

All: May there be peace throughout the world.