Why do we gather this day? What is it that brings us to rejoice? Join me in the responsorial with the reply, “We rejoice in the promise of Spring”
For the cycle of life
Which brings death and rebirth
A. We rejoice in the promise of Spring
For lengthening days
And sunlight's warmth upon the soil
A. We rejoice in the promise of Spring
For a snowdrop's beauty
Reflecting the artistry of the Natural world
A. We rejoice in the promise of Spring
For all new born lives
In their joy and exuberance
A. We rejoice in the promise of Spring
For all of creation
And the majesty of its splendor
A. We rejoice in the promise of Spring
Today’s Home & HearthFire celebration is know my many names in other parts of the world: Imbolc, Oimelc, Candlemas, Lupercus, Brigantia, as well as St. Brigit’s day… and yes, Groundhog day, too. Originating from the Celtic nations, this holiday comes at a time where the weather patterns are closely related to our own: too cold to be comfortable, and not yet warm enough to know it’s Spring.
In putting my notes together for today, I was inspired by the question: What’s so remarkable and so essential about this ancient holiday, and what does it matter to modern, American pagan-folk? In the spirit of Home & HearthFire, we remember the teachings of First and Second Harvest (a.k.a. Lughnassadh & Autumnal Equinox) where we prepared for the long dark and times of cold. If we started our preparation then, it would be right about now that the stores in our freezers and larders would be wearing thin, and supply levels getting lower and lower. In ancient times, hunger would have been a real issue… and not a metaphorical hunger, mind you. We’re talking about a hunger of the sort many of us gathered here have not experienced… Kindreds be praised. It would seem this holiday is about examining how well we’ve prepared, and the putting of those preparations to the test. Well, that’s a piece of the story, but not all of it.
This time, in many pastoral and agrarian cultures, is the time when the sheep would give birth, and as such, would be ready to nurse their young with the life-saving nutrition of milk… and if a ewe delivered early, there would be lamb to eat. To some, the idea of that sounds horrifying and cruel… but stick with me; we’re not done.
You see, even among modern shepherds, this is still a practice, because if the young lamb were allowed to live, it would stop nursing before there was available, tender grass for it to eat. Dying of starvation, shepherds say, would be a far worse fate than taking mercy on the lamb and transforming it into food for the folk. It’s a blessing to have fresh meat in the winter. So, if we look closely, the roots of this ancient holiday are about survival, and the blessing of having sustenance without having to slaughter the mature herds.
May we all have enough in lean times, and may we remember that it’s a greater blessing to be hospitable than to be “right” and selfish.
This time of the year’s turning wheel was, and still is for many, a celebration of hearth and home; a rejoicing in the lengthening of days, the ever-growing light, and the early signs of Springtime… for this is the solar mid-point between our Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox. As such, celebrations around this time involve sacred Fire, special foods (particularly dairy) and the sharing of resources that all in one’s community may live into the next season.
But… where’s Brigid? When we unpack history, we see that the veneration of Her at this time is a relatively new addition to the season’s rites. Brigit, Brigid, Brij, Brigando, Saint Brigit or Brigantia. Brigid is a patroness of the arts, of crafts, of smithcraft, of writing, of hearth and home, of healing, and of holy wells and sacred fire. Some tell tales that She is the “midwife of the Springtime”, helping this season come into reality out of the cold, slow-covered land. With so many admirable qualities and kennings, you’ve probably surmised that contemporary Brigid is an combination of several pre-Christian Goddesses with the Christian St. Brigid of Kildare. This makes sense, for stories that tell of Her widely varying personalities fill the annals of Bard-song.
We modern, American pagan-folk welcome the herald of spring, and honor this time by following many various folk traditions and customs. Some of us create straw dolls, filled with strips of cloth that carry prayers, wishes, and magic… eventually to be given to the Fire that it may return to the Kindreds carrying our petitions and hopes. Some of us take strips of cloth and tie them to trees so the wind can carry the intentions bound within to the gods. Some of us gather to remember the sacrality of the Fire that burns in our hearths and homes, while others work magic to draw down the goddess Brigid into themselves, filling them with Her inspirational Fire, crafty skills, and healing power.
In closing today, I’d like to circle back to the contemporary manifestation of Brigid as midwife and healer. Not only in modern, pagan-America has she appeared in this way, but also in her native home in Ireland as well as Scotland. She reminds us, especially during these traditionally cold February nights, that we are the emissaries of blessing and healing (important skills for a midwife to have)… and that a part of our work, like Hers, is with the poor, the sick, the needy, and the downtrodden. She was such a key part in this type of nurturing, humanitarian work that an ancient kenning of Brigid translates to “Brigid of the cow-less”; that is to say, Brigid who cares for the poor. Cattle, in ancient times, represented the “gold-standard” of wealth, and to be cow-less was to be poor. Today, this idea of “the poor” doesn’t just apply to wealth and finance; it means to be poor of social-clout, as well as cultural-privilege.
This season, Children of Urth, as well as the divine beings connected to this time have symbolically come to represent struggle, and the promise of an eventual new day. Brigid has now become a symbol, a focal point, a guiding light for people trying to help and heal their corners of the world. Gods be good, we will take up the charge, wearing the midwife’s mantle and help birth a new, more just world… so say we all.
For the cycle of life
Which brings death and rebirth
A. We rejoice in the promise of Spring
For lengthening days
And sunlight's warmth upon the soil
A. We rejoice in the promise of Spring
For a snowdrop's beauty
Reflecting the artistry of the Natural world
A. We rejoice in the promise of Spring
For all new born lives
In their joy and exuberance
A. We rejoice in the promise of Spring
For all of creation
And the majesty of its splendor
A. We rejoice in the promise of Spring
Today’s Home & HearthFire celebration is know my many names in other parts of the world: Imbolc, Oimelc, Candlemas, Lupercus, Brigantia, as well as St. Brigit’s day… and yes, Groundhog day, too. Originating from the Celtic nations, this holiday comes at a time where the weather patterns are closely related to our own: too cold to be comfortable, and not yet warm enough to know it’s Spring.
In putting my notes together for today, I was inspired by the question: What’s so remarkable and so essential about this ancient holiday, and what does it matter to modern, American pagan-folk? In the spirit of Home & HearthFire, we remember the teachings of First and Second Harvest (a.k.a. Lughnassadh & Autumnal Equinox) where we prepared for the long dark and times of cold. If we started our preparation then, it would be right about now that the stores in our freezers and larders would be wearing thin, and supply levels getting lower and lower. In ancient times, hunger would have been a real issue… and not a metaphorical hunger, mind you. We’re talking about a hunger of the sort many of us gathered here have not experienced… Kindreds be praised. It would seem this holiday is about examining how well we’ve prepared, and the putting of those preparations to the test. Well, that’s a piece of the story, but not all of it.
This time, in many pastoral and agrarian cultures, is the time when the sheep would give birth, and as such, would be ready to nurse their young with the life-saving nutrition of milk… and if a ewe delivered early, there would be lamb to eat. To some, the idea of that sounds horrifying and cruel… but stick with me; we’re not done.
You see, even among modern shepherds, this is still a practice, because if the young lamb were allowed to live, it would stop nursing before there was available, tender grass for it to eat. Dying of starvation, shepherds say, would be a far worse fate than taking mercy on the lamb and transforming it into food for the folk. It’s a blessing to have fresh meat in the winter. So, if we look closely, the roots of this ancient holiday are about survival, and the blessing of having sustenance without having to slaughter the mature herds.
May we all have enough in lean times, and may we remember that it’s a greater blessing to be hospitable than to be “right” and selfish.
This time of the year’s turning wheel was, and still is for many, a celebration of hearth and home; a rejoicing in the lengthening of days, the ever-growing light, and the early signs of Springtime… for this is the solar mid-point between our Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox. As such, celebrations around this time involve sacred Fire, special foods (particularly dairy) and the sharing of resources that all in one’s community may live into the next season.
But… where’s Brigid? When we unpack history, we see that the veneration of Her at this time is a relatively new addition to the season’s rites. Brigit, Brigid, Brij, Brigando, Saint Brigit or Brigantia. Brigid is a patroness of the arts, of crafts, of smithcraft, of writing, of hearth and home, of healing, and of holy wells and sacred fire. Some tell tales that She is the “midwife of the Springtime”, helping this season come into reality out of the cold, slow-covered land. With so many admirable qualities and kennings, you’ve probably surmised that contemporary Brigid is an combination of several pre-Christian Goddesses with the Christian St. Brigid of Kildare. This makes sense, for stories that tell of Her widely varying personalities fill the annals of Bard-song.
We modern, American pagan-folk welcome the herald of spring, and honor this time by following many various folk traditions and customs. Some of us create straw dolls, filled with strips of cloth that carry prayers, wishes, and magic… eventually to be given to the Fire that it may return to the Kindreds carrying our petitions and hopes. Some of us take strips of cloth and tie them to trees so the wind can carry the intentions bound within to the gods. Some of us gather to remember the sacrality of the Fire that burns in our hearths and homes, while others work magic to draw down the goddess Brigid into themselves, filling them with Her inspirational Fire, crafty skills, and healing power.
In closing today, I’d like to circle back to the contemporary manifestation of Brigid as midwife and healer. Not only in modern, pagan-America has she appeared in this way, but also in her native home in Ireland as well as Scotland. She reminds us, especially during these traditionally cold February nights, that we are the emissaries of blessing and healing (important skills for a midwife to have)… and that a part of our work, like Hers, is with the poor, the sick, the needy, and the downtrodden. She was such a key part in this type of nurturing, humanitarian work that an ancient kenning of Brigid translates to “Brigid of the cow-less”; that is to say, Brigid who cares for the poor. Cattle, in ancient times, represented the “gold-standard” of wealth, and to be cow-less was to be poor. Today, this idea of “the poor” doesn’t just apply to wealth and finance; it means to be poor of social-clout, as well as cultural-privilege.
This season, Children of Urth, as well as the divine beings connected to this time have symbolically come to represent struggle, and the promise of an eventual new day. Brigid has now become a symbol, a focal point, a guiding light for people trying to help and heal their corners of the world. Gods be good, we will take up the charge, wearing the midwife’s mantle and help birth a new, more just world… so say we all.
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