On Imbolc and the Feast of St. Brigid*
Spirit of Rebirth,
your new life pulses below the rumbling ground.
Attune our ears
to the renewal taking form
beneath the winter earth,
snowdrops and crocuses
in white and purple-petaled wonder,
hedgehogs and bears
beginning to stir from sleep.
Let Brigid be our guide
as we navigate the way
from rest to slow emergence;
support us in nourishing
the fragile seeds of possibility.
May her birds, the oystercatchers,
lift our hearts on currents of love.
May her devoted cow
remind us of generous abundance.
May the perpetual flame of her purpose
kindle our own sparks of initiative.
May her mantle embrace us
and offer protection.
May the waters of her sacred wells
bless and refresh us
for the journey ahead.
As the bellies of ewes
are filling with new life
across the green meadows,
may we remember to cherish
the new birth getting ready to erupt
all around and within us.
If the landscape around us
looks bleak, help us trust
a deeper knowing,
a promise of what is to come.
Dearest dancing monks, artists, and pilgrims,
February 1st-2nd marks a confluence of several feasts and occasions including: the Celtic feast of Imbolc, St. Brigid’s Day, Candlemas, Feast of the Presentation, and Groundhog Day in the northern hemisphere! (Imbolc is August 1st in the southern hemisphere).
Imbolc is a Celtic feast that is a cross-quarter day, meaning it is the midway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox. The sun marks the four Quarter Days of the year (the Solstices and Equinoxes) and the midpoints are the cross-quarter days. In some cultures, like Ireland, February 2nd is the official beginning of spring.
As the days slowly lengthen in the northern hemisphere and the sun makes her way higher in the sky, the ground beneath our feet begins to thaw. The earth softens and the seeds deep below stir in the darkness. The word “imbolc” means “in the belly.” The earth’s belly is beginning to awaken, new life is stirring, seeds are sprouting forth.
In many places the ground is still frozen or covered with snow, but the call now is tend to those very first signs of movement beneath the fertile ground. What happens when you listen ever so closely in the stillness? What do you hear beginning to emerge?
St. Brigid is said to bring the first sign of life after the long dark nights of winter. She breathes into the landscape so that it begins to awaken. Snowdrops, the first flowers of spring are one of her symbols.
On the eve of January 31st it is traditional to leave a piece of cloth or ribbon outside the house. It was believed that St Brigid’s spirit traveled across the land and left her curative powers in the brat Bride (Brigid’s Mantle or cloth). It was then used throughout the year as a healing from sickness and protection from harm.
Often in Ireland, I have heard Brigid described as a bridge between the pre-Christian and Christian traditions, between the other world and this one. She bridges the natural and human world. Brigid sees the face of Christ in all persons and creatures, and overcomes the division between rich and poor. Our practice of inner hospitality as monks in the world is essentially about healing all of places we feel fragmented, scattered, and shamed. One of her symbols is her cloak which becomes a symbol of unity. All can dwell under her mantle.
I am so delighted to be joined this Friday, January 30th by two Irish wise women – Deirdre Ní Chinnéide and Nóirín Ní Riain – and we will be leading a mini-retreat together to celebrate Imbolc, emergence, and this sacred threshold in the turning of the year. We’d love for you to join us.
With great and growing love,
Christine
Christine Valters Paintner, OblSB, PhD, REACE
PS If you are seeking an in-person experience in Ireland, consider joining Nóirín in May or September. Details here.
*Blessing is from Christine’s forthcoming book A Book of Everyday Blessings: 100 Prayers for Dancing Monks, Artists, and Pilgrims (Ave Maria Press)
