A little Herstory

From January, 2007: Brighid's Holy Day will be celebrated this year in Kildare, Ireland, by devotees of both the Goddess Brighid and Saint Brighid from around the world. For many She is one and the same, and a bridge between the worlds. 2oo7 marks the centenary of the re-establishment of an order of Brigidine Sisters in Kildare. (in 1807 by Catholic Bishop Delaney, who in commemoration planted an oak tree which still stands today in Cill Dara- meaning, Church of the Oak). On Feb. 1st, 2006, the President of Ireland lit Brighid's Sacred Flame in the town square where it will continue to burn in perpetuity.

Last year I was blessed to have Brighid's flame passed on to me twice in Ireland. First of all by Mary, pictured below with her holy candle, and then by the Sisters of the Brigidine order who were responsible for rekindling Brighid's flame at a Peace Conference in 1993, re-invigorating this ancient link to pre-Christian Ireland that had been forced underground after the perpetual flame was extinguished by a Pope in the 1600's. It is speculated that the flame may have originated up to 1000 years earlier, with the Goddess inspired Druidic priestesses that long preceeded the advent of Saint Brighid's egalitarian monastic order in the 5th century AD.

Coincidentally, I was also gifted the flame in the early 90's here in Canada from a circle sister just returned from Kildare. In solidarity with cells of flame keepers now spread around the world, I look forward to sharing Brighid's healing light this Imbolc with other sisters in my own community who hear Her call!