Brigid's Light: Tending the Ancestral Flame of the Beloved Celtic Goddess

by Cairelle Crow (Editor), Laura Louella (Editor), Judika Illes (Foreword by)

Overview

Stories, spells, rituals, and recipes celebrating the worldwide influence of this beloved Celtic goddess, with contributions from Amy Blackthorn, Laura Tempest Zakroff, Courtney Weber, and many others

This anthology celebrates Brigid, an ancient and mysterious Celtic spirit who ranks among today’s most popular modern goddesses. Venerated in many forms including as a saint and a goddess, Brigid has traveled the globe alongside the Celtic diaspora. Once a goddess with a narrow territory, she is now an internationally beloved presence. While acknowledging her origins, this book also explores Brigid from the perspective of those outside her original Celtic homeland.

Editors Cairelle Crow and Laura Louella have gathered art, poetry, stories, spells, rituals, recipes, and traditions as an homage to the worldwide influence of Brigid’s magic and lore, especially among the descendants of immigrants to the Americas. In compiling these individual works, Cairelle and Laura have given voice to those traveling ancestors by showcasing a rich and beautiful heritage manifested through embodiments of devotion by their descendants, as well as others touched by Brigid.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781578637690
Publisher:	Red Wheel/Weiser
Publication date:	03/01/2022
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	1,154,971
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Cairelle Crow has walked a goddess path for more than thirty years, exploring, learning, and growing. She is a priestess, genealogist, wanderess of wild and holy places, and co-foundress of the Sanctuary of Brigid and its flame-keeping circle, Sisters of the Flame. She lectures locally, nationally, and internationally on the blending of genealogy with magic and, through her company Sacred Roots, is dedicated to connecting magical people to their ancestral truths. When she’s not roaming the world in search of grandmothers, quirky art, and stone circles, Cairelle is home in New Orleans, where she lives joyfully, loves intensely, and laughs frequently with beloved family and friends. You can find her online at www.cairellecrow.com.

Laura Louella is a priestess, certified Pilates instructor committed to teaching the strength that lies within, and the owner of Goddess Pilates, where she blends the art of sacred movement with the beauty of the goddess. She is also the co-foundress of the Sanctuary of Brigid and its flame-keeping circle, Sisters of the Flame. Many days, you can find her tending her garden, taking long walks through the forest, sitting by the river, or creating a quilt on her 1936 Featherweight Singer sewing machine. Laura lives in the Cascade Mountains of northern California.

Table of Contents

Foreword Judika Illes xi

Introduction xv

Part I The Many Faces of Brigid

Celtic Cross Cairelle Crow 3

Sweet Gille Brìghde Donna Gerrard 5

She Laid Her Hand Upon My Head H. Byron Ballard 6

Brigid Dark and Bright H. Byron Ballard, adapted from Carmichael 9

The Goddess Returns to Her Temple Sandra Roman 10

Brigit in Canada Mael Brigde 16

A Transmission from the Goddess Kelley Eileen Ingols 18

Brigid's Return Gera Clark 20

Brigid of the Stars Maria Jones 22

Part II The Goddess in Nature

Brighid of the Dandelion Jenne Micale 31

The Swarm Laura Louella 32

The Furor of the River Michael Routery 35

Brighid as a Water Goddess Annwyn Avalon 36

Birch Wheel Donna Gerrard 41

Brigid of the Ozarks Tara Anura 42

Why Not? Sister Karol Jackowski 48

Brigid of Kildare Carole Murray 51

Steep Green Heights Michael Routery 53

Weaving Spring Mael Brigde 54

An Old Seed Jennifer Sundeen 56

Part III Ritual Practices and Prayers

Manifesting a Sacred Space for Brigid Cairelle Crow 61

Brigid Invocation H. Byron Ballard, adapted from Carmichael 66

Honey and Beeswax Healing Spell Cairelle Crow 68

Bed Blessing Before Sleep H. Byron Ballard, adapted from Carmichael 69

A Ritual with Brigid Courtney Weber 70

A Prayer to Brighid in Times of Violence Jenne Micale 73

Walking Brigid's Path-A Tarot Spread Nancy Hendrickson 75

Brigid's Altar Incense Jim "Raven" Stefanowicz 78

Three Times Three Holly Devanna 79

Priestess Invocation for Brigid's Return Lynne Sedgmore 81

A Spell for Ireland's Lost Daughters Yeshe Matthews 83

Elemental Blessing Mary Tidbury 84

Part IV Goddess of Hearth and Home

Cooking for Brigid Dawn Aurora Hunt 87

As We Smoor the Candle H. Byron Ballard, adapted from Carmichael 92

Bridie's Bedtime Milk Cairelle Crow 93

Brighid of the Outcasts Jenne Micale 94

Brigid's Blackberry Crumble Laura Louella 96

Sacred Flame Jim "Raven" Stefanowicz 98

Refrigerator Pickles for Brigid Rev. Rayna Templebee 100

Brighid of the Melting Snow Jenne Micale 103

Brigid's Cloak Jamie Della 104

Kindling the Fire H. Byron Ballard, adapted from Carmichael 111

Love and Honey-Baked Apples Cairelle Crow 112

Rosemary Drop Biscuits Kelly Jo Carroll 113

Whipped Honey Butter Laura Louella 114

Brigit Ale-Woman Mael Brigde 116

Brigid's Wafers Mary-Grace Fahrun 118

Smooring the Fire H. Byron Ballard, adapted from Carmichael 121

Rose's Irish Soda Bread Kimberly Moore 122

Part V Mothers and Daughters

The Goddess Brigid Marie Bennett 125

Daughter of Bride Diane DiPietro 128

Sisters M. A. Phillips 130

Four Archetypal Poems Marion Brigantia van Eupen 138

Great-Granddaughter of the Well Yeshe Matthews 143

Battle Call J. Ellen Cooper 149

The Circle Laura Louella 152

Daughter of Bridget Mary Tidbury 157

I've Forgotten the Bhrat H. Byron Ballard 158

Crone Time Donna Gerrard 160

Tending the Flame Annie Russell 161

Part VI The Circle of Life and Death

Brigit the Midwife Angie Buchanan 169

Brighid of Keening Jenne Micale 174

The Fire in My Medicine Holly V. MacKenna 177

The Guiding Star Ní Dara 183

Maman Brijit Raven Morgaine 185

Look with the Wolfs Eyes Donna Gerrard 187

My Personal Relationship with Brid Bernadette Montana 188

Offering of Tears Rowan Taw 191

Laying Brigid's Bones Kimberly Moore 192

Hill of Poetry Michael Routery 197

The Healing Well Amy Blackthorn 199

Brigid's Place Lucía Moreno-Velo 203

Brigid Is My Ancestor Cairelle Crow 205

Conclusion 213

List of Illustrations 218

About the Editors 219

The Contributors 220

Acknowledgments 233

Editorial Reviews

This is the book all Brigid devotees and enthusiasts have been dreaming about. Brigid's Light is a bubbling cauldron of wisdom and inspiration, and it absolutely belongs on your shelf. I'm sure I'll be coming back to this one for decades to come.” 

Tess Whitehurst

Brigid was the first goddess that had a direct impact on how my life unfolded. I can also see her light and her hand at work throughout the world in many individuals and communities today.  Brigid’s Light: Tending the Ancestral Flame of the Beloved Celtic Goddess is more than an excellent anthology; it is an act of healing and the creation of a community of practice. Divine beings are vast and beyond the comprehension of any single human being. However, when you bring together the thoughts, experiences, and insight of many people, such as is present in this book, you begin to get a glimmer of Brigid’s majesty and her nature. If you are called by her, you will find both confirmation and challenges in this book, and that is her way.” 

Ivo Dominguez Jr.

Introducing us to the beloved goddess Brigid in her different guises, Brigid’s Light is a truly special, appropriately illuminating and richly diverse collection of writings from some of the most respected figures in contemporary witchcraft and spirituality. Trusted hands - including those of Judika Illes and Byron Ballard - shine a light on the many facets of this ever-inspirational Celtic deity, guiding us into her realm through the medium of spells, poetry, recipes, crafting, personal reflections, rituals, and much more besides. This sparkling anthology is a gift, both to Brigid, and to the reader. Nurture your inner fire with this book, and tune in to Brigid’s bright energy, not only at Imbolc, but all the year round.” 

Zoë Howe