Hello everyone!

Welcome to the “Brighid-Along” aka the “Nine Days of Brighid.” Below are some resources to help you connect with today’s aspect of Brighid, Hearth Fires.

Brighid’s role as a fire goddess naturally extends to the all-important magico-religious act of tending the hearth.

CAIRIDH mi an tula,                                     I WILL build the hearth,

Mar a chaireadh Muire,                              As Mary would build it.

Claim Bhride ’s Mhuire,                              The encompassment of Bride and of Mary,

Car an tula ’s car an lair,                              Guarding the hearth, guarding the floor,

’S car an ardraich uile.                                  Guarding the household all.

From “Smaladh An Teine [85] Smooring The Fire,” Carmina Gadelica, Volume 1, by Alexander Carmicheal, [1900], at sacred-texts.com. Available at http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/cg1/cg1093.htm

The hearth plays an important part in Imbolc celebrations as its ashes are carefully inspected for signs of Brighid’s visit during Imbolc Eve (see Day 3—Initiation). Brighid, great goddess of fire, warms our homes as well as our hearts. See what blessings welcoming her to your hearth can bring to you and yours.

Bright Blessings of Brighid,

Diane “Emerald” Bronowicz Egelhoff, on behalf of Sassafras Grove, ADF

Brighid Along Day 8—Hearth Fires

Warm heart glows

Welcome Hearthfire of love

Cold, hunger, and isolation melt away. (Rowynn CleerDawn)

The Nine Virtues of Brighid: Hearth Fires/Piety

The hearth fire flames at the heart of the home. As we each worship at our own hearths, we feed the flame of devotion and sacrifice, both without and within. Tending the hearth fire is the most basic act of piety. (Diane “Emerald” Bronowicz)

How do I tend my own hearth today? What is the state of my piety?

Hearth Fires Invocation to Brighid: Sassafras Traditional

Siul Linn, a Bhríd (Walk with us, Brighid)

Hail Brighid, Sacred Virgin who tends the Hearth Fire

Hearth tender who warms our homes

Sacred Virgin, ever the blessed maiden

Your fires burn low and steadily throughout the year

Your fires heat our food and our bodies, nourishing us

Your fires are the centers of our homes

Hearth Tender, keep the fires burning steadily in our homes and within our families

Sacred Virgin, may our loved ones be always warmed and nourished

Brighid, Sacred Virgin who tends the Hearth, Siul Linn, a Bhríd. (Diana Paar et al.)

*”Shoe lean ah Breejah”

Gemstone – Garnet

Grounding, fertility, abundance, prosperity, passion, self-confidence, devotion. Connection to the earth. Aids in concentration. (Michelle Handa & Deana S.)

Hearth Tender Meditation

Take three, deep, cleansing breaths.

Exhale fully…let go of the tensions and distractions of your day.

Take three more deep breaths. Breathe into any part of your body that may be uncomfortable.

Allow your breath to fill you, cleanse and ease you.

Turn your attention to yourself, to your center.

Take three more deep, cleansing breaths.

In your mind’s eye, see yourself in your sacred space, at your shrine, in a cave, sheltered beneath a tree, the place where your magic runs deep.

Focus for a moment on your center, and breathe into your core.

Allow your attention to flow downward from your center, through your legs and feet and down, down into the earth, through the soil until you touch the water below.

Feel the deep waters swirling below you, clear and cool. These are the waters that draw you home, the waters that connect you to your land and to your kin, the waters that bind you to all living things. This is the cup of hospitality, the well of friendship, the well of prosperity.

With your next three breaths, draw these clear, cool waters into yourself….up through your feet, through your legs, through your body. Draw the waters into your center, a pool of hospitality and comfort resting at your center. Clear and cool the well rests at your center.

Remember your connection to the waters below.

With your next three breaths allow your attention to flow upwards towards the heavens, through your chest and neck, and out through the top of your head.

Piercing the midnight blue of the night sky the stars shine their light, guiding you upward. Find your star, the one that shines for you alone. Turn your attention to your star. It is the fire that that draws you home, the fire that warms the hearth, the fire that comforts the heart. This is the fire of hospitality, the warmth and comfort of friendship, the glow of thankfulness.

With your next three breaths, draw that inspiring fire down from the sky, through your head, through your chest, down to your center. Filling the darkness, the fire of hospitality embraces the waters of home, merging longing with welcome with order. Fire and water combine, comfort and security, joy and prosperity fill you. This union below and above awakens in you your own hospitality, your own love of the land, your own love of friends and family. Connected below and above, you are upheld by the embrace of the oneness.

Allow that oneness of fire and water to flow through you, around you, and over you. Join your heartbeat to the heartbeat of creation, feel that heartbeat connecting you to the mysteries above and below. Rest for a moment in the mystery.

Now slowly, bring that pulsing energy back into your center, flowing back through you to your center. Let the powers separate, and allow the waters of hospitality to flow downward from your center, through your legs and feet and down, down into the earth, keeping only what you need to nurture yourself. Allow the fires of hearth and home to return through your chest, through your head and upward into the heavens, keeping only what you need to remember your roots.

Turn your attention to your center and take three deep breaths. When you are ready, open your eyes. (Maria Stoy)

Day Eight: Hearth Fires Meditation (audio)

Brighid Hearth Fires Prayer

Brighid, we tend to your sacred flame

Around the hearth fire we gather together

Peace, comfort and warmth are ours

Prophecies emerge from the smoldering fires

Illuminating the path to our future

Brighid, Goddess of the Hearth Fires, we honor you (Diane Dahm)

Brighid Hearth Tender Affirmation

Brighid,

You are Mistress of the hearth, Keeper of the flame

Bless the work of my head, heart and hands.

May your flame burn brightly within me

May your love protect my hearth and home

May your peace be with me, my family and my friends

Bíodh sé amhlaidh (Maria Stoy)

Brighid Hearth Fires Virtual Shrine (Michelle Handa)