Monthly Archives: January 2020

Song to Brigid

Posted on January 31, 2020 by

I learned this chant at a public celebration of Imbolc. I scored it so it could be shared with a wider audience. If anyone knows who wrote it, please let me know. So far, I’ve been unsuccessful in tracking it … Continue reading →

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St. Brigid’s Cross

Posted on January 30, 2020 by

I love the simple beauty of St. Brigid’s crosses. In Ireland, they are made from rushes and contain a beautiful woven square in the middle with four equidistant arms that are tied at the ends. They make these crosses for … Continue reading →

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Great Wheels of Fire

Posted on January 29, 2020 by

Imbolc is the celebration of the first stirrings of spring after the dark days of winter. Ancient Pagans celebrated the holiday by lighting ritual fires to lure back the sun. One of the most popular customs among the Celts was … Continue reading →

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Imbolc: Becoming Rooted in Good Soil

Posted on January 28, 2020 by

At an Imbolc celebration I attended one of the priestesses talked about paying attention to the season we’re in. During the month of February, it may not look like much is happening in the natural world around us. However, underneath … Continue reading →

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Brigid, Gold-Red Woman

Posted on January 27, 2020 by

At last year’s celebration of Imbolc, we sang the following chant. I quickly caught the tune on my smart phone and scored the melody. I write quite a bit of music so I made a small change to the melody … Continue reading →

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Brigid: The Goddess Behind the Saint

Posted on January 20, 2020 by

St. Brigid is both historical figure and character of folklore and shared more than a name with her Pagan Goddess counterpart. It is through St. Brigid that the clearest glimpse into Brigid the Goddess can be found.—Brigid: History, Mystery, and … Continue reading →

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La Befana: Ancient Goddess, Santa’s Precursor, or Christmas Witch?

Posted on January 4, 2020 by

I was hooked the first time I heard about her: La Befana, the “Christmas Witch.” The first figure I saw of her while traveling in Italy was an elderly “nonna” (grandmother) who was dressed in peasant clothing with a kerchief … Continue reading →

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Ancient Christian Magic

Posted on January 1, 2020 by

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men (Gk. MAGOS, meaning “magicians”) from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For … Continue reading →

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