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"Brighid, excellent woman, sudden flame,
May the fiery bright sun,
Take us to the lasting kingdom"
--Gaelic traditional, sung by those who have kept Her flame
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A Collection of Poetry In Praise of Brighid
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Gabhaim molta Bríde
Ionmhain í le hÉirinn
Ionmhain le gach tír í
Molaimis go léir í
Lóchrann geal na Laighneach
A’ soilsiú feadh na tíre
Cean ar óghaibh Éireann
Ceann na mban ar míne
Tig an geimhreadh dian dubh
A’ gearradh lena ghéire
Ach ar Lá ‘le Bríde
Gar dúinn earrach Éireann
Brighid of the sunrise
Rising in the morning
Rising with the Springtime
Greening all the land
See you in the soft cloud
See you in the raindrop
See you in the winds of change
Blowing through the land
You the red eared white cow
Nourishing the people
Nourish now the hunger
Souls longing in our land
Bird that is unfolding
Now the time's upon us
Only have we eyes to see
Your Epiphany
Gabhaim molta Bride
Ionmhain i le hEirinn
Ionmhain le gach tir i
Molaimis go leir i
--Gaelic traditional
I take Bride as my advocate
Dear to me is Erin
Dear to me each land
Praise be to it.
O, white flame of Leinster
Enlighten the whole land
Chief of Erin's maidens
Chief of finest women
Dark the bitter winter
Cutting its sharpness
But Bride's mantle
Brings peace to Ireland.
--traditional
Brigit Búadach,
Brigit Búadach,
Búaid na fine,
Siur Ríg nime,
Nár in duine,
Eslind luige,
Lethan breo.
Ro-siacht noí:bnem
Mumme Goídel,
Riar na n-oíged,
Oíbel ecnai,
Ingen Dubthaig,
Duine úallach,
Brigit búadach,
Brigit búadach,
Victorious Brigit,
Glory of kindred,
Heaven-King's sister,
Noble person,
Perilous oath,
Far-flung flame.
She has reached holy Heaven,
Gaeldom's foster-mother,
Support of strangers,
Spark of wisdom,
Daughter of Dubthach,
High-minded lady,
Victorious Brigit,
The living one of life.
--from the Book of Leinster, pp.175-6
Smúraidh mi an tula
Mar a smúradh Brighde Muime.
Ainm naomh na Muime
Bhith mu'n tula, bhith mu'n tán,
Bhith mu'n ardraich uile.
I will smoor the hearth
As Brighid the Fostermother would smoor
The Fostermother's holy name
Be on the hearth, be on the herd
Be on the household all
--traditional, Carmina Gadelica
Glés a hindeón cotad cúar,
clúas a dúan do thengthaib bard,
bruth a fer fri comlann nglan,
cruth a ban fri oenach n-ard.
The ringing of its busy bent anvils,
the sound of songs from poets' tongues
the heat of its men at clean contest,
the beauty of its women at high assembly.
Beannachtaí ar an gCeárta -- Blessings on the Forge!
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The following are a collection of poems in praise of Brighid written by the well-known author and herbalist, Ellen Evert Hopman. These are all used with her kind permission and full credit is given at the end of this section.
By Ellen Evert Hopman, A Druid's Herbal
Cill Ce/adddras, 15th Watch, Ord Brighideach
Beloved Brighid of the triple flame,
Daughter of the Dagda,
Guardian of the sacred spring
Whose voice is the soul of the harp,
We call on thee.
Teach our hands to heal and our hearts to sing;
We entrust our life's progress to your care
and ask that you shape us
bending and turning our hearts on your bright anvil of flame
till we are made perfect jewels
fit to be set in the eye of your timeless harp
to play for the soul of the people in times of sorrow
and times of celebration.
We thank you for your gifts to us of poetry and music
of laughter and tears
and for the healing balm of your wisdom.
May we always remember to meditate
on the gift of your sacred waters
which surround us at our birth
and sail us to our destiny.
Our hearts are open to receive your blessing
Midwife of our souls, rain on us
Shower your inspiration in curtains of song
from sacred waterfalls in the realm where you dwell.
Come to us as Virgin with the soft smell of flowers
Come to us as Mother and feed us your fruits
Come to us as the Wise Women in the stark blasts of Winter
Help us to see your Mystery in all creation
that we may know gratitude and reverence
Our hearts sing to you with love
Teach us to change like the revolving seasons;
Teach us to grow like the green corn that feeds the people;
Teach us to fashion beauty like the stillness of the forest pool.
and the roar of the ocean wave.
Teach us to heal like the soothing gem which cools the eyes and restores the limbs
With humility and bright expectation
We invoke thee this hour!
(Ellen Evert Hopman, from A DRUIDS HERBAL - FOR THE SACRED EARTH YEAR, Destiny Books, Rochester, VT, © 1995)
Invocation of Brighid
(Invocation by Ellen Evert Hopman
Translation by Alexei Kondratiev)
A Brigit, a ban-dé beannachtach
Tair isna huisciu noiba,
A ben inna téora tented tréna,
Isin cherdchai,
Isin choiriu,
Ocus isin chiunn,
No-don-cossain,
Cossain inna túatha.
O Brighid, blessed Goddess
Come into the sacred waters
O woman of the three strong fires,
In the forge,
In the cauldron,
In the head.
Protect us.
Protect the people.
A Daily Meditation
Beloved Goddess Brighid
Today I come to you in prayer
To seek help for my life
And for those whom I love.
You are my Mother, my Sister and my Friend
Please help (speak a name and say what they need)
I ask also that you console the poor,
Heal the sick, and Bring those who have strayed to a good path.
Please return my long absent friends and relations to my side.
Listen to the petitions of my heart
And send your blessings to those whom I hold dear.
I ask for myself, for my loved ones, and for all people;
Spiritual help,
Material prosperity,
Good health,
A sound mind,
Success in work, enterprises and studies,
Relief from sorrow, Healing of wounds,
Lifting of fear,
Purging of sadness,
Increase of joy,
Firmness of peace,
Forgiveness of offenses,
Charity towards neighbors,
Abundance of love.
Beloved Goddess
What can I do for you?
What do you need from me
To do your work in the world?
If only you knew how much I want to help you.
Inspire me today.
© Ellen Evert Hopman (Saille),
Spring, 2005
Houseblessings
HOUSE PROTECTING
Brighid, bless the world and all that is therein.
Brighid, bless my spouse and my children,
Brighid, bless the eye that is in my head,
And bless, O Brighid, the handling of my hand;
What time I rise in the morning early,
What time I lie down late in bed,
Bless my rising in the morning early,
And my lying down late in bed.
Brighid, protect the house, and the household,
Brighid, consecrate the children of the motherhood,
Brighid, encompass the flocks and the young;
Be Thou after them and tending them,
What time the flocks ascend hill and wold,
What time I lie down to sleep,
What time the flocks ascend hill and wold,
What time I lie down in peace to sleep.
BLESSING OF HOUSE
Brighid bless the house,
From site to stay,
From beam to wall,
From end to end,
From ridge to basement,
From balk to roof-tree,
From found to summit,
Found and summit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Adapted from the Carmina Gadelica
By Saille/Ellen Evert Hopman
Rite of Healing
Three are the colors associated with Brighid; white for the white cows of Boann, Her mother, white for the White Mare of the Otherworld, red and white for the red eared dogs of the Otherworld, black, red and white for the cat, the snake, and the oystercatcher.
Black, red and white are the original colors of creation and of the
Goddess.
When healing is needed three lengths of white, red, and black wool shall be passed through the smoke of a sacred fire or dipped in sacred water. Then shall they be twined together and tied with nine knots. The lengths of wool may then be tied about a wound or about the neck or a limb of one who needs healing. As the knots are tied in the wool the following charm may be recited (or any healing charm of ancient tradition);
May you repel every ill, every ill wish, every evil.
As this thread goes round thee may you be well forever.
In the name of Brighid, in the name of The Three, in the name of
all the powers together.
Power of Air be with you, power of Fire, power of Storm.
Power of Moon be with you, power of Sun, power of Star.
Power of Sea be with you, power of Earth, power of Stone.
I appeal to Brighid to cast off every harm!
© Ellen Evert Hopman, 1999
Prayer for those who have died in war
Brighid, Goddess of Fire;
Sun's fire, lightening,
Flame on the hearth,
Fire that cleanses and destroys.
You have taken them,
They have become Flame and Ash.
Mother of Healing;
Help us believe in the place
Where wounds can heal.
Mother of Weaving;
Show us that what has been torn
Can be mended.
Goddess of the Sacred Waters;
They have had a rough crossing
Carry them gently.
Comfort them, O Mother
In your warm arms of Night.
Rock them to sleep.
Patroness of the Druids and Bards;
Soothe them with your Harp of Grace,
With waterfalls of cleansing
And healing song.
Spread your cloak of peace
And protection
Over the tribes.
May they believe again
In hope
In love
In kindness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Adapted from a prayer by Starhawk
By Saille/Ellen Evert Hopman
The previous poems were written by Ellen Evert Hopman,
author of a Druid's Herbal For The Sacred Earth Year, Tree Medicine -Tree Magic, and other volumes
Ellen Evert Hopman, herbalist, author and Druid Priestess
See her books, videos and audio tapes at:
Willow's Grove |
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The genealogy of the holy maiden Brighid,
Radiant arrow of flame, noble foster-mother of gods,
Brighid the daughter of the Dagda,
Dagda the Good God, the son of Danu,
Danu the Mother of all Things.
Brighid of the mantles,
Brighid of the peat-heap,
Brighid of the twining hair,
Brighid of the augury.
Brighid of the white feet,
Brighid of calmness,
Brighid of the white palms,
Brighid of the kine.
Brighid, woman-comrade,
Brighid, woman-helper,
Brighid, woman-mild.
Each day and each night
That I say the Descent of Brighid...
I shall not be slain, I shall not be injured,
I shall not be put in cell, I shall not be hewn,
I shall not be riven, I shall not be anguished,
I shall not be ravaged, I shall not be made blind,
I shall not be made naked, I shall not be left bare,
I shall not be enchanted, I shall not be cursed,
Neither shall my power leave me.
No fire, no sun, no moon shall burn me,
No water, no flood, no brine shall drown me,
No earth, no sod, no turf shall cover me,
No air, no wind, no vapour shall sicken me,
Nor seed of the Fairy Host shall lift me,
Nor seed of the Airy Host shall lift me,
Nor earthly being destroy me.
I under the protection of the holy maiden,
I am under the shielding of good Brighid each day;
I am under the shielding of good Brighid each night.
Each early and late, every dark, every light.
Brighid is my comrade, Brighid is my maker of song,
My gentle foster-mother, my beloved Brighid.
--Carmina Gadelica
The Charm of Briget
The charm put by Bride the beneficent,
On her goats, on her sheep, on her kind,
On her horses, on her chargers, on her herds,
Early and late going home, and from home.
To keep them from rocks and ridges,
From the heels and horns of one another,
From the birds of the Red Rock,
And from Luath of the Feinne.
From the blue peregrine hawk of Creag Duillion,
From the brindled eagle of Ben-Ard,
From the swift hawk of Tordunn,
From the surly raven of Bard's Creag.
From the fox of the wiles,
From the wolf of the Mam,
From the foul-smellling fumart,
And from the restless great-hipped bear.
From...
From...
From every hoofed of four feet,
And from every hatched of two wings
--Carmina Gadelica
Hail Brigit
Sit thou safely enthroned, triumphant Brigit,
Upon the side of Liffey far as the strand of the ebbing sea!
Thou art the sovereign lady with banded hosts that presides over the Children of Cathair the Great.
God's counsel at every time concerning Virgin Erin is greater than can be told:
Though glittering Liffey is thine today,
It has been the land of others in their turn.
When from its side I gaze upon the fair Curragh...
The lot that has fallen to every king causes awe at each wreck.
Logaire was king as far as the sea,--Ailill `Ane, a mighty fate:
The Curragh with its glitter remains-- none of the kings remains that lived thereon.
Perfect Labraid Longsech lives no more,
Having trodden under foot his fair thirty years:
Since in Dinn Rig--`twas a wonted abode--he dealt doom to Cobthach the Slender.
Lore's grandson, Oengus of R`oiriu, seized the rule of Erin,...sway;
Maistiu of the freckled neck, son of Mug Airt,
Through princes across their graves.
Fair-famed Alenn!
Delightful knowledge!
Many a prince is under its girth:
It is greater than can be fathomed when Crimthan the Victorious was seen in its bosom.
The shout of triumph heard there after each victory around a shock of swords,
A mettlesome mass;
The strength of its warrior-bands against the dark blue battle-array;
The sound of its horns above hundreds of heads.
The tuneful ring of its even-colored bent anvils,
The sound of songs heard there from the tongues of bards;
The ardour of its men at the glorious contest;
The beauty of its women at the stately gathering.
Drinking of mead there in every home-stead;
Its noble steeds, many tribes;
The jingle of chains unto kings of men under blades of five-edged bloody spears.
The sweet strains heard there at every hour' its wine-barque upon the purple flood;
Its shower of silver of great splendor;
Its torques of gold from the lands of the Gaul.
Far as the sea of Britain the high renown of each king has sped like a meteor:
Delightful Alenn with its might has made sport of every law.
Bresal Bree was king over Elg, Fiachra Fobree with a fierce band of warriors;
Ferus of the Sea, Finn son of Roth they loved to dwell in lofty Alenn.
Worship of auguries is not worth listening to, nor of spells and auspices that betoken death;
All is vain when it is probed, since Alenn is a deserted doom.
Briget is the smile that smiles on you from the plain...of Core's land;
Of each generation which it reared in turn Liffey of Lore has made ashes.
The Currah of Liffey to the brink of the main, the Curragh of S`etna,
A land of peace as far as the sea,--many is the king whom the Curragh of Carbre Nia-fer has overthrown.
Cath`air the Great-- he was the choicest of shapes --ruled Erin of many hues:
Though you cry upon him at his rath, his prowess of many weapons has vanished.
Fiachna of Fomuin, glorious Bresal ruled the sea with showers of spears:
Thirty great kings to the edge of the sea seized land around Tara of Bregia.
The Peaks of Iuchna, delightful place,
Around which many graves have settled behold in lofty Allen the abode of Tadg, son of Nuada Necht!
The apparel of Feradach-- a goodly diadem--around whom crested bands would move;
His blue-speckled helmet, his shining mantle,--many a king he overthrew.
Dunlang of Fornochta, he was generous,
A prince who routed battles against the sons of Niall:
Though one were to tell the tale to all, this is not the world that was once.
Illann with his tribe launched thirty battles against every king,
Enna's grandson, a rock against terror,
It was not a host without a king's rule.
Ailill was a king that would bestow favour, against whom a fierce blood-dark battle-host would rise:
Cormac, Carbre, Colman the Great, Brandub, a barque in which were hosts.
Faelan the Fair was a track of princeship, Fianamail with...;
Braiin, son of Conall with many deeds, he was the wave over every cliff.
Oh Brigit whose land I behold,
On which each one in turn has moved about,
Thy fame has outshone the fame of the king--thou art over them all.
Thou hast everlasting rule with the king apart from the land wherein is thy cemetery.
Grand-child of Bresal son of Dian,
Sit thou safely enthroned,
Triumphant Brigit!
Sources:
Kuno Meyer Trans. |
All text and other material, unless otherwise noted, © 2000-06 S. Breen
Webdesign help and layout updated by Stephanie L. Nichols, 2006
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