The Three Aspects of Brighid at Candlemas


On the altar are representations of the Three Aspects of Brighid: a large book for poetry; a hammer and anvil for smithcraft; a cauldron for healing. Also present are a triple-Brighid statue; a Lugh statue; a basket of small white tapers; and on the two side altars are long trays of sand. Before the circle is cast, each participant is given a white candle and spends time imbuing it with their plans and intentions for the coming year.

HPS leads brief grounding and centering. The Circle is cast in one of the usual manners, then HPS speaks:

Last autumn we watched the nights grow longer
and embraced the darkness and silence of winter.
Now the fields lie fallow,
the sun is dim in the pale sky
and the cold lingers.
In this season it is hard to remember the warmth
and light and the new life of spring;
but they come.
They come.
The Goddess reminds us that winter is not forever.
Brighid reminds us.

HP or DESIGNATED CANTOR leads the following “Call and Repeat” chant. All participants repeat each line after the leader.

Open your eyes,
Open your hearts,
And let blessed Brighid enter!
Brighid is come!
Brighid is welcome!
(long vibration) * Brighid! Brighid! Brighid! *
Thou art a hundred times welcome!
Grace our circle; answer our plea -
For each of our candles is a prayer unto thee!

* At the vibration of Her Name, the three Priestesses representing Her three aspects enter the circle and stand before the altar, each bearing a lit candle. There is a pause for reflection; when all have taken in the beauty of the scene, the First Priestess of Brighid says:

I am Brighid, Queen of the Slim Fairy Folk
Elder Goddess of the Fomorians
and Daughter of the Tuatha de Danaan; Exalted Lady;
And before the beginning of days, I was.
I am also Song-sweet Brighid of the tribe of the Green Mantles,
and I sent songs and music on the wind
before ever the bells of the chapels were rung in the West
or heard in the East.
I am the heart of poetry,
and I have been a breath in your mind
since before your first birth.

There is a pause for reflection. Then the Second Priestess of Brighid says:

I am Brigantia, the Eternal Flame,
Mistress of the Secrets of the Forge
And I shape the world with iron and fire.
And I am the Warrior Queen of the Brigantes,
Leader of the Immortal Host,
Defender of the Clans, the Victorious One.
And the day has dawned that will see me
Coming into the hearts of men and women
Like a flame upon dry grass
Like a flame of wind in a great wood,
Like a flame of justice that will reach the very heavens!

There is a pause for reflection. Then the Third Priestess of Brighid says:

I am Bride of the Isles, the Lady of the Sea, Conception of the Waves, The Healing Power of Pure Love. I am the crystal waters of the holy wells, And I am the white foam On the breast of the rushing rivers in springtime. In the land of Eternal Youth my name is Mountain-traveler; And in the Country of Ancient Years it is Seek-Beyond. My womb brings you forth, My waters refresh you, My touch makes you whole.

During the following speech by the HPS, music is faded and stopped. HPS says:

We invite each of you to take your candle -
Your aspirations for the coming year -
And as the first step of your season’s journey,
Go to one of the three aspects of Brighid.
Light your candle from her flame,
and ask her blessing.

There is a pause for reflection, then HPS (or designated Cantor) sings invocation:

We welcome you Bridget on Candlemas Eve
And we pray for your blessing
new life to conceive
Oh Mother of Poetry, teach us your art
That new inspiration may enter each heart.

Oh Mistress of magic you stand by the fire
And you shape the bright metal
to the form you desire
Oh Mother of Smithcraft please teach us your art
That the power of changing may enter each heart

You kindle the springtime to quicken the earth
And from out of your cauldron
the dead have new birth
Oh mother of healing please teach us your art
That peace and contenment may enter each heart.

There is a pause for reflection, then the HPS begins a two-part chant; Cantors join in, then all participants :

Brighid is come! Brighid is welcome!
Welcome Brighid! Oh, Brighid is come!

Once the chant is firmly established, participants begin to come forward. Each brings their white candle to one of the aspects of Brighid, who gives her blessing by lighting the candle from her own. The participant then walks to one of the side altars and places their candle in one of the trays. All the candles are allowed to burn out during and after the ritual.
When all candles have been blessed and lit, the HPS brings the basket of remaining candles to each of the three aspects, who lay their hands upon the remaining canldes in blessing. These are then placed back upon the altar so that all may take a blessed candle home with them when they leave after supper.

The chant is slowed and stopped, and HP reads ritual closing:

May the holy maiden Bride, radiant flame of gold
Protect you from all dangers.
No fire, no sun, no moon will burn you,
No lake, no water, no sea shall drown you,
No arrow of fairy nor dart of fey shall wound you,
May Brighid’s waters heal you.
May Brighid’s winds inspire you.
May Brighid’s fire warm you.
Under her protection, go in peace.

Cakes and Wine are shared; the Guardians are released. All join hands and the HPS says:

The Circle is open, but yet unbroken.
Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!
So mote it be!
Happy Imbolg!

The main altar with its symbols of Brighid and the side altars with their glowing candles are allowed to remain set up in the hall during the feast. All candles representing the participants’ intents are allowed to burn fully; all the new blessed candles are distributed for the participants to take home with them.



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