Imbolc Brigit Celebration Jan 28 – 30th, Dublin
Imbolc: Stirring Into New Life
Brigit with her white wand is said to breathe life into the mouth of the dead Winter and to open our eyes to the tears and the smiles, the sighs and the laughter of Spring. (Alexander Carmichael).
In this weekend event, we will experience the quickening energy of Imbolc and nourish Brigit’s energy (the neart) in ourselves while we gather the seeds of our Spring dreams. Imbolc marks the beginning of Spring in the Celtic calendar, and is traditionally a time when Brigit is celebrated as goddess, saint, poet, healer, and smith worker.
Workshop Content
Awakening ancestral memories of Imbolc, by telling stories of Brigit, the feminine soul of Old Europe.
Drawing on their strength for our healing journeys, by connecting with our BodySouls through movement, art, voice work and ritual.
Exploring the relevance of Brigit’s traditions for this time of spiritual and global crisis. Continue reading
Plan to Celebrate the Festival of Imbolc and Brigit
On Saturday, January 15th, 2011, IFR is planning a one day event for those who wish to celebrate the Festival of Brigit in their homes, local communities or groups.
We held a similar event last year, but this year our focus will be especially on the theme: “Brigit as Soulsmith for Our Times”. A special feature of the event will be the latest research findings on an aspect of Brigit seldom covered in the usual sources: Brigit’s weaver’s staff, symbol of her female centred spiritual authority.
Our aims are several:
• To explore the thealogy of Brigit’s traditions as they are found in her rituals, folklore, and Lives of the Christian saint
• To highlight the distinctiveness of these traditions as they continue to speak to us in these times of grave spiritual crisis
• To provide resources and training in how to recuperate our ancestral memories around the festival of Brigit/ Imbolc on February 1st.
• To encourage participants, community activists, and teachers to hold celebrations in their own schools, areas and homes and to spread Brigit’s cloak far and wide.
We will ask these questions:
• What images and artefacts of Imbolc and Brigit speak to us today?
• How do you make a Brigit’s crosses, Crios, Brídeog?
• What songs and dances can easily be taught to a group?
• What makes for effective ritual experiences in terms of comfort, safety, and engagement?
The event will be held in the Catherine McAuley Centre on Herbert Street, (around the corner from Baggot Street) beginning at 10:30 for coffee, with a definite start at 11:00. We will aim to finish by 5:00 at the latest.
Please bring: Comfortable clothing suitable for movement; a packed lunch; something for taking notes.
Registration: Fee for the day, includes tea/coffee, photocopied resource packet, CD of songs and chants for you to learn and teach.
Early Bird Full fee: €60.00. Concessions, SW and full time students. €35.00. (Early bird date: January 8th 2011)
Registration on the Day: €75:00: To guarantee a resource packet and CD on the day, please register in advance.
Facilitator: Mary Condren author of the Serpent and the Goddess: Women, Religion and Power in Celtic Ireland, and a forthcoming book: Brigit of Ireland: Female Spirit of Old Europe, and director of IFR.
Send registration fee to this address:
IFR, 30A Parkhill Rise, Kilnamanagh, Dublin 25.
Make cheques out to Institute for Feminism and Religion.
Or register online here.
Not in Ireland? A limited number of copies of our resource packet and CD can be made available in return for a donation to the work of IFR. Please contribute through Paypal, if possible.