Imbolc - Candlemas

1st February

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc,

and https://www.learnreligions.com/guide-to-celebrating-imbolc-2562102,

for more information about the Festival.

The Three Bridgets Of Imbolc

by Charles E S Fairey

Goddess Brighid, St Bridget and Bridget Bostock

Hear Us! Healing We Invoke, We Your Flock,

Candles we burn, with ribbons, chants and prayer

All We Ask Thee, Your Cares to Share,

On this Eve of Imbolc, Festival of the Light,

Your Healing Hands heal those we love this Night.

Bridget, your healing hands and cleansing palms

With spittle and prayer you healed the multitude,

With the coming Spring your medicine grows

And your healing light within the sick flows.

You protect the hearth, the family, the flock, and the home

The Holy Maiden who milks the cattle in the field,

The snowdrops and dew honour your purity and grace

Your guiding light of the newly born we adore and embrace.

Goddess Brighid, St Bridget and Bridget Bostock

Hear Us! Protection We Invoke, We Your Flock,

Candles we burn, with ribbons, chants and prayer

All We Ask Thee, Your Cares to Share,

On this Eve of Imbolc, Festival of the Light,

Your Shielding Cloak defend those under attack this Night.

Weave a St Bridget Cross for us, Your Children

Intertwine our lives with your protective green mantle,

Watch over and guard the new born lambs and the ewe

And with your heart’s warmth, invigorate us a’new.

Bright One of the Land who has always wandered far and wide

This Eve Visit Our Homes and Hearths, Our Flocks and Byres,

Imbue our ribbons we leave out tonight, with your pure light

And visit the bedside of the sick, and bring them healing and delight.

Goddess Brighid, St Bridget and Bridget Bostock

Hear Us! Inspiration We Invoke, We Your Flock,

Candles we burn, with ribbons, chants and prayer

All We Ask Thee, Your Cares to Share,

On this Eve of Imbolc, Festival of the Light,

Your Creative Mind inspire those who rhyme this Night.

Where we find your sacred and holy wells

We adorn and pray that your waters purify,

And guide us, walk with us, toward your Holy Sacred Flame

And poets and bards are inspired, and your creativity we attain.

Lend our lives your abundant lights of love and care

Help our mothers and sisters bear the pains of childbirth,

And as you walk the Earth amongst your flock this night

We shall light candles so our eyes dance in your starlight.

Goddess Brighid, St Bridget and Bridget Bostock

Hear Us! Experience We Invoke, We Your Flock,

Candles we burn, with ribbons, chants and prayer

All We Ask Thee, Your Cares to Share,

On this Eve of Imbolc, Festival of the Light,

Your Eternal Flame teach those who craft this Night.

Your Eternal Flame and the blacksmith’s forge

The byre, its animals and newly born suckling,

One of you rests in the churchyard of Mucklestone

Where Anvil sits which once rang with hammer’s tone.

Lend us your experience of the Crafts

Imbue us with the magic of the Smith’s Fire,

As we adorn our homes with dollies of corn

And hope our loved ones are healed by the Morn.

Goddess Brighid of the ancient Celts

St Bridget of Kildare and her Abbey and Cross

Bridget Bostock and her healing hands and fasting spittle

The Feast of Light and the singing kettle,

We feel your warmth by our cauldron and fiery hearths

Whilst in the fields, the farmer delivers his new born calves,

Singing your praises for the new herd and its health

And lights candles upon the mantle, hearth and shelf.

Brighid the Protector of Celtic Britain

St Bridget the Maiden of Scottish Christian

Bridget Bostock the White Witch of Coppenhall Historian,

We Honour Thee, All Three, The Goddess of Imbolc Eve

In Your Healing, Protection, Inspiration and Craft, We Believe,

Walk this Land and Guide Us, Your Flock

Brighid, St Bridget and Bridget Bostock,

On this Eve of Imbolc, Festival of the Light

Visit Us, Pray For Us, Purify Us, This Night,

You the Holy Maiden, the Goddess Bride

This Night, all Earth and Heaven do abide.