Imbolc News: St Brigid’s relics return to her native Kildare and ritual in Glastonbury

Just in time for Imbolc, the relics of St Brigid are returned to her native Kildare. In Ireland, as here in Glastonbury, Brigid is a bridge between pagan practices and Celtic Christianity.

https://www.irishcentral.com/news/relics-st-brigid-return-kildare

We’ll be wecoming Brigid / Bridie during the opening circle of the community celebration in the Assembly Rooms this Saturday.

Doors open 6.30. Ritual at 7pm. (NB the door will be closed for the duration of the ritual so make sure you arrive before 7pm).

The ceremony will be followed by an evening of bardic poetry and music by some of Glastonbury’s finest.

As well as conducting the ritual, John Constable (John Crow from Crpss Bones) will be performing a couple of poems, including this new work in progress for Bridie:

The Coming of the Light

in the many come together,
in the making of The One,

in the flicker in the fire-bowl,
in the heartbeat in the drum,

in the stars that map the heavens
come guide us through the night,

come, Bridie, thrice blessed be,
in the coming of the light.

in the lamb that turns and quickens
in the belly of the ewe,

in the glimmer in the darkness
to remake our world anew,

in the beasts of the field all sniffing the air,
and your white-feathered swan in flight,

come, Bridie, thrice blessed be,
in the coming of the light.

in the songs of your bright children,
in the flowers that cleanse and heal,

in the clang of the blacksmith’s hammer,
in the turning of the wheel,

come open the portal to vision,
restore our lost second sight,

come open the sun-gate to nurture new life
in these gardens of earthly delight.

come, Bridie, thrice blessed be,
in the coming of the light.

(Imbolc 2024)