The Return Of The Light and Happy St Brigid's Day


 Happy St Brigid's Feast Day and the first day of Celtic Spring !

St.Brigid of Ireland hand painted icon by Georgi Chimev

 Collect and scripture readings for today are here and lovely ones they are too.

  • (H/T to Sacred Space 102fm for the link and they have a communion reflection for the day from here.)

"It is a solemn and joyful time: the ending of the darkness as the seed of light which was planted at the solstice in the womb-like depths of such carefully constructed passage graves as Newgrange and Tara Hill, gradually pushes its way into the air.
 The weather in these islands may often be more cold and threatening now than ever it was at mid-winter, so that the survival of the new-born lambs is a great marvel, but even if there is not much warmth in the sun, the hours of daylight increase."
 From The Celtic Year, A Celebration of Celtic Christian Saints, Sites, and Festivals by Shirley Toulson.


Who could have thought my shrivelled heart 
could have recovered greenness ?
 George Herbert "The Flower."



I have posted this song," Don't Be Afraid Of The Light That Shines Within You", by Luka Bloom before in a few posts at various times and places.


I really do sense a different energy in the air today. 

When I woke up yesterday morning and went into the garden the birds were singing their hearts out and my spirit soared. The sky today has reverted to grey again but it the birds singing is still pretty raucous !
 
 This song is so right for this time of year so I'm posting it again today, for St Brigid's Feast day on 1st February and putting a label on it now so it will be easier to find it again !!


 
Lyrics

Out of the cold, dark winter space
We come together, looking for Brigid's grace
We dip our open hands deep into the well
Where our rivers run to, who can tell, who can tell?

We warm our hearts and faces in the heat of the burning flame
Something about our spirit never stays the same

Don't be afraid of the light that shines within you
Don't be afraid of the light that shines within you
Don't be afraid of the light that shines within you
Within you

So many lives in shadows, with so much to give away
Brilliant dreams in waiting, to see the light of day.
We step up to the well at the dawn of spring time
When we go our way, we let the light shine, let your light shine

Don't be afraid of the light that shines within you
Don't be afraid of the light that shines within you
Don't be afraid of the light that shines within you

Let the light protect you
Let the light direct you

Don't be afraid
Don't be afraid
The light that shines within you.


I've also added this lovely new poem by Norwegian poet Rolf Jacobsen to celebrate the hesitant return of the light to the Northern hemisphere, but it's so rich in metaphor it is about much more than that. 

 
Just Delicate Needles 

It is so delicate, the light.
And there’s so little of it. 
The dark
is huge.

Just delicate needles, the light,
in an endless night.

And it has such a long way to go
through such desolate space.
So let’s be gentle with it.

Cherish it.
So it will come again in the morning.
We hope.
 by Rolf Jacobsen

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