Today, pious Pagans around the globe are posting poetry online in honor of the Goddess, Brighid (otherwise known as Brigid, Brigit, or simply, “exalted one”).
I join them here on Bishop In The Grove.
Imbolc, as I wrote about yesterday, may have milky origins, but the day and the season speak to something much deeper than a single agricultural marker can convey. On Imbolc, we recognize the primal fire within us, and when we speak from that place with a clear, honest voice, beautiful transformation can occur.
Poetry is born. It is our gift from the Goddess, and it, in turn, is our gift to the Goddess. Poetry creates change. It is alchemical. It is magick, in the traditional sense. But, it is also available to each of us, regardless of our training, our initiations, or identifiers. We need not be professional poets to be poets. We can be poets simply by speaking truly of what we know, of what we feel, and of what passions move us to act, or be still.
We are poets because we each have words on our tongues, in our hearts, and on our flesh. When we release these words into our bloodstream, through our sweat, into the air and onto the page, we participate in the re-enchantment of the world.
So, I share this poem with you. It came to me in the darkness of the night, and I pray that it be a light in honor of the Goddess, Brighid. It is my offering.
Vigil
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart.I keep vigil
down the sidewalk,
through the door,
between the empty lines
of chit-chat talk on
threaded screens,
in middle days
of winter nights,
where no one sees
except the Bride
for whom the flame is lit.I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart.
Please share with me in keeping vigil. Copy the three lines:
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart.
Post them into the comment box below, and then paint a portrait of how you keep vigil to the fire. Where does it find you, and in what situations do you seek it? Let the words rise into your consciousness like incense on the altar, and then let the poem tell the story. Once you feel like you’ve described your experience of this personal, internal vigil to the Sacred Fire, copy those three lines again, closing out the poem.
Share with us your inspiration here on Bishop In The Grove as an offering to Brighid, and then share this post with anyone who might be touched by this intentional movement of inspiration.
We keep the fire lit, and we share the fire. The fire is out birthright, our inheritance, and the fire will prepare us for our collective rebirth.
Many thanks to T. Thorn Coyle and the creators of the 7th Annual Brigid Poetry Festival for the inspiration to write this poem and encourage the creation of devotional poetry. Please visit the Festival’s Facebook page and share with them your inspired creation!
Blessings be to you.
Comments
38 responses to “I Keep Vigil to the Fire: Imbolc Poetry for a Goddess”
I keep vigil
To the fire
In my heart
In the fire
The hands of Brigid
The holy smith
Craft the sword
From the bones
Of the living earth
The sword of flame
To defend the weak
To slay the tyrant
To inspire the brave
By it, in the name
of the gods,
the ancestors,
and the fae
I swear allegiance
to the Earth
As Druid and Knight
I keep vigil
To the fire
In my heart
Awen /|
I keep vigil
To the fire
In my heart.
I keep vigil
Tho all seems lost
Forever dark.
I look into the deep night
For Brighid
The Shining One
She comes in silence,
And kindles the Flame
Once quenched by despair.
I keep vigil
To the fire
In my heart
I feed the flame
As a mother nurses a child
With the milk of hope.
I feed the flame
Tho storms rage outside
And the candles flicker with uncertainty.
I feed the flame
And see the strength of her forge
With the creation of new found faith.
I keep vigil
To the fire
In my heart.
I keep vigil
May Brighid bless
My home, my hearth, my heart.
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart.
I hold True to the Oath taken to Share as I was Given.
I gently lead the new ones to the Ancient Ones
by remembering our right relationship to all Elements;
and we are all Star Stuff.
I remember the Truth
That Stones are the Bones of The Mother
That Her Breath breathes within us all
That Her Tears are the Water we are born in.
I walk in the path of The Old Ones,
I dance in the joy of today,
I hold close my kindred in love and honor.
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart.
In Her Service,
Asnee Llygedyn
Senior Druidess
Llygedyn Grove
Central Texas
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart.
Remaining Mindful
of the beauty within
and without
Sharing Compassion
With those I know
And those whom I do not know
Bestowing fairness
upon myself
and others
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart.
Remaining mindful…sharing compassion…bestowing fairness…
These are blessed reminders, Terra — thank you for sharing them with us here.
I’m having trouble getting into Imbolc. Includes some meditation on our conversation about liminal spaces and why it’s easy for me to recognize their sacredness. Warning: Long, rambly, and personal.
Hi Sonneillon. Thank you for your comment. For some reason, the code isn’t working quite right, and I don’t know how to fix it from my end.
So, here’s the link to your page, for all who wish to read it. I’ll be doing so right now!
Blessings.
http:/sonneillonv.dreamwidth.org/3686.html
o_O
I have no idea why the link is doing that, but I appreciate you taking the time to repost it. Could just be Dreamwidth and Patheos don’t get along too well.
I’ve read your post, and I recognize the feeling. Actually, quite recently I’ve wrestled with some of the same emotions. I’d encourage you to browse through some of the archives in December and November. I’m not sure the my account of my experiences will be of great use to you, but there have been some wonderful comments and suggestions from my readers — I think they may help.
Also, I’m curious — do you have a regular practice? If there something you do daily to route you in your religious tradition?
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart.
I keep vigil at Her forge
reshaping my mind
poured into a new mold
I keep vigil at Her flame
when I see a changed world
because of my changed eyes
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart.
HAIL!
Beautiful, WhiteBirch. Thank you for sharing this poem with us. Blessings to you!
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart.
I keep the light of the Sacred Goddess
alive in my mind
with every breath,
every step I take,
whether it be on our green earth
or on the pavement that we as humans have made
I keep vigil
by keeping my head held high
my heart open
my mind expanded.
I keep vigil by love
and by life.
by the joys of happiness
and the stain of tears that may fall
I keep vigil my love of the Goddess
and her great teachings.
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart
and in my soul.
Blsssed piety, Allie. Thank you for sharing these words with us.
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart
the light shines
bright, exalted
She speaks
listen close
the path is lit
the gift
from Her
and so
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart
Let us all “listen close,” indeed!
Thank you for sharing your inspiring words, Valerie!
I keep vigil
To the fire
In my heart.
I keep vigil
To the seeds of inspiration
To the purifying flame
To the power of spoken word.
I keep vigil
To the daughters
The mothers
The sisters
The children
Of the Goddess.
I keep vigil
To the promise of spring
The birth of new ideas
And of mother’s milk.
I keep vigil
To Brighid
The Exalted One
The Bright One
The Wise One
Who brings me comfort and inspiration
I keep vigil
To the fire
In my heart.
Inspiring, Rayma. Thank you for sharing this.
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart.
Born of, birthing,
words of flame.
Forging pen-in-hand
Watching in the night.
The voice from the depth of the flame
is laughing with me
kindling the numberless stars.
Waiting for dawn
at a dead run
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart.
I love this, Darcy. You paint a beautiful picture of holding vigil!
Blessings to you!
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart.
I dance within
the web of light
that holds us together.
I drink deep
from the well
that heals us all.
I offer myself
in love and trust
to hammer and anvil.
My arms hold
my sleeping child
as I am held too
I keep vigil
to the fire
in her heart
Touching. Thank you, SophiaFae.
[…] the 7th Annual Brigid Poetry Festival, and the comment thread is turning into a true bardic circle!Come and see what lights the fire in the hearts your fellow Pagans!ShareFiled Under: Prayers, Chants, Blessings & Poems, Religion, Top Religion & Culture […]
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart
I keep vigil
with my hands
for the children
to know the way
I keep vigil
in the wind
that stirs my soul
I keep vigil
in the trees
that comfort me
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart
Your words of the trees speak to me… “the wind that stirs my soul,”…. I love that.
Blessings to you!
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart.
I honor Brighid every day; by connecting with Her and thanking Her for inspiring me, keeping a candle burning in Her honor at my hearth (kitchen), by being creative, by working to forge a better me. By showing hospitality to guests, friends and family. B*B
Blessed be!
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart.
I keep the vigil
In my home’s hearth
That has warmed
and comforted
lost and weary souls
I keep the vigil
in my camera’s eye
the records the beauty
and magic of this land
I keep the vigil
by teaching the art of science
and lighting the imagination of the spirit
in the next generation
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart.
Bless you, Lesie, for keeping vigil with us here!
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart.
I keep vigil
With the gifts I offer others
and myself.
The gifts of inspiration,
Love, guidance, knowledge,
Hope and healing.
Through my Passion
And respect for all life.
Through my love, respect
And honor of the Divine
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart.
Wonderful, Caycollins – thank you for sharing this!
I keep
vigil
to the
fire
in my heart
day by day I
give
it tinder
I dance within its
flames and shadows
I balance it and it
balances me and together we are one
I pass it on in my learned tounges to others
To lift a heart
to heal a soul
To guide a friend and to heal myself
Words are fire in
breath and with them, within them and through them change occurs
Gifts of the goddess
surround me enthrall me, push me to
bring my inner flame a little higher now, just a little higher
Until it will be
a blazing awesome powerful inferno spiraling from
head to feet
Until through Her
and in
Her honor I can be a
blessing to all I meet.
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart
What a fire you have unleashed here! Blessings to you, Ash!!
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart.
I keep vigil
to the hope of change,
of prayers to work,
of healing to begin.
I keep vigil
of spirits to bring,
of Angels to guide,
of Goddess’s hands to hold.
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart.
And I keep vigil with you, Heather.
Bright blessings.
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart.
I keep vigil
by using the
creative gifts
She has given me.
I keep vigil by
lighting a flame
to represent Her
connections to fire.
I keep vigil by
thanking Her for
watching over me
for the past year.
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart.
Bless you, Robin. Thank you for sharing this inspired message here!
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart.
I keep vigil
In candle flames
and stove tops,
In the flame of knowledge
passed to my children.
I keep vigil
to the fire
in my heart.
Beautiful!
Thank you for being a part of this, Mrs. B. Your words warm my soul!