Taking the Mantle of Brigid: Sovereign Protection in Uncertain Times
Join us for the Celtic festival of the coming of spring on Sunday 29th January
Celebrating a historic moment in the Celtic world
We look forward to you joining us in celebrating an unprecedented, historical moment this coming festival of Imbolc, as Ireland institutes St Brigid’s Day as a public holiday for the first time in 2023.
Imbolc traditionally marks the midway point between the winter solstice and the spring Equinox and has long been associated as St Brigid’s Day, honouring both the historic woman alongside the ancient Goddess Brighid of the Hebridean world.
To help us celebrate, we will first be joined by guests from Ireland who will convey the meaning and significance of this event as a nation. As we further deepen into the spirit of this festival, we are honoured to have scholar, author and teacher Caitlin Mathews, lead us as our guest presenter.
Caitlín will reveal the augury of Brighid who brings health to the hearth, aid to the needy, forever shining light upon our way. Drawing upon traditional sources and invocations, and upon the ancient roles of Brighid, Caitlín will evoke the spirit of her protection for our own age.
The brat or mantle of Brighid is traditionally seen as protecting every person and animal within a dwelling place, a mantle to be invoked nightly by the householder to surround their home and keep safe their hearth through the night. But in times of uncertainty, when life becomes entangled by fears and anxieties, Brighid also takes on for us the role of untangler – a quality most needed as we awaken to the plight of our planetary home as our collective dwelling place.
Caitlín’s talk will include a ritual and meditation Kindling the Hearth; please have a shawl or scarf, and your own candle and match ready.
In the Spirit of Iona,
Katherine
Pricing and dates
Join us Sunday 29 January on Zoom at 4pm UK time / check local time, until around 6.30pm.
If you are unable to be there, we will send you a replay.
Celebrate the Celtic Year, including replays of a year of festivals £175
What to bring with you
- A journal to write in
- A candle to light for our sacred time together
- An open heart that welcomes new possibilities and celebrates Imbolc in the Spirit of Iona!
About Caitlín Mathews
Caitlín Matthews is acknowledged as an authority on Celtic wisdom and the ancestral traditions of Britain and Ireland. She has explored the ancestral heritage of these sister islands, finding practical ways that help maintain our respect for the land and forebears, as well as clearing the way for our descendants.
She is the author of over 80 books including, Celtic Devotional, The Art of Celtic Seership, and The Celtic Book of the Dead. She is a co-founder of the Foundation for Inspirational and Oracular Studies (FÍOS), which is dedicated to the sacred arts that shape the landscape of the soul, via vision, dream and memory. hallowquest.org.uk
About Katherine Collis
Katherine Collis is a Findhorn Fellow who lived in the Community in the early 1970s and has maintained a close relationship over the decades. Upon leaving she moved to the United States as part of the founding of the Lorian Association – a sister organisation to the Findhorn Foundation.
Katherine has a background in adult education, gerontology, human and spiritual development and works as a spiritual counsellor, retreat leader and teacher. She has a 50 year relationship with the Isle of Iona where she has led annual retreats and conference groups with a focus on Celtic Spirituality and its vision of the sacredness at the heart of all life.
Katherine lives in Santa Barbara, California where she partners with her husband Roger in mentoring groups and individuals.