The Fire We Lit Must Now Be Tended
Snow Moon at Imbolc, under the Care of Brigid. A Full Moon of Via Transformativa Devotional
Opening the Circle
Blessed Brigid, may the light of your face and the flames of your hair turn back the Cailleach from her march upon the land. Carry back the light of spring, and with it the warmth of the hearth and the sun, so that the snows may melt and the land be renewed.
May the flame that we have built grow bright, and may we tend it with care so that in its warm glow our families may be safe and protected from harm. May Wisdom be shared by its side, and inspiration ever keep it alight.
May our forge be strong to prepare the tools we need for the labor ahead and our arms never tire from the work that must be done.
May our hearts be warmed by the love and care that holds us all.
The Sacred Moment
Today, the Snow Moon rises full, pulling tides and truths alike to the surface. May we feel the call to justice, to transformation, to healing, and to celebration. In this sacred brightness of the Full Moon, we walk the path of the Via Transformativa: the way of change, the march of justice, track of living love into form. The world aches for healing, and transformation begins not just in systems, but in souls.
This is a moon to act, to bless, to become.
Path Illumination
As we tend the fire, this Imbolc, we hear the cry of Brigid’s companions, who call out when they see injustice done in the land. We are reminded that our responsibility starts at the hearth fire, where we tend to our wounds, where we share our grief and our joys, where we bolster our strength, taking both warmth and sustenance brought on by the flames.
We remember that this is the same fire that burns in the forge, where we craft the tools of our art, which is the transformation of the self and the world. The forge of the self is repentance, or teshuvah, the power to change our mind and to return to the path. The path that we walk is built on love, justice, equity, and wonder. If we forget these, they cannot dance around the hearth fire, and they cannot forge the tools that we need for the work.
The transformation that we bring into the world is through our sowing and reaping. through the care and support that we have for all life. Brigid’s care is not just for the people, but for the animals as well. Her power reminds us to sustain ourselves with the milk of life and to ever gladden our hearts with the beer of joy. As she passes through the land, she knocks on every door and asks to be let in. May we welcome her, and may she find a hospitable place to rest her head.
From her, we learn the arts of healing, poetry, the forge, and the care for each other and the earth. All of these are vital to us in these times. May your craft be strong, and our practice sustaining.
The Sacred Question
What is the fire that you have been asked to tend, and what must you do to keep it strong and alive in the hearth?
Embodied Practice
Let us take a moment to tend to the fires within. Because when the winds howl, and the breath of the wicked fuels them, it is easy for this fire to go out, or to burn small, robbing us of its warmth.
Take a deep breath in and slowly release it. Do this a couple more times until you feel even the barest hint of relaxation in your body. When you are ready, close your eyes and imagine that you are sitting next to a hearth with a fire burning within it. If you cannot see the flames, pretend that you can hear them crackle, or simply know that they are there. Maybe you just feel a slight warmth in your body, in your chest, in the hearth of your soul.
As you breathe in, watch the fire compress and shrink as that pressure builds within you. As you breathe out, watch the fire rise and take up more space in the hearth. Repeat this process. Breathe in and the fire shrinks. Breathe out and the fire rises.
As we do this, we remember the teachings of Jesus, who tells us that it’s not what we take in that defines us, but what goes out from us. Like Mary, we take in the world, and we ponder it all in our heart. Through wisdom and restrained action, we release compassion, mindfulness, and effort into the world. Breathe in as the fire shrinks and breathe out as it grows stronger. Sit with this flame as long as you wish.
When you are ready, return your attention to your body. Feel the breath filling your chest and hear it as it escapes your lungs. when you’re ready, open your eyes
Blessing of Becoming
Blessed are those whose hearts burn with compassion.
Blessed are those whose eyes shine with the light of love.
Blessed are those whose voices carry wisdom.
Blessed are those whose way is justice and truth.
May the hearth ever be warm, welcoming, and healing.
May the springs ever flow with the waters of life.
May the forge ever build hope and resilience.
May the song ever guide our dance.
Amen.