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I find Brigid the Smith is a very strong presence in my life. OK, maybe to be expected, given my career choice (engineer). But, still, she comes through strong. So while the Smith is often associated with the forging of metals, I like to extend that a wee bit.

Now, I’ve written about Brigid and liminality before now. A few times. But she’s also linked with transformation. And, as many of my students will tell you, that transformation does feel like going through her Anvil. I can attest to those fires as well. They can be hot.

But fire can destroy as well as create, so we’re going to explore that a bit in this blog post – the necessity of both creation and destruction in shaping our lives and the world around us.

Transformation

Brigid the Smith is often depicted as a skilled blacksmith. It comes from Cormac’s glossary of course. (As well as telling us she is a a powerful goddess associated with protection of poets and a healer). I often say she shapes us into her tools. And sometimes that’s uncomfortable to us. Have you ever seen a blacksmith at work, shaping metal? And honestly, I think I’m more stubborn than metal when it comes to shaping. As in, I resist strongly. Even when I know it’s for my own good…

I chose Brigid’s Forge as the name for my blog and school because it is (I hope!) a place of transformation. I consider her forge a cauldron of creation and a crucible of destruction, symbolizing the necessary interplay between the old and the new.

Or more importantly, sometimes, we need to clear the way for the new to grow. Which means destroying the old first.

Creation and Destruction: The Eternal Dance

You know the way nature tends towards cycles? Death and rebirth? That sort of thing? Well another way to think of that is destruction and creation. Destruction is an essential part of creation to me. I’ve taken several writing classes and the one thing they’ve all agreed on? (Aside from actually picking up the pen to write) To kill your babies. Destroy the parts of the writing you feel most attracted to. Get rid of those parts you feel so lovingly protective towards.

Destroy.

Then create.

If you think about it, this makes sense. When you’re doing work on yourself, you need to take down old beliefs to develop new. You need to destroy or override or blank out the space to make room for the new.
In the deepest sense, there’s that old chestnut about our bodies rebuilding and replacing over 7 years. We don’t keep that old material. Our bodies create waste. It destroys the things it doesn’t need. Brigid the Smith is no different.

In the natural world, seasons change, old leaves fall, and new buds emerge. This cyclical process involves the breaking down of the old to make way for the new. Brigid’s forge, with its intense heat and transformative flames, mirrors this eternal dance between creation and destruction.

The Dark Side of Destruction: Balancing Forces

While destruction is a natural and necessary aspect of existence, it is crucial to acknowledge its potential dark side. Uncontrolled and indiscriminate destruction can lead to chaos and suffering. Brigid’s teachings (and Irish practice in general) emphasize the importance of right relationship. Not just Brigid the Smith, mind, but all of them… Even the saint…

Destruction must be tempered with wisdom and guided by a vision for positive change. Harnessing the power of destruction responsibly ensures that the process of renewal remains constructive rather than detrimental. I mean, mindless destruction doesn’t lead to positive change in my opinion. (Unless we’re talking about building a massive sandcastle then jumping on it. That’s different!)

Destruction can be terrible. I won’t post them here, but you can see the devastation in any of the war-torn areas of the globe. (You can check out the list of 2023 conflicts here) I’m not posting pictures of any of it, because it is distressing and horrible. It’s possible one side or another can say that their destruction leads to better outcomes for them, but there are so many conflicts… so much destruction. Brigid the Smith is not going to be there unless it’s supporting those suffering.

Equally, look at the destruction of the rainforests, of the natural world on this planet. Yes, short term, there are pros to this, but long term, there are only cons. Destroying this planet is not good. We only have the one… And I think various billionaires have proven that even they don’t have the wherewithal to live in space.

Embracing the Smith’s Wisdom

I’m not saying every act of creation must be prefaced by an act of destruction. I don’t think Brigid the Smith would agree either. But in the same way that saying yes to one action, means saying no to all the others… Saying yes to one act of creation means saying no to all the others – an act of destruction of those other acts. Brigid can guide us through the transformation process. And she does. We can draw inspiration from her actions in the forge – destroying one shape to form the next. Transforming the solid to create the liquid, then destroying the liquid to create a new solid.

Destruction isn’t necessarily a process to be feared. It’s not bloody well easy, but it’s not necessarily to be feared. We can recognise that through any transformation process, we are destroying to make way for new creation. Brigid’s forge can help us in this process, showing us the way and sometimes, forcing us back to the path.

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog post on Ruth Bader Ginsburg as an example of a Brigid poet. A few people challenged me on this, saying her record wasn’t all that great. So, I decided to dig into that record a bit deeper.

The Good

I think it’s obvious to say that RBG’s focus was on gender equity and reproductive rights. (Just an FYI, most of the quotes from this section come from this article from 2020. This article is my source for this post. The same info is covered elsewhere as well.). And equally, particularly given Brig Ambue’s decision on the matter of women taking possession of land, I think it safe to say that Brigid the Poet is very interested in this area.

Her clear, unwavering conviction that women must be given equal treatment under the law changed the legal rights of half of the nation

Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights

It’s also clear, from her earliest days working in the legal profession, that RBG was intent on making things better from a gender equity point of view. I have no doubt that this stemmed from her early experiences of discrimination. She was one of only 9 women out of 500 students in her class at Harvard Law School.

As a professor at Rutgers Law School, she joined with female colleagues to file an Equal Pay Act complaint over disparities in teaching pay, eventually forcing the university to settle.

The Loss of a Reproductive Rights Champion: U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Without a doubt, she was a strong supporter of the #metoo movement, saying:

I think it will have staying power because people, and not only women, men as well as women, realize how wrong the behavior was and how it subordinated women.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, speaking to the Atlantic, quoted in The Loss of a Reproductive Rights Champion: U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

And seriously, I can’t imagine any aspect of Brigid, never mind Brigid the Poet not supporting that movement either!

The article lists her achievements in the field of gender equity and reproductive rights. As examples, it cites her opposition to TRAP (Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers) laws, her stance against the military forcing discharge on pregnant members and always, the idea that all citizen’s should be equal, regardless of gender.

A true poet in the Brig Ambue tradition, yes?

The not so good

OK, so a lot of the criticism laid against RBG has to do with the areas her record has been less stellar. For this section, my quotes come from The Marshall Project, in particular, the article linked.

With Brig Ambue in mind, it’s hard to think that Brigid as Poet wouldn’t support those discriminated because of race or who are treated badly by the criminal justice system. Actually, it’s hard to think of her not supporting any of the oppressed. (And please, please remember, the closer you are to being rich, white, Christian, male, able bodied, fluent in the main language in your country, born in the country you reside in, legal status etc, the less likely you are to be oppressed, ok?)

RBG’s visibility on these matters are fairly critiqued in the Marshall Project article linked above.

When it came to prison conditions and the rights of incarcerated people, Justice Ginsburg simply wasn’t as visible. She wasn’t the primary author on any of our blockbuster human-rights-in-prison cases.

Andrea Armstrong, law professor at Loyola University New Orleans, The Marshall Project

The article rightly points out that she didn’t take the same stand on race as she did on gender equity. It’s obvious that she let other colleagues take the lead here. In saying that, another quote from the same article:

The reality, of course, is that no Supreme Court justice in recent memory has been a consistent champion of the rights of incarcerated people. Justice Ginsburg recognized prisoners as rights-bearing individuals and was willing, more frequently than most of her colleagues, to uphold those rights against government challenges.

David Fathi, director of the American Civil Liberties Union National Prison Project, The Marshall Project

When it came to the Black Lives Matter movement, RBG’s legacy is less positive.

I think when it comes to more modern issues of racial justice including police brutality and Black Lives Matter, I think she failed in that regard. And I’m talking specifically about her comments about Colin Kaepernick. I do credit her with pretty quickly saying she shouldn’t have said that. But I would rather her have said nothing.

Imani Gandy, senior editor of law and policy at Rewire News, The Marshall Project

While initially RBG commented that it was “really dumb” for Colin Kaepernick and others to not stand for the national anthem, she quickly retracted that.

“Some of you have inquired about a book interview in which I was asked how I felt about Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players who refused to stand for the national anthem,” Ginsburg said. “Barely aware of the incident or its purpose, my comments were inappropriately dismissive and harsh. I should have declined to respond.”

Ruth Bader Ginsburg apologizes to Colin Kaepernick after criticizing anthem protest, (this one’s from a different article, just to be clear)

When it comes to indigenous rights, she produced equally mixed results:

In 2016, she wrote the opinion in US v Bryant about the use of tribal court convictions to enhance federal sentences for domestic violence repeat offenders. It was very much a question of issues of gender and violence against women. But before that she wrote several opinions that were really awful for tribal interests. She struck down a $600 million judgment that favored the Navajo Nation that was the result of overt obvious corruption in the Department of Interior. She wrote the opinion in CITY OF SHERRILL V. ONEIDA INDIAN NATION OF NEW YORK3 that was incredibly dismissive of tribal prerogatives. Some of the language in that opinion is considered some of the more overtly racist language in its challenge and skepticism of tribal interests.

Carole Goldberg, distinguished research professor at UCLA Law, The Marshall Project

So where does this leave us with RBG?

Well, to be honest, she’s still a hero of mine. See, I remember the path I had to travel. Back in the 90’s, I was barely a feminist. I mean, I was one of those “not like other girls” girls. I spent my 20’s outdrinking and outshagging anyone around me. For me, I was horrified at the notion of being “girly” or “feminine” !

So I understand why and how RBG might have changed her stance on certain issues and why in her later years, she might have improved a bit on the whole intersectional feminism. I grew up not being aware of the concept of intersectional feminism. I was in my thirties before I understood that the oppression of women was in tandem with the oppression of others. Not to mention the fact that we didn’t need to fight each other, but we need to join together to fight the oppressors.

She made mistakes. She is not a golden hero, as our hearts might wish it. Blind spots, learning, liberal in certain areas only… all can be laid at her feet. But she fought for what she believed in. That’s important. She stood up for (at least some of) the oppressed. I believe we can’t be experts in all things. Maybe some of the areas she didn’t author verdicts or dissents, she didn’t feel she was expert enough on? Or other people were better able to voice the accounts?

Finally

I firmly believe no one is perfect. I think putting too much of a sheen on the memory of someone is dangerous in all sorts of ways. But I also think we need to give credit where credit is due. So with RBG, absolutely, let’s remember the good. And also remember where we can learn from her mistakes. Most importantly, let’s try not to make the same blasted mistakes ourselves!

For those who don’t know, I have a Patreon page, but it’s been dormant over the last few months. But I’m re-energising and restarting, so please see below for more information. (This is the post I’ve put up on the Patreon page as well, just for clarity!)

I love that I have such patient supporters here. And in 2024, I feel like I can come back to patreon and start providing things for ye to get excited about again. 

I can’t go back to devotionals now though, because after 2 years of doing them, I’m a bit devotionaled out – and yes, I know that isn’t precisely a word! I’m thinking of releasing a book with them to be honest…

But what can I offer then and at what price points? Well here we go. 

I want to offer something for my subscribers that will help. So, I’m thinking of skipping a week or two on the public blog and starting to post here a week early. That would be 4 posts a month, getting them a bit earlier than on the main blog. 

The next level up would be a podcast based on the blog. I’ve been thinking of creating a podcast for ages and 2024 is going to be the year it starts. Well, January 2024 will be the year it starts. But the podcast will probably only be available here on the patreon rather than for public. Writing is reasonably easy for me, but recording is more difficult. 

Final level would include a monthly ritual, prayer or something like. It could be a ritual to connect deeper with an aspect of Brigid or a prayer for something specific, or some Irish for you to incorporate into your personal practice. That final tier would be developed as per your requests rather than planned out. 

So… what do ye think? I really want to know I’ll be serving the communities needs rather than just my own. And anyone can suggest a topic for a blog post, so if there’s something you really want to hear from me on, just give me a shout. But I do and will give priority to patreon supporters. 

I was asked a while back in the Brigid’s Forge Facebook group about how Brigid influences my life as an engineer. And how my relationship with Brigid affects my engineering career. I was sure I had already covered this, but apparently not!! (Although, I did mention it briefly here anyway)

Why engineering and Brigid

Well, I view Brigid the Smith as linked with engineering because I view smithcraft as the ancestor of modern engineering. Brigid embodies the archetype of the skilled artisan, particularly in the context of metalwork and forging. To me, she symbolizes the transformative power of fire and the mastery of shaping raw materials into refined creations.

Engineering, at its core, involves the application of scientific principles to design, build, and innovate. I mean, if you go really deep down, engineering is problem solving. Brigid’s association with the smithy aligns with the fundamental principles of engineering. She represents the fusion of knowledge, skill, and creativity required to forge useful and enduring structures. And, usually, those structures solve a problem. Even if that problem is how to make something look good.

Engineers take ideas and turn them into reality, using science, math and imagination. Engineers are masters of problem-solving and creative design.

Engineers Ireland, What is Engineering

Brigid, ethics and engineering

For a long time, the notion of “ethics” and engineering didn’t really enter my worldview. I was just another human being doing a job after all. The idea that my job should hold ethical value didn’t hit home at all. At least until I started working for a defense company. Now, the bit I worked for was making flares and signal stuff rather than the real aggressively explosive stuff. But yet, that whole ethos that it was ok to end someone’s life and that it could be almost just part of the job ran all the way through the company.

I found it difficult, the casual way that violence was expected and warranted. To be clear, not in the office, but more, just as a part of life. Brigid doesn’t necessarily abhor violence. Just look at some of the saint’s stories for that! But she doesn’t endorse it either as the sole means of… well anything. Particularly not problem solving (which is the core of being an engineer!).

So, even as a maintenance engineer, working on making sure there was water, air, electricity and other vital necessities coming to the various buildings, I found things uncomfortable in that environment.

I realised afterwards that it just didn’t fit with my ethics and as my relationship with Brigid deepened, I need to find a role that matched my work with her.

Day job as spiritual practice

I moved into pharma. Now, I know in the US Big Pharma is problematic and hurts all sorts of folks. And, honestly, I get it. But at the same time, they do provide life-giving, -saving, drugs to a lot of people. And frankly, the cost of meds and the way they are prescribed in the US – has a lot to do with the system over there.

For me, working as a Brigid-following engineer in a pharma company was a no brainer. I was able to connect in with both Brigid the Healer and Brigid the Smith. I was problem solving for a purpose. In this first pharma place I worked, we would frequently be sending doses directly to the customer cos there were only about 1000 world wide. And it was one of the lower, non-own-brand products out there.

As a Brigid follower and an engineer, tackling my daily spiritual practice as my day job fed my love of efficiency. Don’t get me wrong. I love writing this blog, teaching etc. But it’s the engineering that keeps food on the table and a roof over my head.

Just coming into work every day isn’t enough though. Going through the motions isn’t what gets Brigid enthusiastic about a person. She cares too much about getting shit down and frankly, dealing with an irate production manager isn’t her strong point. (I’d love to see it though!)

What really pushed my into the daily spiritual practice space was supporting and mentoring other people around me. Mostly, I look for women engineers to help. I can’t help feeling that as someone who worked in a forge, Brigid knows what it’s like to be the only woman in the room. This happens, even today, far too often in engineering.

What does my daily spiritual practice look like?

Well, ye all know my basic approach of that few seconds before I get into the car in the morning. But I also work at including Brigid in my daily work life. I’ll speak to her during the day. I’ll ask her for help or advice before a difficult meeting. I’ll often head off for a 5min meditation in the middle of some difficult work.

I also make time every week to meet up or chat to people I’m supporting or mentoring. Even if it’s just a quick message over teams, it’s worth something. There are many people out there doing Brigid’s work in engineering, but don’t realise it. The people who go visit the schools to encourage young girls (and boys) to keep going with science and engineering subjects. The ones who go out of their way to support colleagues in need.

The colleagues who take the time to spend energy on others and assist them in their careers.

When I finally get an excel sheet working properly, I think of Brigid. If I manage to persuade a manager to give me downtime to complete a job, I think of Brigid. When that problem finally becomes unstuck, I think of Brigid.

Where does this leave Brigid-following engineers?

Well, obviously, I don’t espouse the One True Way mode of teaching. I’m far more about the “build what suits you” thing. And it’s why I’m running a monthly long course in January for Building a Daily Practice with Brigid. And ok, it’s not focused on engineers, but it is about efficiently and effectively building a practice that suits you. Your life, your resources, your energy.

Because, since Brigid is an engineer, she is high on the practicality in my experience. She doesn’t want broken tools, she wants useful, working tools. And that means, whatever we’re agreeing to, whatever we’re working on for her, it needs to fit.

That’s not to say she won’t turn your life upside down on occasion – cos she will – but more than it’s more that process of melting down, tempering and rebuilding rather than just ripping you to shreds for the sake of it!

The Christmas season, with its whirlwind of festive activities, can make it challenging to maintain a daily Brigid practice. I mean, it’s challenging enough in “normal” times. That’s why the world “almost” is so very important! Christmas, for those of us living and working in predominantly Christian societies, seems to take on a frenetic pace. However, drawing inspiration from authentic Irish traditions, we can discover ways to infuse spirituality into the holiday chaos. Today, we’ll look at practical hints and tips for maintaining a practice through the height of the festivities. And maintain a practice that Brigid will be happy with as well.

Why is a(n almost) daily spiritual practice important at all?

Well, here’s the thing about Irish deity – they’re all about the relationship. Sure, you can rock up on Imbolc, with a ritual and a few prayers. And you might get a response from Brigid. Or indeed, one of her relations. But the best work and the greatest success comes from a well-developed relationship over time.

Think about it. How do you feel when a stranger comes to you asking for a giant favour out of nowhere? Versus a family member or a close friend? You’re far more likely to give the attention to someone you have a developed relationship with rather than a stranger. It’s possible to respond to a stranger, of course, but it’s more likely you’ll respond to someone you know well.

Irish deities are no different. Irish saints as well. It really makes no difference here whether you’re looking at Brig or St. Brigid. Building a developing that relationship is best for long term outcomes and ongoing spiritual development.

How do you build relationship?

I’ve written before about how to build relationship with deity, so I won’t go into all the details here. But really, a daily spiritual practice an be a hugely vital part of it all, especially with Brigid.

If you good “how to make friends as adults” you will get millions of results. And honestly, to a certain extent, building relationship with deity isn’t too dissimilar. I’ll focus on Brigid below, but really, it’s applicable to most deities.

First off, shared interests. Now, I’ve said before there aren’t too many areas in this world that Brigid wouldn’t be interested in. By the time you cover the Smith, the Healer and the Poet, you’ve covered most of the areas of a modern university. Not that a university covers every area of life, but it covers a lot. So, there aren’t too many areas I’d say you can’t build a shared-interest type of relationship with Brigid. (I mean, I can’t see her supporting extremely right wing or extremely left wing views. Or wholesale genocide. In most circumstances.)

People are often advised to join sporting groups or community groups to make friends as adults. I don’t really see sport as my way to access Brigid, but it might be yours. Certainly, if there is an Irish twist to it (while Gaelic football and hurling at the main Gaelic games people think of, there are others) it can be considered a link to an Irish deity. Community groups would be more palatable to me. (I do admit that most people have marginally more sporting capacity than I do!)

Community groups, in particular, can be considered Brigid works. She is big on community and supporting the community. If you look at Irish history, community was vital for our success, at home and abroad. Listening to the Irish History Podcast, a lot of emigrants, no matter where they ended up, needed that community to survive. How to find places to stay, even en route to the ship to take you abroad, was all done by those who had gone before and left messages to say where to go and where to avoid.

Making offerings is another good way to develop a relationship. A cup of tea and coffee. A bit of bread, cake, milk, dairy. Anything just to show you’re thinking of Brigid. Most of us have a daily cuppa – incorporating that into your daily spiritual practice with Brigid is an easy way to keep things going.

Daily practice in a busy season

But all this takes time and effort. What to do when you have neither time or energy?

Well, there’s a few ideas.

• A few deep breaths. Seriously, people forget about breathing. And even a single, conscious deep breath can prove hard sometimes, especially if there are small kids wandering around the place and going to the bathroom can prove difficult. Going to the bathroom alone might be nigh impossible. But trust me, Brigid will appreciate those few seconds you can give her.
• Offerings. Even if you make an extra cup of coffee in the morning and put it to one side, tell Brigid it’s for her and off you go. If you’re pouring a glass of wine, pour an extra glass. That sort of thing.
• Prayer. Even a quick “Brigid, I need patience” or “Brigid, help me”. Just check in with her on an almost daily basis.

And yeah – I said “almost”. Even at the best of times we can occasionally miss a day or a practice. That’s why most of the time I remember to call my practice an “almost” daily practice. We are human, we are imperfect. That’s life. Occasionally, things come up. Take a deep breath and move on.

Now, I’m not saying you can skip your daily practice willy-nilly and make no effort and still build relationship. But I am saying that we are imperfect and human and sometimes that means we forget or miss things. And, if you’d like some more help here, I’ve a free webinar coming up on exactly this topic, so you can sign up here for more information there.

To finish

As the Christmas season unfolds, maintaining a daily spiritual practice with Brigid rooted in authentic Irish traditions can provide a sense of grounding and connection. I really do feel this is more important in busy times than in quiet times. Having those touchstones to regain composure and remember ourselves… it’s worth anything.

Take what time you can to engage in your spiritual practice with Brigid. Pare it all back to absolute essentials, if that’s what you have time for. Recognise your energy levels and adjust accordingly. And if you want more info about my upcoming webinar, sign up here.

Alcohol has a mixed reputation in Ireland. It fills a kinda liminal space, much like the spaces Brigid herself is drawn to. But given the problems that alcohol creates in our society, and has created for generations, how do we reconcile the stories of Brigid as brewer and Brig as societal and communal support?

Alcohol, Orlagh?

This morning I’m reading a really interesting paper on the role of Irish masculinity and alcohol. It discusses some of the history of alcohol and the Irish. It explains that it was the arrival of gin in the 17th century that heralded some really problematic drinking. (I wonder what else happened in 17th century Ireland that might have caused the country to turn to drink?) It also discusses some of the aspects of alcohol that are entwined in masculinity. Pubs being predominantly male spaces, the ascension to manhood on the purchase of the first legal drink, etc. I rarely discuss Brigid in relation to masculinity topics, but I think this is useful!

It also discusses the Temperance movement in Ireland, pointing out that as well as having some of the highest alcohol consumptions in the EU, Ireland also has the highest % of the population that are teetotal, i.e. don’t consume alcohol at all. We have a mixed relationship to the substance in this country, to say the least.

And ok, we can’t completely blame the Brits. Colonialism has a role to play here, but it’s not the only reason. I think…

This report from the Irish Times outlines how the bishop of Christchurch in Dublin granted stonemasons 14 pints of beer a day, while they were working in a quarry. This might be due to the calories contained in the beer (apparently 700-800 per pint!). It might also be a tastier way of quenching the thirst than plain water.

Was Brigid in a quarry in 16th century Dublin?

Well, I can’t say whether she was or she wasn’t, to be honest, but quarrying is the sort of the same type of work that forging is. Creation and destruction all in one.

More interesting, to me at least, are the stories around Brigid and ale/beer in the hagiographies. In Cogitosus, there are 5 mentions of wine and 24 mentions of ale. In Bethu Brigte, 1 wine, 26 ale and 1 beer. So people knew and used ale, wine, beer in 7th century Ireland anyway. Indeed, the hagiographies mention Brigid as performing miracles regarding ale on several occasions.

Then they went to their country, Dubthach and his daughter Brigit, in the province of Offaly; and there did Brigit work a wonderous miracle, to wit, her fostermother was in weakness of disease, and the fostermother sent the holy Birgit and another maiden with her to the house of a certain man named Boethchú, to ask him for a draught of ale. He refused Brigit. Then Brigit filled a vessel out of a certain well, and blessed it, and (the water) was turned into the taste of ale, and she gave it to her fostermother, who straightway became whole thereby. Now when they went to drink the banquet not a drop threof was found.

On the Life of St Brigit, https://celt.ucc.ie/published/T201010.html

Low Sunday approached. ‘I do not think it fortunate now’, said Brigit to her maidens, ‘not to have ale on Low Sunday for the bishop who will preach and say Mass.’ As soon as she said that, two maidens went to the water to bring in water and they had a large churn for the purpose, and Brigit was not aware of this. When they came back again, Brigit saw them there. ‘Thanks be to God’, said Brigit. ‘God has given us beer for our bishop.’ The nuns became frightened then. ‘May God help us. O maiden.’ ‘Whatever foolish thing I said, I have not said anything evil, O nuns.’ ‘The water which was brought inside, because you have blessed it, God did what you desired and immediately it was changed into ale with the smell of wine from it, and better ale was never set to brew in the [whole] world.’ The one churn was sufficient [for them] with their guests and the bishop.

Bethu Brigte, https://celt.ucc.ie/published/T201002/

It’s clear to me, from these excerpts, that people at this time recognised ale, beer, wine as “special occasion” drinks, although not overly special. You wouldn’t use a particularly special drink for a slave, would you?

Brig, mythology and alcohol

Now, it’s clear from Caith Maighe Tuireadh 2 that water was definitely seen as healing:

This then is what used to put fire into the warriors who were slain there, so that they were swifter on the morrow. Because Dian-cecht and his two sons, even Octriuil and Miach, and his daughter Airmed were singing spells over the well named Sláine. Now their mortally wounded men were cast into it as they would be slain. They were alive when they would come out. Their mortally wounded became whole through the might of the chant of the four leeches who were about the well.

The Second Battle of Moytura, https://celt.ucc.ie/published/T300011.html

Bres was dethroned, at least partially, because however often the chiefs of the TDD visited him, “their breaths did not smell of ale“. There’s no connection with Brig and ale in CMT 2, more of a background “info about the culture” kinda thing.

Part of the chief’s role was to provide food, drink and entertainment to his subjects, tribe, people. Not providing this was grounds for removal. So, this was an important aspect of Irish life, even in the lore.

Problems with alcohol

So, remember earlier, when I mentioned the paradox of the Irish relationship with alcohol? Well, it causes a lot of trouble in our society.

DrinkAware is an Irish website, promoting the awareness of the problems alcohol causes in society, as well as the effects of drinking. In comparison to the world population, Ireland performs way above it’s weight in alcohol consumption. While in general, world-wide, in 2019, adults (deemed 15+ for some reason) would consume approx 5.8L of pure alcohol, in Ireland that number rose to 12.75L. And while the world-wide figure decreased 6% since 2010, the Irish number… did not.

Info from DrinkAware:

• WHO (World Health Organisation) Global Observatory Data Repository found that the proportion of adults (15+ years) who have consumed any alcohol during the past 12 months was 81.3% in 2016.
• Healthy Ireland 2022 identified that overall, 67% of the population (sample age 15+) consumed alcohol in the past 6 months.
• In the 2019–20 National Drugs and Alcohol Survey, 74.2% of survey respondents reported having consumed alcohol in the last 12 months, corresponding to 2,903,000 of the general population in Ireland aged 15 years and older.
• According to Drinkaware’s Barometer data, 83% of Irish adults drink alcohol at least once in the last 30 days. This question is asked annually and the result for 2021 was 77% and 72% for 2020.
• This is broadly in line with those reported in the initial CSO (Central Statistics Office) Social Impact of COVID-19 Survey that found 80.6% respondents stating that they consumed alcohol in April 2020.

But…

There are some (kinda!) good things about alcohol in Ireland as well. Alcohol use disorders are roughly in line with the European rates (8.5% in Ireland vs 8.8% in Europe as a whole). Alcohol dependence is at 3.8% in Ireland vs 3.7% in Europe as a whole. Any sort of alcohol dependency or disorder is 3-4 times more likely in men than in women.

Alcohol is a major issue in intimate partner violence, drink driving, mental health, physical health… all sorts of areas that I feel Brigid would be very definitely interested in. Health in general, of course, is well within her bailiwick. But she’s also about the health of a community – and sometimes, alcohol can be a plague in this area. Bringing it back to the masculinity conversation at the start of this meandering post, because much of masculinity in modern Ireland is linked to “being the breadwinner” and “standing your round”, this can lead to some issues with drinking. Particularly if the “being the breadwinner” part is no longer there.

Plus, we tend to view alcohol differently in this country. The news that 3 pints constituted a binge was shocking to the entire country. I mean, my Ma would drink more than that easily and she’s known as a small drinker. 3 pints is more of an after-work “quick one” sort of deal. But then there are lots of us that go long phases without drinking which helps average out over the year… but doesn’t give the full story!

Brigid and alcohol

We can’t judge the past by modern standards. We certainly can’t judge past alcohol by modern standards. And I think, there are far fewer people in Ireland standing up at the bar on a Saturday night, downing 15+ pints of Guinness. (Not unheard of in my youth…)

When Brigid was brewing ale, it was deemed a nutritional drink, a way to get calories into you, a special occasion treat from water. These days, for most of us, alcohol is far easier to obtain and afford. That doesn’t mean she’s adverse to a drink, mind! There’s a prayer attributed to her named “Lake of Beer” after all. But that prayer as well shows the role of beer, in this case, as minor social lubricant rather than sole liquid consumption.

In my own house, Brigid can get offered whiskey, sherry, port, brandy. It’s usually the spirits. If you’re not in a place to offer alcohol though, don’t worry. Clean water is just as appropriate, as is milk. These are all equally relevant to her lore.

And if you are working to help those with alcohol dependencies or dealing with the effects of alcohol in society, you’re also doing Brigid’s work. Whether you look at it from a physical/mental point of view or a societal point of view, alcohol and the abuse of alcohol has changed in recent centuries from what I’ve read. And it’s not for the better.

I notice that there is a tendency to equate socialism with communism in certain parts of the world. But really, there are significant differences between them. Yes, this post is inspired by a podcast I listen to, but won’t link to. It’s one of those I follow to remain engaged with what the talking points are in groups I’m interested in. Purely for the purposes of stopping them gaining any significant power.

There are significant differences between socialism and communism. Seriously. I would happily describe myself a socialist, but not a communism. So let’s dive in.

What is socialism?

Now, the What Am Politics has a great episode on socialism, I’d highly recommend it. (They’ve stopped creating new episodes now, but I’d recommend the podcast anyway!)

But for those who don’t have 48mins to listen to that episode, here we go.

Essentially, socialism promotes social ownership rather than private ownership for public assets. What does this mean? It does not mean, as was said in that podcast this morning, that the government owns everything. What it does mean, is that for particular assets, which are deemed public in nature, the public community own the assets. This doesn’t mean no private property of any type.

What can this look like? Well, when the NHS in the UK was founded in 1946 (check out the history here), this was a socialist enterprise. From the article:

The NHS was born out of the ideal that healthcare should be available to all, regardless of wealth. 

Wikipedia

Much of socialism depends on this idea, that there are certain things that we should all have access to regardless of wealth. For me, these include health services, education, housing, food, clothing. OK, people with wealth can afford better quality of each of these. But for me, these basic rights that every human on the planet deserves. And they need to meet a basic standard as well. I don’t count the tents being used in direct provision in Ireland currently as meeting that basic standard.

We are a nation of bad weather and living in tents, no matter how well heated, is no way to live.

What is communism?

A communist society would entail the absence of private property and social classes, and ultimately money and the state (or nation state).

Wikipedia

Essentially, communism wants nothing owned privately. That’s the major difference between socialism and communism.

It may not seem like a big one, but it’s pretty huge. Many anti communist texts debate the problems with no free enterprise. I’ll leave you to google your own list.

What about capitalism?

Capitalism, in it’s purest form, is pure private ownership, with market forces determining everything. Profit is king. Class warfare is massive. Production is purely for profit, no element of social benefit or basic needs.

My own thoughts

For me, the difference is between me getting to choose my own career, my own housing situation, my own clothing, without the government dictating what my “needs” are. Because frankly, the Irish government really doesn’t have a good track record in that space!

Free market enterprise can produce fantastic leaps in technology, research etc. The average smart phone has loads more tech than the rocket that took Neil Armstrong and co to the moon, for example. But it also leads to massive wealth inequality, when unchecked by some limits. When I see the social issues rearing their heads in the US, and copied in the Uk, I worry about what’s coming to Ireland.

Ireland

We have massive wealth inequality in Ireland. In 2021, an Irish Times article declared we had the worst wealth inequality in the EU. However, this was a bit misleading as it didn’t take into account taxes and benefits. We’re close enough to the EU average, once you consider these aspects.

That’s still not good though. There still exists poverty in Ireland at a rate I’m not happy with! A few items from the CSO (Central Statistics Office)

• An individual is defined as being at risk of poverty if their nominal equivalised disposable income is under the at risk of poverty threshold, i.e. 60% of the median nominal equivalised disposable income.
• In SILC 2022, the at risk of poverty rate was 13.1%, a 1.5 percentage point increase on the 2021 estimate of 11.6%. This figure is similar to the 2020 estimate of 13.2%, indicating that the decrease in 2021 may have been temporary and linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic measures.
• Those most at risk of poverty in SILC 2022 were those individuals who described their Principal Economic Status (PES) as unemployed (35.6%), followed by persons unable to work due to long-standing health problems (35.2%). This compares with an at risk of poverty rate of 5.8% for those that described themselves as employed.
• By age group, the largest year on year change in the at risk of poverty rate was in persons ages 65 or over, going from 11.9% in 2021 to 19.0% in 2022.
• By household composition, the at risk of poverty rate was highest amongst single adult households. One in three persons living in households composed of one adult aged 65 years and over (33.6%), or composed of one adult aged less than 65 years (32.0%) were at risk of poverty in SILC 2022. The rate was lowest for those living in households with three or more adults (4.7%).
• The at risk of poverty rate for individuals in households with one adult and one or more children aged under 18 was 23.8%, compared with 13.1% of persons living in two adult households with 1-3 children.

Basically, the further away from dual income household with no kids (Dinkies) you are, the more at risk from poverty you are. Probably makes sense when you think about it.

But none of this is a reason to abhor socialism. Socialism, or at least some facets of it, can help support removing people from risk of poverty. If you have enough tasty, nutritious, attractive food to eat, warm, dry housing with plenty of space, clothing appropriate for your activities and lifestyle, clean water, some disposable income – how can you be poor?

Connection to Brigid

This isn’t communism. Providing for those who, for whatever reason, don’t earn enough to provide these amenities for themselves isn’t communism. It’s not communism to suggest the government intervene to ensure people can get health care without going bankrupt. It’s not communism to suggest that people be paid a living wage.

Socialism and communism are categorically not the same thing. They’re really not. Stop being afraid of even learning about either of them. If you’re reading this blog, you probably have an interest in Brigid. Building and supporting your community is an important part of that. If we look at the saint, she frequently gave away items to the people with nothing. If you look at Brig Ambue, she took her name from caring for the cowless. Definitely not the rich.

If we choose to live a spiritual life, sometimes that means living up to the standards set by our deity. Or saint. And sometimes that means stepping outside our cultural norms and examining things with a bit more discernment.

Brigid, as I have said before, is a well revered deity and saint in Ireland. Some people would suggest she embodies the essence of changing seasons, energy management, and creative renewal. Brigid and winter isn’t the immediate pairing, I know, but bear with me. I know most people have heard me go on about the three main sisters : Brigid the Poet, Brigid the Smith, and Brigid the Healer. As the year turns, Brigid’s influence can sometimes feel particularly pronounced during the transition to winter. This is a time when the world slows down. Energies are redirected for introspection and renewal.

The Poet

Brigid the Poet plays a pivotal role in connecting the changing seasons to the human experience. Her eloquence and artistic inspiration help us survive the dark winter months. In Irish history/ mythology/ lore, poetry was not merely a form of artistic expression. It was a sacred act that connected individuals to the rhythms of nature. (Not to mention a legal act as well!) As autumn wanes and winter sets in, Brigid’s poetic aspect encourages us to slow down, reflect, and find meaning in the changing landscape. The falling leaves and the crisp air become metaphors for the transitions in our own lives. They prompt us to explore the depths of our emotions and experiences. Honestly, I’m not sure what the rain tells us, other than fire is good this time of year!

During the winter months, the land lies dormant, seemingly at rest. Brigid the Poet reminds us that this apparent stillness is not a cessation of life. This is a period of gestation, where ideas and inspirations quietly germinate beneath the surface. This is a time for introspection, for delving into the inner realms of our thoughts and feelings. Brigid’s poetic influence encourages us to embrace the hibernation of winter as an opportunity for personal growth. And possibly creative works that we don’t give time to otherwise. Ye know I feel strongly about the period between Samhain and Imbolc as a time for introspection and planning. This is a time for deep thinking, in my opinion.  Not actively doing.

The Smith

Brigid the Smith is a skilled artisan forging tools and implements. She symbolizes the transformative power of fire and the ability to shape the raw materials of our lives. In the context of changing seasons, Brigid the Smith teaches us the importance of harnessing our energies wisely. Winter, with its shorter days and longer nights, invites us to conserve our resources and focus on what truly matters. The hearth becomes a sacred space where we gather the strength to face the challenges of the cold months ahead. Ok, the hearth is pretty much always a sacred space for Brigid. But particularly in winter, when a warm fire was so vital to survival for much of our history.

As the blacksmith of the gods, Brigid tempers our resolve and refines our goals, much like the metal in the forge. The winter season is a time for honing our skills, whether they be practical or spiritual, and for discarding that which no longer serves us. Brigid the Smith, with her transformative fire, guides us in the process of self-improvement, helping us emerge from the winter months stronger and more resilient.

The Healer

Brigid the Healer, with her nurturing and compassionate nature, brings solace and restoration during the winter’s chill. (And occasionally, the sharp reminder that fresh air is, in fact, good for us!) In the cold months, physical and emotional health may be challenged. Brigid the Healer offers her gentle touch and healing wisdom. Or less than gentle touch. Healers are not always gentle, but then sometimes they very definitely need not to be gentle. Winter illnesses and fatigue are met with the soothing balm of Brigid’s care, reminding us that self-care is an essential aspect of navigating the changing seasons.

In the end…

The slowing down of winter provides an opportunity for healing on multiple levels. Brigid the Healer encourages us to listen to the whispers of our bodies and souls, recognizing the need for rest and rejuvenation. Whether through herbal remedies, therapeutic practices, or simply taking time for quiet reflection, Brigid’s healing energy reminds us that winter is not a time for endless activity but a season for restoration and self-care.

Brigid weaves a tapestry of wisdom that is particularly relevant in the context of changing seasons, slowing down for winter, and managing energy. As the year turns, Brigid’s influence encourages us to embrace the poetic beauty of introspection, to forge our strengths in the fires of self-improvement, and to seek healing and restoration in the quietude of winter. In doing so, we align ourselves with the timeless rhythms of nature and tap into the profound lessons that Brigid imparts as a guide through the ever-changing cycles of life.

It’s a dreary, miserable, filthy day out today. When I think about how many of our winter festivals are associated with light – it’s really easy to see why this morning. And I know, Brigid’s main festival is associated with the start of spring in Ireland, but Brigid and light are interlinked in our minds.

And I think this has a very direct link to our mental health. There are stories on the internet that the Norwegian government pays for winter holidays for retirees to help with mental health issues. It would make sense! Tromsø in the north of Norway, has about 3.5hrs of sunlight a day right now… For comparison (and from the same website!) Ireland has approx. 8.5hrs. Technically speaking.

All in all, it makes sense that we think about Brigid and light at this time of the year.

Brigid’s links to light

Whether the saint or the deity, Brigid has strong associations with light.

Plenty of saints have a link to a crown of candles, aside from Brigid. St Lucia is the one most often quoted, in my experience. Brigid herself is mentioned a few times to be distracting people from the Holy Family by this means.

But we also have the links to her birth. The house light up with a pillar of fire as she was born. There are a few legends with her playing about with light and fire throughout her life. She hung her cloak on a sunbeam once, and the sunbeam didn’t have the temerity to tell her it wasn’t a branch!

So we have many, many connections to Brigid and light.

Brigid and mental health

Brigid as healer is fairly well known. I can, and have, spoken for hours on this! And one important element of health is mental health.

Those who have heard me speak about health know that I consider health to be personal. As in – it is up to you to define what health means to you. And especially so with mental health.

But since Brigid is a healer and cares about holistic health. And there are distinct links between light and depression/mental health. Yes, that is Google Scholar. It’s much better for academic articles.

So, it makes sense that there would be a link between light and Brigid and mental health. In my head anyway!

Bringing more light into our lives

It’s no surprise that many of our winter festivals in northern Europe revolve around creating light. How many traditional celebrations across many of the cultures in the region involve fire and light?

Usually, I’m a firm believer in Christmas decorations going up as late as possible. But there’s one area I relinquish this abhorrence. I have fairy lights up all year round. I have candles lighting all year round. But more so in this dark part of the year. I love a stove or an open fire at this time of year. Somehow, a real flame just works better at beating back the damp than a radiator…

I’ve been looking into sunlight lamps for years, but haven’t yet taken the plunge. If anyone has any experience with this, please let me know how you got on?

I make sure to get outside on the days when the sun does appear. It’s usually a day per week and there’s something about being outside in the fresh air that helps my mood anyway. Now, I’m not talking severe mental illnesses here. I mean, with my husband, a daily dose of fresh air helps, but doesn’t replace his medical regime. And I’m the same.

But the point is – it helps. So, if you want to add more light to your Brigid practice right now, go right ahead. Our spiritual practice should support our lives not make them harder!!