Musings on my contract with Brighid.
(Image description: A close-up photo of a tree’s roots. The old tree leans slightly to the left with many of its roots exposed. Other trees are seen in the background, with the sun spreading its rays through the trees and to the forefront of the image.) Credit: Photo by Nicole Geri on Unsplash
With Lúnasa a week away, the holiday’s themes have become more noticeable as it gets closer. Playing games and enjoying the products of the first harvest are among them. One of those matters is keeping contracts.
As I’ve mentioned previously, I renew my dedication to Brighid every Bealtaine. Doing so feels more meaningful than simply doing it once and leaving it at that. The dedication reminds me of that connection to Her and what She would have me do for myself and for the world, however small it might be.
I had the desire to reach out to a couple Brythonic deities, Brigantia and Nodens, out of curiosity’s sake.
I’m aware that there’s the viewpoint that Brighid and Brigantia are completely separate deities. However, I think, at the very least, They are connected to healing, protection, the hearth, and the home. I’ve seen those attributions in both divination I’ve done and the known iconography and inscriptions depicting Brigantia. The fact She’s identified with Minerva possibly indicates other shared realms of influence with Brighid, but I digress. With time, I may find that Their natures are closer than I realized.
As for Nodens, I was drawn to His associations with the weather, healing, and the eyes, to name a few. I feel these domains are also ones that overlap with Brighid’s ties to healing of the eyes and Her talent of calming storms.
I recently did a couple ogam readings for clarification and where Brighid stood on the matter. Her opinion on it was rather clear on the second one.
I did a single tile reading and then a three tile reading on the Oghamntis app. I received Ruis for the first one and then Ruis, Sail, and Gort.
The fact that Ruis appeared twice felt like a very strong no. The letter’s connection to red reminded me of a red stop sign; proceed no further. The other two letters offered more insight as to what Brighid wanted from me.
Sail’s links with timing, due to the word kennings’ of bee activity and the ancestors, tells me that now’s not the proper time to reach out to other deities. Its keyword of flow shows me to be at ease and not to go against the current and not find my spiritual needs fulfilled elsewhere. I feel Brighid is leading me where I need to go. Perhaps it’s related to spiritual discernment and worrying less about the future.
Gort is related with gardens and other places of growth, safety, and peace. It brings to mind the gardens monks, nuns, and votaries would tend to as part of their religious duties. This letter also has ties to timing, through the feeding seasons for cattle and the growing season. With the reading’s proximity to a harvest festival, the seasonal abundance is appropriate.
With Sail’s watery associations, the letter could easily refer to a creek or stream nourishing the garden. It’s a place of tranquility and introspection, appropriate traits for contemplation found within monasticism.
I suppose I can feel like a bit of an oddball as a Polytheist with such a narrow focus. However, that’s who I am. From my standpoint, understanding Her nature and having a devotional relationship with Brighid is the core of what Brigidine Polytheistic Monasticism is.
Reminding myself of that foundation occasionally is important. She has sway over many domains, which is likely why She’s such a popular goddess and saint. There might come a time when I honor other deities, but She’s the one I’m the most comfortable with and most drawn to. As the harvest season approaches, my understanding of my bond with Her has become clearer.
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