Hopes for the new year and a prayer.
(Image description: A photo of group of white taper candles shining their light in a darkened area.) Credit: Photo by Faith Crabtree on Unsplash
2023 has arrived, and so far, the weather feels like spring is already here. Imbolc is still a few weeks away, and I have a feeling the vernal conditions will only last so long. Nowadays, nature has a roller coaster schedule, but it hopefully won’t veer to one extreme or another.
Resolutions are a common practice to do at the start of a new year, but I won’t be doing that tradition for the foreseeable future. Too often, resolutions don’t last very long before being discarded.
Instead, I’d rather set overarching intentions of what I hope to accomplish on this blog throughout the year. This method provides for leniency in the case of obstacles of different types that may happen and prevents me from over-stressing about what might not get completed.
My first intention is to continue to develop my monastic practice. This goes without saying, but I feel like there’s always new ways of contemplation and seeking the Divine. For instance, I would like to find more of Brighid within nature and write poetry about Her in these facets.
The second intention is to return to working on my breviary. It fell by the wayside, and it’s something I feel is an important item in my path. Part of my practice is creating beauty in my life and for Brighid. I feel as though many forms of art are sacred to Her, even if they don’t fall within an Irish or a Gaelic context. Part of this creative focus will also be doing ogam art. I’m still not sure how that will manifest, but it’s definitely something I want to do.
In a previous post, I discussed ideas for possible monastic attire, but I want to revise it somewhat. Garments like robes, veils, and habits have their place within Polytheistic Monasticism, but I feel everyday clothes can be just as holy as the former.
As for my reasoning, I began looking at the monastics who run Solas Bhríde in Kildare, Ireland. They wear everyday attire and don’t wear veils (I will continue to veil in some capacity). At least for the time being, I want to follow their example while also incorporating my personal tastes into my clothing. Clothes can be a form of art through self-expression, so I think this point of view could be a devotional act for Brighid.
For the next twelve months, these will be my intentions, and I hope to follow through with them.
New Year Prayer
Brighid of Slumber,
bless us with the deep rest we need.
Brighid of Poetry,
inspire us as a Flame within the holy dark.
Brighid of Smithcraft,
aid us in shaping dreams into forms.
Brighid of Healing,
shield us from illness in the three-fold of mind, body, and spirit.
As it was,
as it is,
as it shall ever be.
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