Brighid's Sacred Flame

The 20 day flame keeping cycle is first recorded (as far I've been able to research) in the 12th century. The Abbess of Kildare who tended the flame of Saint Brighid had passed away so then the 19 remaining Nuns at the Abby took up the task in her honor. The flame has never once been extinguished even today. The Sisters of Kildare even hold a public ceremony on Imbolc each year. On the last night of the cycle, the Sister tending the flame says a simple prayer as she lays the logs enough to keep the fire going: "Brigid, guard your fire. Tonight is Your night."

Even older lore had tell of the Priestesses of Bride keeping an eternal flame with which each year at Imbolc families from the villages beholden to a Temple to Bride would pilgramage with an unlit torch. The would have the Priestess bestow a blessing upon the household for a good rest of the winter and have their lambs blessed. The torch would be lit and then carried back home to the family's hearth to light it and have the spirit of Bride with them. They would feast together in the center of the village with their neighbors all night.

Brighid's Sacred Flame is also known as the Flame of Community. Whether you call her Goddess or Saint, tending the flame is an important task. It reminds us of the ties to community,it is a symbol and an affirmaiton of faith, and it is also a time to reflect and meditate on community, home, family, healing, and transformation.

As this community grows, I'll create other Cills (groups of 19 people to tend the flame together). This Cill is the Silver Oak. You need officially join a cill to keep the flame or take a flame shift, but if you would like, let me know. The Cill is very young yet so as it grows, there will more to offer in the way of ritual and information to Cill Members.

Blessed in the Lady,

chimerawinds