Dedication of Brighid's Sacred Fire

Create Sacred Space

There should be two altars. One with 3 candles - blue, green & yellow - set in a triangle. Symbols/Images of the Gods, Ancestors and Land should also be present. The second altar is a Brighid altar, bearing a red candle, sacred water and symbols/images of Brighid.

The sky above me (draw spiral three times above)
The sea surrounds me (define a circle)
The earth beneath me (touch and ground in the earth)
Thus the Realms make sacred our circle.

Light three candles for the realms and say:

The fire of inspiration infuses the realms and links all beings to the inner fire of divinity.

Meditate on the divine flame within and without. The sacred spark that illuminates the realms. When you can hold the knowledge of the flame within you say:

Statement of Intent:

I honor the realms
I honor my ancestors
I honor the spirits of this place
I am here to dedicate this Sacred Flame
To the service of Holy Brighid
To the betterment of myself and the world.

Call Witnesses

Hear me, O Mannanon,
Horseman of the crested waves
Lord of the Cup of Truth
I invoke thee for thy gifts
Come from the western isles
and witness the lighting of the Sacred Flame

Hear me, O Boann,
Opener of the Bright Well
Lady of the Nine Hazels
I invoke thee for thy gifts
Come from the source of life below
and witness the lighting of the Sacred Flame

Hear me, O Ancestors
Parents of all that live
Ancestors of my body and path
I invoke thee for thy gifts
Come from your lovely realm
and witness the lighting of the Sacred Flame

Hear me, O Spirits of the Land
Foundation of growth and life
Spirits of rock and tree and earth
I invoke thee for thy gifts
Come from your lovely realm
and witness the lighting of the Sacred Flame

Call Brighid

The genealogy of the holy maiden Brighid,
Radiant arrow of flame, noble foster-mother of gods,
Brighid the daughter of the Dagda,
Dagda the Good God, the son of Danu,
Danu the Mother of all Things.

Brighid of the mantles,
Brighid of the peat-heap,
Brighid of the twining hair,
Brighid of the augury.
Brighid of the white feet,
Brighid of calmness,
Brighid of the white palms,
Brighid of the kine.
Brighid, woman-comrade,
Brighid, woman-helper,
Brighid, woman-mild.

Each day and each night
That I say the Descent of Brighid...
I shall not be slain, I shall not be injured,
I shall not be put in cell, I shall not be hewn,
I shall not be riven, I shall not be anguished,
I shall not be ravaged, I shall not be made blind,
I shall not be made naked, I shall not be left bare,
I shall not be enchanted, I shall not be cursed,
Neither shall my power leave me.

No fire, no sun, no moon shall burn me,
No water, no flood, no brine shall drown me,
No earth, no sod, no turf shall cover me,
No air, no wind, no vapour shall sicken me,
Nor seed of the Fairy Host shall lift me,
Nor seed of the Airy Host shall lift me,
Nor earthly being destroy me.
I under the protection of the holy maiden,
I am under the shielding of good Brighid each day;
I am under the shielding of good Brighid each night.
Each early and late, every dark, every light.
Brighid is my comrade, Brighid is my maker of song,
My gentle foster-mother, my beloved Brighid.

Dedication of the Flame

I will kindle my fire this night
In presence of the Queen of heaven,
Without malice, without jealousy, without envy,
Without fear, without terror of any one under the sun,
But the Holy Brighid to shield me.
Sweet Brighid, kindle Thou in my heart within
A flame of love to my neighbour,
To my foe, to my friend, to my kindred all,
To the brave, to the knave, to the thrall.
Each person lights a flame from the Brighid candle to use to consecrate the candles and fires in their homes.

Chant:

Take the flame inside you
Burn and burn below
Fire feed and fire seed
Make the magic grow

Cakes & Ale

Bless the food and share it with each of the witnesses and Brighid.

I bless this bread. I bless this ale.
I bless the Land that nurtured it and the Sun that gave it power.
I bless all hands, seen and unseen, that have brought it to this place.
May it nurture all here, seen and unseen.

Preparing the flame to take home

Oh holy and sacred Brighid
I prepare to take this flame with me
To save,
To shield,
To surround
My hearth,
My house,
My household,
On this eve,
And every night,
Each person extinguishes their flame, to take home and kindle a new flame in honour of Brighid.

Close

Spirits of the Land, Foundation of growth and life
Thank you for witnessing my dedication
May there be peace between us now and always.

Ancestors, Parents of all that lives
Thank you for witnessing the lighting of the Sacred Flame
May there be peace between us now and always.

Boann, Lady of the Nine Hazels
Thank you for witnessing the lighting of the Sacred Flame
May there be peace between us now and always.

Mannanon, Lord of the Cup of Truth
Thank you for witnessing the lighting of the Sacred Flame
May there be peace between us now and always.

Holy maiden Brighid, Radiant arrow of flame
Thank you for witnessing the lighting of the Sacred Flame
May there be peace between us now and always.

Snuff three candles for the realms and say:

The sky above me (draw spiral three times above)
The sea surrounds me (define a circle)
The earth beneath me (touch and ground in the earth)
Thus the Realms make sacred our lives.

The fire of inspiration infuses the realms and links all beings to the inner fire of divinity. I hold this flame in my heart as I from this place depart.