Ladies of the Flame
This is a group for women who are interested in Brighid and
tending her flame. We are a sisterhood of Brighid's flame-keepers,
dedicated to keeping the fires of inspiration burning in the 21st century.
A cill is a cell of 19 flame keepers, with Brighid the 20th
keeper, and Avalon reflects our love of the Celtic myths of Avalon and Arthur,
as well as the other tales found in Celtic lore.
Members of the cell are assigned a day on which to keep Brighid's flame burning.
In the fashion of the Celts, each shift begins at
sundown (local time) and continues till the next sun set. If the lore of Avalon
and the fires of Brighid call you, we will welcome you
in our midst. Brighid's Blessings, the flame-keepers of Ladies of the Flame.
Lunaea Weatherstone
The Descent of 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.