It's been a long journey to come to this place I've traveled in time and I’ve traveled in space I've traveled in circles and come face to face With the water, fire, and smoke I've pondered and worried, I’ve tightened the rope Feasted on sorrow and starved out my hopes Now I come like a lover, my heart in my throat Give me water, fire, and smoke So run from the churchyard, the word and the cross Run to the forest, to the rivers and the rocks You will find a green altar deep in the moss You'll find water, fire, and smoke Water for cleansing my eyes and my ears Fire the transformer of sorrows and fears Smoke for my ancestors, drawing them near With the water, fire, and smoke Ancient the spirits of rocks, trees, and wind Ancient the rites of the green sacrament Long before judgment, atonement, and sin There was water, fire, and smoke So run from the churchyard, the word and the cross Run to the forest, to the rivers and the rocks You will find a green altar deep in the moss You'll find water, fire, and smoke I've laid down my burdens, the weight of my years Gods I have worshipped and causes held dear But who will I be when they all disappear Into water, fire, and smoke? I've knelt in the ashes, in peace may I rise Empty of knowing, and full of surprise Clothed all in silence, a daughter baptized In the water, fire, and smoke So run from the churchyard, the word and the cross Run to the forest, to the rivers and the rocks You will find a green altar deep in the moss You'll find water, fire, and smoke

For Winter's rains and ruins are over, And all the season of snows and sins; The days dividing lover and lover, The light that loses, the night that wins; And time remembered is grief forgotten, And frosts are slain and flowers begotten, And in green underwood and cover Blossom by blossom the spring begins.

When yon Auld Grannie gyres an gimps An unco' dance on cranreuch groond An' gies her sillar curls a crimp, Ye ken that Imbolc's comin' roond. When sillar hammers, blaw for blaw Fa' habber-haird in hin'maist hone Then haud ye fast, for soon the thaw Will prize awa cauld winter's loan. Nae lang she’ll lanesame bide, nor sup Wi’oot the dochter she lo’es best; Nae grannie redds the kailyaird up But for the thocht o some comin' guest! Nae mair the lanesame anvil-drum Will mark the pace o Grannie's dance-- The Lass o' the Lintin Wand shall come An lowpin' lambies hae their chaunce-- For Grannie Cailleach's time grows short An wee snaw-drappies rowthie ring For Bridgit cams, blithe hope tae sport An after Bridgit cams-- the Spring! Glossary unco' = strange cranreuch = frosty sillar = silver Fa' habber-haird in hin'maist hone = begin to stutter and fade away prize = pry dochter = daughter redds the kailyaird up = cleans the place lanesome = lonesome lintin wand = glinting wand of Bridgit lowpin' = leaping Cailleach = crone snaw-drappies = snowdrops rowthie = abundantly

Smaladh An Teine Cairidh mi an tula Mar a chaireadh Muire, Caim Bhride's Mhuire, Car an tula's car an lair, 'S car an ardraich uile. Aingheal geal an car an tealla, Gon tig la geal gu beola. Aingheal geal an car an tealla, Gon rig la geal gu beola Smooring the Fire (trans. Holly Morrison) I will build the hearth As Mary would build it. The encompassment of Bride and of Mary, Guarding the hearth, guarding the floor, Guarding the household all. An angel white to tend the hearth Till white day shall come to the embers. An angel white to tend the hearth Till white day shall come to the embers. The Peat-fire Flame by Kenneth MacLeod Far away and o'er the moor, Morar waits for a boat that saileth, Far away down Lowland way, I dream the dream I learned, lad, By the light o' the peat-fire flame, Light for love, for lilt o' grail-deeds, By the light o' the peat-fire flame, The light the hill-folk yearn for. Far away, down Lowland way, Grim's the toil, without tune or dream, lad, All you need's a creel and love, For the dream the heart can weave, lad By the light o' the peat-fire flame, Light for love, for lilt o' grail-deeds, By the light o' the peat-fire flame, The light the hill-folk yearn for. Far away the tramp and tread, Tune and laughter of all the heroes, Pulls me onward o'er the trail Of the dream my heart may weave, lad, By the light o' the peat-fire flame, Light for love, for lilt o' grail-deeds, By the light o' the peat-fire flame, The light the hill-folk yearn for.

Here's a health to the jolly blacksmith The best of all fellows He works at his anvil While the boy blows the bellows Chorus Which makes his bright hammer to rise and to fall Here's to old coal, and to young coal and to old coal ava' (ava' = again) Twanky dillo, twanky dillo Twanky dillo, dillo, dillo, dillo And he plays the roaring bagpipes made from the green willow If a gentleman comes for his horse to be shoed He will make no denial to one pint or two Here's a health to the pretty girl that I love the best She kindles her own fire all in her own breast Green willow, Green willow Green willow, willow, willow, willow And he plays the roaring bagpipes made from the green willow

A lady stood by her own front door As straight as a willow wand And by there come a lusty smith With his hammer in his hand Chorus: Bide, lady bide For there's a nowhere you can hide And the lusty smith will be your love And he will lay your pride. So the lady, she curled up her hand And swore upon the mold That he'd not have her maiden head For all of a pot of gold. But the blacksmith he curled up his hand And he swore upon the mast That he would have her maiden head For the half of that or less So the lady turned into a dove And flew up into the sky But he became a raven black And after her did fly So the lady she became a duck And swam out on the pond And he became a water dog And fetched her back again So the lady turned into a fly And fluttered up in the air But he became a big, hairy spider And dragged her into his lair So she became a full-rigged ship And she sailed out on the sea But he became a captain bold And aboard of her went he So the lady ran into a house And she changed into a bed But he became a coverlet And he gained her maidenhead

Breeshey, Breeshey, tar gys my hie, Tar gys y thie aym noght. Breeshey, Breeshey, tar, o tar, Gys y thie aym noght. O foshil jee y dorrys da Breeshey, Lhig da Breeshey çheet stiagh. Breeshey, Breeshey, tar oo Gys y thie aym noght. Bride, Bride, come to my house, Come to my house tonight. Bride, Bride, come, o come, To my house tonight. O open you the door to Bridget, Let Bride come in. Bride, Bride, come you To my house tonight.

Hushabye bairnie, croon, croon, Hushabye bairnie, croon, The sheep are gone to the silver wood, The kye are gone tae the broom, broom. The kye are gone tae the broom Oh, and it's braw milking kye, kye, Oh, and it's braw milking kye, The birds are singing, the bells are ringing The wild deer go galloping by, by. The wild deer go galloping by Hushabye bairnie, croon, croon, Hushabye bairnie, croon, The goats are gone to the mountainside, And they'll no be home till noon, noon. And they'll no be home till noon Glossary bairnie = baby croon = sing kye = cows broom= bushes braw = grand, beautiful

Cuiridh mi an ni seo romham Mar a dh' orduich Righ an domhan, Bride 'g an gleidheadh, 'g an coimhead, 's 'g an comhnadh, Air bheann, air ghleann, air chomhnard, Bride 'g an gleidheadh, 'g an coimhead, 's 'g an comhnadh, Air bheann, air ghleann, air chomhnard. Eirich, a Bhride mhin-gheal, Glac do lion, do chir, agus t' fholt, Bho rinn thu daibh eolas amhra, 'G an cumail bho chall is bho lochd, Bho rinn thu daibh eolas amhra, 'G an cumail bho chall is bho lochd. Bho chreag, bho chathan, bho allt, Bho chadha cam, bho mhille sluic, Bho chridhe mhi-ruin, bho shuil an uilc. (translation by Holly Morrison) I will place this flock before me As was ordained by the King of the elements, Bride to keep, to watch, to tend, On ben, on glen, on plain, Bride to keep, to watch, to tend, On ben, on glen, on plain. Arise, fair gentle Bride, With flaxen braid and shining comb Encircle the flock with your wise web of protection, To keep them from straying, to save them from harm, Encircle the the flock with your net of protection, To keep them from straying, to save them from harm. From rocks, drifts, and streams, From crooked passes, from deadly pits, From unholy desire, from the eye of evil. Chro Callain Chro Callain would gi' me, sae canny and free Their milk without fetter when nane's by tae see Chro Callain are bonny, Chro Callain are braw Like the wings o' the muir hen brown spotted and a' Chro Callain would gi' me wherever they browse Their milk without measure among the green knowes Chro Callain are canny in the heat o' the day They lie 'mang the heather while their calves 'round them play Chro Callain are bonny, Chro Callain are braw Like the wings o' the muir hen brown spotted and a' Nae sleepin', nae sleepin,' nae sleepin' for me Till they come that I’m seekin. there’s nae sleepin’ for me Chro Callain are bonny, Chro Callain sae dear They aye fill the milk pail, what braw calves they rear Chro Callain are bonny, Chro Callain are braw Like the wings o’ the muir hen brown spotted and a’

Gabhaim molta Bríde Ionmhain í le hÉirinn Ionmhain le gach tír í Molaimis go léir í Lóchrann geal na Laighneach A’ soilsiú feadh na tíre Cean ar óghaibh Éireann Ceann na mban ar míne Tig an geimhreadh dian dubh A’ gearradh lena ghéire Ach ar Lá ‘le Bríde Gar dúinn earrach Éireann ----------- I honor Brigid Beloved of Erin Beloved of all lands Let us all praise her The bright flame of Leinster Shining throughout the land Pride of Erin's youth Exalted among gentle women In the dark house of winter The frost cuts keenly But on Brigid's Day Spring draws near to Erin ----------- We sing a song to Brigid Brigid brings the spring Awakens all the fields and flowers a And calls the birds to sing All were welcome at her door No one was turned away She loved the poor, the sick and the sore She helped them on their way We sing a song to Brigid Brigid brings the spring Awakens all the fields and flowers a And calls the birds to sing She laid her cloak out on the ground And watched it grow and grow In wells and streams and fields of green Saint Brigid's blessings flow. We sing a song to Brigid Brigid brings the spring Awakens all the fields and flowers a And calls the birds to sing

As the winter days grow longer and the sun is getting stronger The bear will wake to sniff the wind and leave his cozy den. When Orion starts to go it is then that you will know That soon it will be Brigit's Day again. Let your fire die down, clean the hearth and sweep the stone Clear the darkness of the winter from your heart and soul Spring's around the corner, she'll soon be here again And Brigit is here to rekindle the flame This season is a blessing, it's the time of year for resting Most thankful is the mother with a new babe at her breast In just a few short weeks comes the time of sowing seeds Then months of work until the time for harvest At his forge the blacksmith stands with the skill that he commands- Transforming iron ingots into tools of strength and grace In his hand the hammer rings, in his heart he hears her sing A joyful song to help him know his place Many people in these days from the earth have been estranged In the hurry of their cities nature's cycles are ignored But the healing will begin if we only turn within And listen in our hearts for Brigit's word

May the blessing of light be on you, light without and light within. May the blessed sunlight shine upon you And warm your heart till it glows like a great peat fire, So that the stranger may come and warm himself at it, as well as the friend. And may the light shine out of the eyes of you, Like a candle set in the windows of a house, Bidding the wanderer to come in out of the storm. And may the blessing of the rain be on you - the soft sweet rain. May it fall upon your spirit so that all the little flowers may spring up, And shed their sweetness on the air. And may the blessing of the great rains be on you, May they beat upon your spirit and wash it fair and clean, And leave there many a shining pool, and sometimes a star. And may the blessing of the earth be on you - the great round earth; May you ever have a kindly greeting for those you pass As you are going along the roads. May it be soft under you as you lie out on it, tired at the end of day; And may it rest easy over you when, at last, you lie out under it. May it rest so lightly that your soul may be out from under it quickly; up and off and on its way to Heaven. And now, may Brigid bless you, and bless you kindly.