I Would Light A Candle...

... to chase away the darkness, and I would light your candle from mine.  Each of us can light another, tending the flame, helping the hopeless to see that each of us can make a difference if we really care. Yes, each of us can make a difference when we choose to share.  


One can light another, and two can share the brightness, and four can chase the darkness away, eight becomes a hundred, then a thousand or more, turning the night into day. A hundred thousand candles spreads a glorious light, an everlasting beacon on the stormiest night. 


Light the light! Share the vision. Show the world what one light can do. Be the one to set the brave example - maybe what the world needs is you.


You can be a beacon when hope lies in the shadows, a tiny light to light another's way. Keep the candles burning bright when trouble appears, turning the night into day. A candle loses nothing when it lights another flame, and any journey's possible when you can see the way.


Light the light! Share the vision. Show the world what one light can do. Be the one to set the brave example - maybe what the world needs is you.

These are the words of I Would Light A Candle, by Joyce Eilers, a song in the repertoire of Musique Magique, the vocal ensemble in which I sing tenor.  It speaks to me of both the Light of Solstice and the Light of Brighid.

This Friday, we settled in for a quiet evening at home, lit candles and incense, and had a glass of wine, letting the craziness of the week and the bustle of the season fall away.  It was peaceful, and we felt the presence of the Divine around us in a quiet, calming, comforting way - in the gift of a good dinner, a cool beverage, the warmth of touch, the companionship of our animal companions, the comfort of our home, and the ability to have "downtime" in a world that seems to be spinning far too fast some days.

Satuday was a day of doing - and there was some quiet carved into the late afternoon when we lit the 3ft red Brighid candle, and incense, and watched the sunlight fade from the sky as I prepared to pass the flame to Brighid Herself, that she might watch over us all.  There was stillness - a moment of absolute calmness - then I blew out the flame, and got on with my plans for the evening. Blessed be.

That would be my last shift as a flame keeper for 2009 - and I look forward to catching the flame again in 2010.  You can argue that the division of days by dates is a human construction - that the "new year" is our own way of imposing measurement on an eternal cycle.  Matters not.  We look, as a culture, to the shift in date as a new start, a new opportunity, a fresh page.

I have been somewhat faithful in the observing of my flame keeper shifts, but less faithful about posting the thoughts, transformations, and insights gained through this very important (to me) spiritual practice.  I am not alone in this delinquency.  In the new calendar year, I will endeavor to do better.

There are still shifts to be filled - and I would like to see more energy moving through this group - so to that end, I am creating a FaceBook page for this gathering to open it up to all those who would like to add their lights to honor Our Lady of the Well, Flame and Forge.  Spread the Word! Spread the Light.

Blessings of the Forge,
Susan

Warming fires

Greetings all. I wanted to share this poem that I wrote back in July on one of my nights with the flame. I was hoping to share it before now...but time marched on and here it is October. Hopefully this will be a reminder of the season we have left and of the promise that it will return.

Call of the Forge

her forge burns bright
it dries the milk from my breasts
it stokes the sun
droplets of sweat beading on my back

she whispers to me that the mother fire
is slowing down
it will burn on without constant vigilance

and now the artist in side calls
she yells for attention
deep inside the womb
cradled by my soul
the creative fire begins to crackle
to burn more brightly once again

August 31, 2009 - Day 9

Hail Brighid mother of it all

Welcoming a New Flamekeeper

Betty joins the circle and takes on Day 8 - just a day from now.  Welcome, Sister.

I have added a calendar widget that lists the dates and who has the Flame - so this should help us keep track more easily of "when we are".  I look forward to your posts, and to writing my own.

Blessings of the Flame and the Well,
Susan

End of the Day

P1010628
Originally uploaded by hecatesbrat

Traveling back from one of my Winnipeg trips, I had to get out of the truck and take a picture of the setting sun.
It set in less than 5 minutes in total.

It was almost a sense of sadness, like a candle burning out when you needed it most. The sight however took my breath away and left me pleased to have captured some of the setting sun.

Day 15 - sunset Aug.18

I began my turn of the cycle on the evening of the 18th at sunset. As I lit the candle I noticed how much earlier the sun is setting since last time. It reminds me that autumn is drawing nearer and while there is still some summer left, we are getting closer to the time of year when there is more hours of darkness than light. For me the time of year between Mabon and Yule is my favorite, so I look forward to this. I thanked Brigid for helping to inspire me creativly over these summer months and asked her continueing help in this area. As I have this week off for holidays, it was wonderful to be able to have the flame lit during the day, and be able to spend the day working on my creative projects, honoring her. Finally, as the sun set on the envening of the 19th I celebrated the dark moon, and I honored her crone aspect. I look forward to my next turn in the cycle in 20 days time.
Lou

Day 17 - August 1st - Lughnasadh

Happy Lughnasadh (or Lammas) to those of you who celebrate it :)
Today has been very...as we say...auspicious. Not only is today Lughnasadh, but it is Day 17. My day to hold the Candle of Brighid
These days are always full of inspiration, inner-desires coming to the surface, and a kind of "full-moon" quality for me.
Inspiration, which is said to come as a fire from deep within, has seemed to come to me more like a little mushroom today...something coming out of nothing, needing loads of water and a certain amount of shade to pop up. Mushrooms are linked to the Full-Moon for me...could be the shape of the cap, and the color, or the fact that they come out of cool, shady spots...
I'm not sure if I can explain the connection, as it comes straight from my GREEN HEART.
But, today has been the day of all sorts of inspiring thoughts coming to the surface...I've wanted to make these necklaces, and crochet, and have been planning the colors to paint my kids' rooms, and thinking about creative scheduling and planning for the year,
playing in my garden and talking to my tomatoes (which have made one tiny green edible bubble - joy!!!)

I go into this evening with a cloud-burst outside, and think of how appropriate to the Goddess this is...all this heat, flame-like, and then a sudden burst of inspiration and creativity.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As a side-note, if any of you haven't read Confessions of a Pagan Nun by Kate Horsley, I highly recommend it! It struck a cord deep in my bones, and I think it might for some of you.

Blessed Be & Peace! - Katie

7th Eve, July 2nd.

As the sun sank, I had started to lay out my paints and brushes for an unknown project. I had my candle ready to be lit on the far side of my art desk, and started my music. I lit my candle, and watched the flame engulf the wick. I had no idea what I wanted to work on or create that evening, but I knew I had to do something creative!
My music played on, and as I was rummaging around in my basket of things to be touched by creativity, I found myself singing along- which I hadn't done in a long time.
I'm not even sure what it was that I painted that evening, but I could feel my paintbrush being guided not by my own hand which I found was extremely freeing.
When it was time for bed, I transfered the flame of the physical to the internal l kept it going until the next mroing when I mentally passed it on to the next keeper

Setting Sun

As the sun sets I thank you.

For the strength to move through this day.

For the peaceful sleep of last night.

And for the fuel you graced to this humble keeper of your flame.