Tending Your Fire
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 7:15 AM February 1
St. Brigid’s Feast Day
Today is the feast day of St. Brigid of Kildare. St. Brigid is an Irish patron saint known for her warmth and hospitality. Having visited her homeland, I can still feel her flame burning in my heart and the warmth of a dear friend’s embrace as we stood on the holy ground of Brigid’s well.
St. Brigid of fire and water, your kindred spirit kindles our flame of desire. You offer us a passion for life and living it to the fullest—not just watching the days go by, but truly embracing them.
Certainly there are times when my flame simmers rather than blazes. A time of tending in the night as when the Celtic women put their fire to rest, minding the fire so it could and would be rekindled at the break of day. How do I tend my fire? Today with an early rising, allowing time and space. (A fire needs space to breathe, or it suffocates when the wood is packed too closely.) A hot shower and steaming coffee warm me inside and out. The lamp’s glow illuminates my surroundings. And in my heart, I hold warm memories of standing at Kildare with the spirit of dear St. Brigid.
Peace be with you on this feast day of St. Brigid. May the fire in your own heart be illumined and warmed today and always.
• Light a candle, build a fire, take a hot shower, or sip steaming tea.
• Choose a personal way to nurture your fire today.
©Kayce Stevens Hughlett 2012
Celtic, Fire, Pondering, pilgrimage
Reader Comments (2)
"A fire needs space to breathe, or it suffocates when the wood is packed too closely."
That's magical and perfectly stated. I wrote that on a self-care affirmation card. Thanks!
Sometimes our flames need to simmer rather than blaze, to cook our lives to slow perfection.
Love this excerpt, and am so excited about the book making its way across the ocean to me.