Where Energy Flows

Brigit is the ancient Celtic Goddess of Fire, Water, the Sacred Flame and the Holy Well.  She is also poet, metal-smith, healer, teacher and weaver.  In one of her aspects, she helps to weave and heal the strands of the Web of Life.  And, legend says that Brigit put healing threads in the first piece of cloth ever woven in Ireland.  

On the Eve of Brigit’s Festival - the night of February 1st - I also use the old ritual that replicates Brigit’s healing cloth for use in our own healing needs.

To perform this simple ritual, take a piece of cloth or ribbon and place it on a bush or tree (often a tree near your front door).  Offer a prayer, asking for Brigit to bless it as she passes by.  Go to bed imagining the Goddess visiting your house.  See her touching the cloth, gracing it with her healing power.  The next morning and from now on, the cloth can be used for healing – to soothe a headache or even to ease childbirth.

I recommend using a cloth that has some personal meaning.  Last year, I made such a healing cloth using a linen handkerchief that my Grandmother embroidered many years ago.  It glows with a sweet, radiant energy and I use it often on my Healing Altar, on my Space Clearing Altar and in meditation when I am sending healing prayers to someone.

On this night, I also do a ceremony to call on Brigit to assist me in igniting the flame of inspiration. I light candles and meditate on the creative energy that is emerging and building within me.  I imagine the growth of new ideas and existing projects.  And, as the winter fades and as the sun’s light grows stronger, I renew the sacred flame within. 

Deb Swingholm, Copyright 2008

In my work (and in my own life), I often find a direct correlation between what’s going on in a person’s life and it’s physical representation in the home. For example, I consulted with a successful business woman who had all the exterior symbols of success. She had a lovely home, beautiful furnishings and an orderly overall appearance. Her walk-in closet was another story which prompted a conversation between us. She admitted that on the outside she appeared calm and together, yet inside herself she often felt chaotic. Her home reflected this statement. Everything that was open for public viewing was orderly and together, however, her private closet that no one saw but her, was in chaos.

There are many translations between how we experience life and how those experiences show up in our homes and businesses. This particular post will explore the area of blocked energy which may be experienced in life as swimming up stream, going around in circles, inability to make desired changes, and feeling especially weighted down. Because our homes are physical representations of ourselves, if we are feeling stuck or blocked, their physical expression may look like the following bullet points.

• Doors and drawers that don’t open completely, are in need of repair, or are not used.
• Hallways, walkways, and doorways that are congested with objects, furnishings, and clutter.
• Overgrown bushes, trees and vegetation.
• Garages, basements and attics filled with unused items.
• Passageways narrowed with furniture.
• Closets and cupboards filled to capacity.
• Oversized furniture in small spaces.
• Clothes, shoes, accessories that are not worn.
• An over abundance of toys, electronics, televisions, books, collections, etc.
• Anything broken or in need of repair.

Now, during the season of winter, is an ideal time to address any issues of stuck energy in the home. (Summer is fine too if you live in the southern hemisphere.) The season of winter is quieter than others and is naturally aligned with looking inward. Winter also gets us ready for spring, the time of year that bursts forth with new growth and change.

In getting started, chose the area that is the “loudest”. In other words, the project or task that has been the most nagging. By addressing the most annoying task first, it often provides the support to continue tackling the rest of the project. When addressing any project, it helps to solicit the support of friends and family to stay committed. And remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Have reasonable expectations in setting time lines to meet your goals. The best way to make permanent change is to be consistent, persistent, dedicated and loving. Your body will thank you and so will your home!

© Catherine Hilker, 2008. All rights reserved.

February 1 is the Festival of Brigit, Goddess of the Growing Light. One of Brigit’s aspects is the Weaver Goddess. Here she connects with weaving the web of destiny. Brigit is said to have put healing threads into the first piece of cloth woven in the Celtic tradition.

True healing is not just treating symptoms of problems - emotional or physical - but re-weaving those subtle threads together again.

Fortunately, we live in a self-correcting universe that is perpetually doing just that, mending the tears in the fabric of our world using the inexhaustive skeins of light energy, another name for which is - Love.  ~    Mara Freeman, Kindling the Celtic Spirit

On the Eve of Brigit’s festival, Celtic country people will perform an old ritual where they replicate Brigit’s healing cloth for their own healing uses.

Brigit is a goddess of many attributes. She is known as a woman of great wisdom, healer, shepherdess, guardian of health, and winter’s flame keeper. She brings Hope; Hope of Spring and a new beginning, Hope of bravery and Love. She walks in Peace and Love and offers those blessings to all the world’s people.

In preparation for the celebration of Brigit’s festival, I purchase 100% cotton fabric (I like to have a selection of colors and usually get all the chakra colors, a quarter yard each, with an additional yard of white). Upon bringing it home I gently wash it to remove any chemicals used in the fabric weaving and preparing process. I iron it lovingly…and wait.

On January 31, generally at dusk, I take my precious bundle to my oldest, most sacred tree. There I call in the wise ones to honor Brigit. Then I tie the fabrics together and wind them around the tree. I do a blessing prayer to the Goddess as I do this. When complete, I finish with a blessing prayer of thanksgiving.  During the night as I sleep, I imagine the Goddess coming to my house and putting her healing energy into the cloth, which can then be used for healing purposes.

I use the fabric to wrap my sacred treasures for Seven Star Blessing Space Clearings; it can be used to wrap sacred gifts and sometimes, I will gift a piece of the appropriate color to a client to use for color healing.

If you do not have a tree, you can drape the fabric on a bush, or even tie it on a fence post. If you don’t have fabric, use a ribbon. She will find it and fill it with her love.

 © Roberta H Binder. All rights reserved.

Topic: How to Use the Bagua Map
Instructor: Deborah Redfern
Mode: Telephone & Internet. Click this Wednesday Webinars link for more information
Date: January 30th, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. PST
Cost: $10.00 CAD

Description:

This seminar explains how to orient the bagua map, the colours and symbols and how to use them as a tool in the law of attraction. Students who would like their bagua map orientation done during the class can send their floor plan drawing in advance of the class. The floor plan will be used as an example.

Copyright 2008 Deborah Redfern

The nine areas of the bagua map can be applied to any room in the house. When applying it to an infant’s room we soften the intentions, making them age appropriate with a loving influence. As you gently energize all areas of the room you encourage your baby to grow in a well balanced way. Keeping the room and closets clutter free and child safe is most important. Keep colors soft and the content of all pictures or art loving and positive. Most of the time your infant will be sleeping in this room so remember to keep the themes of toys, art and wallpaper non-moving and restful. If you have items you wish to display in the room think of the following suggestions:

Prosperity. Intentions here support a wealth of unconditional love for your baby. A good spot to put a special piggy bank.

Fame or recognition. Help your baby to feel recognized for who they are as individuals and family members by placing items representing firsts for them.

Relationships. Baby’s first relationships are with family. This could be where Mom and baby sit for feeding time.

Family. Place family photos here that were taken when everyone was happy or items that represent your culture that are warm, friendly and infant appropriate.

Health. Try to keep this area open so that chi can move freely. Remove obstacles to growing up strong and healthy.

Creativity. This would make an excellent play area. Store a small number of toys here that are favorites and rotate new toys in that are at the next challenging level.

Self knowledge. This area can display books or be arranged as a reading corner to foster an early love for learning.

Career. Your baby’s job is to learn about themselves and their world. Educational toys that are age appropriate and safe could be stored here.

Helpful People. Gifts from god-parents, babysitters or items from anyone with a special supportive role in your child’s growth and development could be placed here.

Copyright 2008  Brenda Rosenberg  All rights reserved. 

Feng shui can be used on a personal level to instigate change in our lives. Working with the bagua is an excellent way to instigate change. Enhancements placed with regard to the bagua work in two ways. On a vibrational level they are in harmony with the element and quality of the gua. For example a lamp placed in the fame area is of the fire element, and gets you noticed. Enhancements also work because of the power of intention that we invest when we place them, and every time we see them.

Affirmations are a powerful way to bring about what we want. Instead of just hoping for something we clearly state out loud our intention. Affirmations can be used when placing objects, and also when we walk past them and notice them. When placing the lamp in the fame area you could say “I am placing this lamp to enhance my reputation”. When walking past the lamp area you could say “I am well known and well regarded”. Surprisingly, you don’t have to believe in affirmations for them to work, they do anyway.

Affirmations usually start with the words “I am”. For whichever gua you want to work with there are many possible affirmations. Just make one up that best fits your desires. It is probably easiest to work with one or two affirmations at a time, so you remember to repeat them. By using affirmations you’ll move out of a state of wanting, into a state of having.

Copyright Helen Harvey, 2008. All rights reserved

Changes in the cycles of the seasons or the movements of the sun, moon and stars often give us points in time that are particularly wonderful for doing ceremony, ritual, space clearing or personal growth work. 

A few things of note are happening in the seasons and in the sky over the next few weeks:

Jan 21 - Jupiter-Saturn trine, exact.  This powerful and productive influence (which occurs again in September and November) encourages building new, cooperative structures.  It can offer support in the practical manifestation of our dreams.

Jan 28 until Feb 18 - The planet Mercury turns retrograde.  These retrograde periods allow us to reflect and go back to old projects or issues.  This month, utilize the Aquarian capacity to find new and creative solutions.

February 1 — Venus-Jupiter conjunction. This will be the first of two meetings this year between the two brightest planets in our sky. This beautiful meeting between the planet of love and beauty and the planet of expansion will be visible in the early morning sky, about 45 minutes before sunup. On Feb. 4, a luminous crescent moon will join the two planets. 

Feb 2 - Candlemas.  Brigid’s Feast of the Waxing Light. As the sun’s light grows stronger, traditionally this is a time to seek healing and inspiration.  And - as Brigid was the ancient Celtic Goddess of water and fire - it is a time to honor the sacred flame and holy well.  I have always found that this is a wonderful time for doing ceremony or space clearing, as the energy is one of purification and initiation.

February 20-21 — A total eclipse of the moon occurs during the late-night hours of February 20-21. This eclipse can be seen in much of North America, occurring during evening hours, although Europeans will also be able to enjoy a view of the darkened moon before it sets. Adding to this event, Saturn and the bright star Regulus will appear close to the eclipsed moon forming a broad triangle.

Deb Swingholm, 2008