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The Pilgrim's Path: A Guided Meditation
Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and feel your body
relax... Breathe in and out and in and out and in and
out As you continue to breathe deeply your body continues to
relax all cares and struggles simply melt away You are at peace
within yourself
More than at peace You are peace And now you are
free to travel with the sound of my voice to a most sacred place
(Pause)
Your journey to Brigid's Well begins in the Market Square
of Kildare, Ireland beneath the protection and guardianship of St.
Brigid's Cathedral. It is a cool Irish morning and Winter's chill still
hangs thickly in the air. Before you burns a brilliant fire within the
bowl of a large iron cauldron. Take a moment to contemplate the flame.
This is Brighid's Fire, an ancient tradition that reaches back thousands
of years. As you connect with the flame before you, feel it burning
within your heart, illuminating your life.
(Pause)
The element of fire, fire without and fire within, can
call us to experience the power and presence of God. It calls us to
reconnect with the fire at a deep and ancient part of our being where we
are all interconnected with each other and all life. It calls us to
allow our hardened hearts to melt.
(Pause)
With Brighid's Fire burning in your heart, you begin your
journey to the well, surrounded by the cool mists that separate this
world from the next, the mists that veil the secrets and magic of the
Divine. As you walk through the countryside past farm fields and grazing
sheep, take the time to contemplate nature and life, to feel the
interconnectedness that was kindled by the flame.
(Pause)
The pilgrim may be brought beyond anything experienced
before and this may have a profound and deeply joyful effect. Little
things, seemingly unimportant moments, may become deeply significant.
The pilgrim is invited to open his or her eyes, his or her ears, and who
knows what may be seen or heard and what it may come to mean?
(Pause)
Contemplation invites the Divine to clear the mists that
surround us, to lift the veil so that we may know the secrets and
experience the magic ourselves. As you continue on your journey, you
become one with all that surrounds you, and you feel a change in
yourself. You realize that though the mists still surround you, the veil
has lifted. Here, in the presence of the Divine, you are awakened and
enlightened and you know that YOU are the secrets and the magic.
(Pause)
Pilgrimage involves risk, possibility and invitation. It
invites change. The risk is partly the possibility that the pilgrim will
not return as the same person who set out. 7 There is also the
possibility of surprise and wonder, of great joy... and the changes that
this experience can bring.
(Pause)
Your journey thus far has carried you deep into yourself
and has led you into the presence of the Divine. Not quite weary but
needing a moment of rest, you arrive at the first of Brigid's Wells.
This is Brigid's Wayside Well. In ancient tradition, you circle the well
three times, moving sunwise, always sunwise, then cup your hands to take
a drink. The water is cool and refreshing and it renews your body as
well as your Spirit. You notice that the well is surrounded by the
offerings of those who have come before you. Perhaps you have an
offering you would like to leave here.
(Pause)
In pre-Christian times, wells were associated with the
presence of a goddess and were seen as the entrance to the womb of
mother earth, the source of life. The wayside well is a spring well. To
watch water gently springing from the earth is to witness creation in an
act of unconditional generosity. This holy well can be a symbol of the
source of life within, from which spring hope and dreams.
(Pause)
Refreshed by the wayside well, you continue your journey
by turning off the main road to walk down a quiet country lane. Yet
another turn leads you down a still more rural road at the end of which
you find the entrance to Brigid's Well and Prayer Stones. To enter, you
must cross a bridge that spans a small stream. You are standing at a
threshold.
(Pause)
Pause before you enter this sacred place. Look around at
all you can see. Listen to the sounds around you. While crossing the
bridge, reflect on what bridges are needed in your life.
(Pause)
In crossing the bridge, you have the opportunity to cross
the threshold into Brighid's home. If you choose to perceive Her, She is
present in everything here. Before you lies a trough spanned by a stone
arch. Carved into the stone at the top of the arch is the symbol of the
cross. Beneath the arch are two stones through which pour the waters
that spring from the well. A mother's breasts feed her children with
nourishing milk. Are these, then, the breasts of the Goddess, pouring
forth Her own nourishing milk?
(Pause)
Holy Ground. We're standing on Holy Ground. For the Lady
is present, and where She's present is Holy.
(Pause)
Beyond the trough lie five prayer stones that lead to the
well. It is customary to stop at each stone and contemplate an aspect of
Brighid.
(Pause)
As you approach the first standing stone, dedicated to
Brigid: A Woman of the Land, you follow the ancient tradition and circle
the stone seven times, moving sunwise, always sunwise. Each turn spirals
your being deeper into union with the quality of this stone. You lay
your hands upon the stone and breathe deeply, fully uniting with this
aspect of Brighid. You feel the presence of the Woman of the Land deep
within yourself and know that it is now a part of you.
(Pause)
The earth is at the same time mother, she is mother of
all that is natural, mother of all that is human, she is mother of all,
for contained in her are the seeds of all.
(Pause)
As the earth calls you to awaken, you ask yourself these
questions. "How awake am I?" "Am I accepting my responsibility to
protect and care for the earth?" We are all sisters and brothers sharing
the same planet. We breathe the same air. We drink from the same well.
Our tears are all the same.
(Pause)
As you leave each stone it is customary to say "A
Bhríd, guí orainn (a Breed, gwee O-rihn) - Brigid, pray for us."
(Pause)
You move on to the second stone, dedicated to Brigid: The
Peacemaker. Again you follow the ancient tradition and circle the stone
seven times, moving sunwise, always sunwise. Each turn spirals your
being deeper into union with the quality of this stone. You lay your
hands upon the stone and breathe deeply, fully uniting with this aspect
of Brighid. You feel the presence of the Peacemaker deep within yourself
and know that it is now a part of you.
(Pause)
Brigid, you were a woman of peace. You brought harmony
where there was conflict. You brought light into the darkness. You
brought hope to the downcast. May the mantle of your peace cover those
who are troubled and anxious and may peace be firmly rooted in our
hearts and in our world. Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all
God has made. Brigid, you were a voice for the wounded and the weary.
Strengthen what is weak within us. Calm us into a quietness that heals
and listens. May we grow each day into greater wholeness in mind, body,
and spirit.
(Pause)
Brigid's life and simple gestures remind us that the raw
materials for peace-making are all around us, in our hearts and in our
relationships with others. The road to peace lies in the heart, when
searching for justice; it lies in relationships, when there is a refusal
to dominate and manipulate; it truly lies in a readiness to forgive.
A Bhríd, guí orainn (a Breed, gwee O-rihn).
(Pause)
You know that it's time to move on to the third standing
stone. This stone is dedicated to Brigid: Friend of the Poor. Yet again
you follow the ancient tradition and circle the stone seven times,
moving sunwise, always sunwise. Each turn spirals your being deeper into
union with the quality of this stone. You lay your hands upon the stone
and breathe deeply, fully uniting with this aspect of Brighid. You feel
the presence of the Friend of the Poor deep within yourself and know
that it is now a part of you.
(Pause)
One day when Brigid was on a long journey, she stopped by
the wayside. A wealthy lady, on hearing that Brigid was in the
neighborhood, brought her a beautiful basket of choice apples. No sooner
had the gift been presented than a group of poor people came by and
begged for food. Without hesitation, Brigid distributed to them the
choice apples. The donor was utterly disgusted and said to Brigid, "I
brought those apple for you, not for them." And Brigid's reply was
"What's mine is theirs."
(Pause)
Are we prepared to share the "extra apples" in our lives,
so that our sisters and brothers, who live in desperate poverty, can
begin to live life with basic dignity?
A Bhríd, guí orainn (a Breed, gwee O-rihn).
(Pause)
You now leave the third stone and move on to the fourth.
This stone is dedicated to Brigid: The Hearthwoman. Again you follow the
ancient tradition and circle the stone seven times, moving sunwise,
always sunwise. Each turn spirals your being deeper into union with the
quality of this stone. You lay your hands upon the stone and breathe
deeply, fully uniting with this aspect of Brighid. You feel the presence
of the Hearthwoman deep within yourself and know that it is now a part
of you.
(Pause)
Irish hospitality is an age-old tradition and the whole
idea of hospitality as an expression of love is central to Brigid. To
welcome a stranger to your fireside is to follow the example of Brigid,
who had a welcome for all and made the Abbey a safe place of refuge and
sanctuary.
(Pause)
Is there room in your heart? Is there room next to your
hearth for a stranger?
A Bhríd, guí orainn (a Breed, gwee O-rihn).
(Pause)
Finally you move on to the fifth stone, dedicated to
Brigid: Woman of Contemplation. You follow the ancient tradition and
circle the stone seven times, moving sunwise, always sunwise. Each turn
spirals your being deeper into union with the quality of this stone. You
lay your hands upon the stone and breathe deeply, fully uniting with
this aspect of Brighid. You feel the presence of the Woman of
Contemplation deep within yourself and know that it is now a part of
you.
(Pause)
Celtic spirituality has a deep sense of the mystery and
presence of God in everything and everyone. It fosters a contemplative
approach to all creation. This stone allows for a quiet space to
remember, to awaken, to contemplate and begin to integrate the pilgrim
experience so that it can reveal its meaning.
(Pause)
Everything that happens is an act of sowing, a seed of
experience. It is equally important to be able to harvest that
experience.
A Bhríd, guí orainn (a Breed, gwee O-rihn).
(Pause)
Having completed the five stations at the prayer stones,
you take the final steps to Brigid's Round Well. As before, you circle
the well three times, still moving sunwise, always sunwise. You kneel
before the well with reverence. Why have you come here?
(Pause)
You look into the mirror that is the water's surface.
What would you like to release from your life, to have the cool clear
waters of the well wash away? What would you like to bring to your life,
to have the nourishing waters of the well fill you with? Take as much
time here as you feel you need. If you wish to drink, drink. If you wish
to anoint yourself, do so. Perhaps you would like to leave an offering -
either floating on the water or standing on the stone wall.
(Pause)
We gather around the well. Water has always been a symbol
of life and healing. Wells were traditionally healing places for many
ills.
It was customary to leave something at the well. You may wish to leave a
worry here, or a fear, or perhaps, a positive thought.
(Pause)
Your journey to Brigid's Well has led you down several
paths. It is hoped that your journey has opened your mind to alternate
perspectives. Perhaps this blessed Saint has shown you the Goddess. Or
is it that the gracious Goddess has introduced you to the Saint? To
understand that their nature is one is to understand the complex
simplicity of the Divine. As you turn to leave, you notice the carving
on the backside of the arch that spans the stone trough. Wasn't the
carving a cross on the front side? Here you see the pre-Christian solar
symbol of Brigid's Cross. Christian and Pagan, two sides to the same
coin. Spirit is Spirit, no matter what form it manifests in.
(Pause)
You have walked in Brigid's footsteps. May her spirit
walk with you, nourishing and enriching you on each step of your journey
through life. May a spark from Brigid's flame light up your pathway into
the future.
(Pause)
It's time to return from our journey to Ireland, time to
return to our bodies, time to return to the here and now. Breathe deeply
and say farewell to your visions. In a moment, we're going to open our
eyes and awaken, fully and completely, feeling refreshed and renewed.
Return now to your body. Feel the presence of your body - your head,
neck, and shoulders, your torso, your arms and hands, your legs and
feet. Feel the contact your body makes with the ground. Feel how the
ground supports the weight of your body. When you are ready, open your
eyes and awaken, refreshed and renewed.
by Gwen Dwyer | | | |