Please prepare an altar close to your zoom station with candles, water, greens or flowers and any images that evoke a Celtic theme. You will need several sheets of large paper ( or an art journal with study pages) and colored pens, crayons or watercolor paints. for our final day, you will be invited to bake a traditional St. Brigid Oat Cake (recipe below) as we share our virtual feast in celebration of spring.
Saturday, January 30: Original Blessing 11:00 Welcome and Introductions; Psalm 42 11:30: The Seeds of Original Blessing in the Celtic Tradition: St. Morgan, John Cassian, Mary Magdalene 12:00: Celtic Scholar Justin Coutts 12:30: Art Journaling and Sharing- Celtic knots and Brigid's Cross
* Please arrive a few minutes early to settle into a receptive place. You will need a candle, a large journal with blank pages and colored pens, pencils or crayons.
Sunday, January 31: The Well of Love and the Fire of Longing 11:00: Opening Circle, The Deer's Cry and the Swan's Song 11:30: Where Druid and Christian Meet: Legends of Brighid and Patrick 12:15: Art making with Sue Ellen Parkinson: Brigid's Blessing Hand 12:45: Closing Circle
Monday, February 1: Festivals of Imbolc and St Brigid 11:00: Opening Circle of Poetry, Music and Meditation 11:30: Celebrations of Nature and Spirit: St. Brendan, St. Kevin 12:00: Doll Making and Celtic Customs with Polly Paton Brown 12:30 Blessing Circle and "feast"
For the making of a Bratog Bride Cloth and Brigid's Doll, you will need a piece of cloth (does not need to be new- could be a sock or strip from pillowcase ) or a bundle of yarn and a stick or wooden spoon.
For our closing celebration, you may want to make a "St. Brigid's Cake", which is an oatcake similar to a shortbread ( recipe follows) and have on hand either a glass of milk or a pitcher of ale/glass of beer
St. Brigid's Oat Cake
Ingredients: 1 cup flour 1 tablespoon sugar 3/4 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons butter in small pieces 3/4 cup uncooked oatmeal flakes 1 egg 1/2 cup buttermilk Instructions: 1.Preheat oven to 425 degrees. 2. Grease a baking sheet. 3. Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in bowl and mix. 4.Add butter bits and cut in with knife until mixture is crumbly. 5.Add in oats and stir gently to combine. 6.In a separate bowl, beat egg with buttermilk. 7.Make a well in the dry ingredients. Pour in the egg mixture and mix with a fork until crumbs barely hold together. Make dough into ball and transfer to floured surface. Knead only briefly until it holds together. .Add in a little flour if it is sticking to your hands. 8. Pat dough into 8-inch round and transfer to baking sheet. 9. With a knife, score a deep cross into the bread but do not cut it through 10. Bake 15-20 minutes till golden brown