Membership Changes in the Circle of Brigid

Received March 28, 2014

There have been a couple of further changes to the membership of the Circle of Brigid since those I sent only recently.  Perhaps you would kindly update your website notices for us:

The Rt. Rev. Pat Griffin wishes to retire at this stage of her life, having worked with Olivia for many years and run regular Fellowship meetings in her home in Dublin until just a couple of years ago.  As she is not able to be with us on a regular basis any more, she is stepping down from the Circle of Brigid.  However, we very much hope that she will come whenever she can, and, of course, for many years she was our most senior priestess together with one or two others whose association with the Fellowship went way back.  We all love her gentle ways and genuine devotion to the Goddess which is so apparent when you are with her.

Her retirement meant that there was a vacancy in our membership to be filled, and we are all delighted that Maire Doyle, one of our loyal and much liked priestesses, has accepted our invitation to assist in continuing to run the 8 Annual Festivals held in The Temple of Isis, which was created by the Co-Founders of the Fellowship, Olivia, Lawrence and Pamela Durdin-Robertson in the basement of their home in Clonegal Castle, 

Many Blessings!

Minette Quick (Hon.Sec.Circle of Brigid)

Photo © Fellowship of Isis Central Website.

 

Report from the Circle of Brigid

Members of the Circle of Brigid and all our regular FOI Members were delighted to welcome Cressida Pryor to preside at our Vernal Equinox Festival on Saturday 22nd March.  We were also delighted that so many people came along to join us and we all took the opportunity to meet and greet everyone in the Theatre which was nice and warm on a cold but lovely bright day which was also extremely welcome after the monumental rains and winds we have had these last few months.

Having processed through the grounds of the Castle, where members of DCD and NOT invoked Deity at the Druid Grove and Abbey, Persephone's was also invoked at her Gate into the Temple and the company came into the Temple and gathered at the Well for Blessings.  On this occasion it was lovely to have several newly Ordained priestesses present from The Three Mothers Lyceum, trained by Cait Branigan and Deirdre Wadding.  So at Cressida's request two of them were invited to step forward and bless the water which they did with great beauty and dedication, and after the remaining priesthood had stepped forward to invoke, they also gave the individual blessings to everyone present.

At the High Altar, Cressida again welcomed everyone present and Invoked Isis. It was a great privilege to us to be able to have her with us when she is able to come over to Ireland, and get to know her on a personal as well as a ceremonial level.  The Fellowship is in excellent hands for the future, of that we are assured.

We had a beautiful Oracle from the Goddess Lakshmi, and songs, poems and a deeply peaceful guided journey from Cait Branigan. This was  followed by a Mystery Play enacted by members of the priesthood representing the Goddess Danu as the ancient mother of winter who having carried the burdens of that long cold season, hands on her task to the rising Goddess of Spring, Persephone.  Olivia loved Mystery Plays and as we watch the seasons go by and honour her memory in continuing this tradition, it enriches our experience and brings them to life for us all, whether we are new to the Fellowship or have been members for longer.   

We completed the main ceremony with another excellent poem from a member of the priesthood.  It should be mentioned that the poems that have been offered on these occasions are all the work of those offering them, and show a great depth of understanding which is wonderful and uplifting.  After this a short chant to the words "Brigid light the Path for us, show us the Way!" was sung by everyone.  Notices were given and thanks offered to Deity, after which the customary short healing and counselling sessions were offered to those who wished to receive them.  We all then repaired to Osborne's for tea and good company amongst old and new friends.  It had been an excellent day altogether.

Photo © Fellowship of Isis Central Website.