Meet the author is a series of articles intended to introduce you to our wonderful authors. Learn about the books they’ve written, the spiritual pathways they’ve traversed and some fun little tidbits… introducing Mael Brigde!

Tell us a bit about yourself…

I have been a devotee of Brigit, goddess and saint, since the early 1980s, and I have spent that time learning all I can about her, deepening my connection with her, and supporting other people on their own path with her. I have two Brigit blogs, one general interest and one poetry, I teach classes and lead meditations, and I write poetry and essays about her, as well.

What books have you written?

My Brigit book is called A Brigit of Ireland Devotional – Sun Among Stars. It is both an educational and inspirational book, containing poetry, essays, and resources, and is based on early Irish writings and folklore, as well as on my own experience.

How would you describe your spiritual pathway?

It has been a long and questing one; however challenging it seemed at times, I think it has been a rather straight path, overall. My shift from deeply felt Catholicism to atheism was a painful one, and it wasn’t many years before I realised I needed a spiritual framework for my life. I found goddess spirituality in my twenties, but it took me a little time to locate Brigit, though I was looking for her. Once I found her, I thought I would follow her a while and then explore other deities, but apparently that was not in the cards. Instead, I simply grew deeper and broader in my connection with and understanding of her. She has become my home.

What is something fun and quirky about yourself?

I am actually a very silly person when I am not being deadly serious. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than laughing with loved ones, the goofier the subject matter, the better. I love gaming and going to science fiction conventions with my niblings, even now that we are all grown up.

Where can people find you?

The easiest way to track me down is via my linktr.ee:

https://linktr.ee/maelbrigde#

What tips do you have for folk beginning their spiritual journey?

Don’t worry. Don’t hurry. Explore, be curious, be kind. And don’t believe everything you read, or even most of it. There is an ocean of misinformation out there about our deities and their backgrounds, repeated over and over so that it seems it must be right. When you find a practice or a deity that resonates for you, read as much as you can of the root information, the academic books and articles, the folklore commissions’ archives. Do read books by Pagan authors, who can give you insight into modern interpretation, practice, and devotion. Don’t rely solely on popular books, excellent though many are. You want to be able to go back to the source and understand it yourself. With Brigit and others, there is much that has come to be taken as truth which arises from unfounded and disproven theories of Victorian thinkers, and because their books are out of copyright and freely available, where current academic works are harder to come by, they are continuing to be used as sources. There is nothing wrong with adopting modern practices, but it is important to be able to differentiate between what is new and what is traditional and not to pass on misinformation yourself. Keep your eyes open. Be responsible. Enjoy.

Which deity or deities would you love to have dinner with?

So many! Though not all at the same time and definitely under careful circumstances, to be sure things don’t get out of hand, as they so often do in the tales. So, Brigit, obviously. But also An Cailleach, Áine,   Boann, Medb (if we count her as a deity), and Flidhais. Outside of the Irish goddesses, Arduinna and Artio, from Gaul. On other occasions, Mannanan Mac Lír, Lugh, Óisín, and An Dagda are all fellows I would like to meet. But I would like to meet with the women first. And you know, I would really like to have supper with Bres, Brigit’s husband, in Cath Maige Tuiread. He really comes off as the villain in that piece, but in other tales, he is a sterling guy, one of the best. I’d like to meet him myself and find out what really happened, if he will tell me. Finally, though not strictly a god, I would love to meet Fintan, the Salmon of Knowledge, and have a good talk with him. Maybe chomp down a few hazelnuts together.

What magical items would you take with you if you had to live on an island for a year?

Presumably, this island would have the makings of a fire temple and a holy well already, so I could organise them myself, on site. I would bring water from Brigit’s well in Kildare to anoint the well, and the flame from both Solas Bhríde in Kildare and the Daughters of the Flame, to ignite her fire there. I would make her cross when I arrived. So all I would need to bring with me in addition (besides matches!) would be my bell, my book, which I read from every day to keep in touch with the various aspects of Brigit, and my brat Bhríde, a piece of cloth blessed by her at Imbolc, for headaches and just for comfort. Apart from that, my book of poems by Rumi, and something by Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Zen Buddhist master, to keep my mind and heart open to what I experience on the island.

For more details: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/moon-books/authors/mael-brigde