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Brigid Meditation

Imagine you are sitting in the cosy whitewashed home where Brigid was born, warmed by gentle flames of a fire in the hearth, the heart of the house. On the wall hangs a modest picture of a graceful woman in long white muslin dress emerging out of the ripples of a woodland stream. On the bank beside her stands a man, upright, supportive, guardian while she steps lightly in the water. You rise from your chair and walk over the soft earthen floor strewn with dried lavender flowers, releasing their scent, lift the latch and open the small window.

A pleasing southerly breeze touches your face, ruffles the branches on a nearby bush, and a small bird sings. Beside the house a tender stream gurgles over soft rounded stones. Leaning on the waist high cill of the window you inhale deep gentle breaths of fresh spring air. Here small white flowering snowdrops peek out of green grassy banks of the rill, white skirts nodding quietly in the playful air, and there the last of the brown autumn leaves blow hurriedly over the clear earth under tall trees. You can almost smell spicy resin in the bark of the trees.

You will not leave the house, but continue to look out through the window, noticing every small change in the scene. What do you envision coming into sight? Maybe an animal, a bird, person, or blossoming plant. The whole world is out there. Enjoy standing at the window for as long as you want.

When ready close the window, walk back over the lavender, releasing its aroma, to your seat by the fire. You can feel the petite smile of optimism on your face, knowing that the season is turning, fresh existence and growth active in all beings and in your own life.

Turn your thoughts inwards to the midriff of your being. Be aware of your own essence at your centre, your true self. It is as if you are looking through a window again, this opening into your own soul. And within is everything. Happiness, creativity, joy, grief and pain, you can see them all. Looking through the window you can see all this is known by your soul. Yet you are not concerned, feeling contentment and serenity.

Bring the meditation to a close by bringing your attention again to the painting on the wall of a woman in the stream and man beside her. They are an apparent duality. We perceive much of the world as split into fragments. Notice their freedom. The woman paddling in the stream as if a child. The man watching and waiting to take her hand when ready to step away from splashing amongst the water worn stones. In an instant of realisation you see they are the same person. The divine truth within your soul is there, always playing and waiting to be acknowledged. Thank them for their presence and inspiration.

Finish, have a drink and bite to eat.