Returning to the Fires of Creation
Beloveds,
The Substack doorways have opened, and I am deciding to take the winding and mysterious path into this realm. The truth is, the little art at the top of this page— “The Altar of Truth and Love” was created three some-odd years ago, but when we listen to the rivers of creation and follow their flow, we never know when Creation will be born.
But, today, we are here.
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Soon, my family and I leave for a pilgrimage to Ireland, to our ancestral homelands, to the sacred wells and springs, and the flames and forges of Brigid’s land. Brigid, the patron saintess of Ireland, and daughter of the King of the Fae, by nature woven of Earth and Christlight, woven of Mother and Father —calls us Home.
And in her call, many teachings.
When we are called to pilgrimage in this way, it starts to teach us right away. The first, is how we will find the golden coins for safe passage! And this, this pathway, our family walked. There were choices to work, to sweat, to teach— to create and share and receive, in order to journey to met Her.
And then, there were blessings — unexpected gifts, offerings, generosities arriving that supported our travels.
And every day, in every way, I laid my gold coins at this altar, because I knew it would change me. I knew, based on dreams, that a book of my life awaited me on this pilgrimage, and that I would trade my current circumstances to make payment for this passage.
This is how we grow and go— we may payment, trade, and offering— trading one thing for the next, to pass through doors.
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This is, of course, how it goes in other realms of life as well. We trade the ease (but loneliness) of single life for the complexity (and companionship) of partnership. We trade the vitality of our bodies to raise children (and given them our life force!). We trade the privacy of private life, for the gifts of public life. Everything is a trade, a weaving, a transformation, a craft.
We are generating abundance by changing life form to life form, we weaving with Earth to compost and regenerate new life.
In fact, this is how we create and steward it. The original trade.
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In my walk with Brigid, goddess of the fire, of the forge, of craft, poetry and song, this winter, I realize that as a Mother, as a medicine woman, as a keeper of the Flame, that there are things that are mine to do, and that I have limited time and space for anything that is not mine to do.
I have been giving them all up, one at a time, laying them all at the altar of Truth and Love, these invisible boxes and suitcases and burdens. Giving them all to the fire, so that what is truly mine can emerge.
And as I have sat with the flame. this winter, I have remembered again, and again and again that I am here to write, and sing, and poet my way through life, and to share these golden threads with those who have hears to hear.
So this year, I am returning to my craft— to my poetry, my writing and song. I am birthing tangible material paperbound copies of poems and essays, and returning to the recording studio. Magic is afoot!
And as I do, I am giving up other dreams, letting them die in the winter night, and returning to the Fires of My Own Creations.
I am laying my golden coins on the altar, making trade for passage, and letting the songlines sing me across the sky.
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This is how serve Life, we make trade. We place the burdens and hopes and fears, and all that not ours, upon the Altar of Truth and Love, and we know, deep in our hearts, that that which returns is born of Truth, and born of Love.
So, welcome, beloved, to this space, woven of Brigid’s prayer for creation.
Welcome to the Altar of Truth and Love.
May you lay down all the burdens here, and remember who you are.
Love,
Jane
Join me on Substack here: https://substack.com/@iamjanemayer
