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05/31/2006: "The CR Split over Brighid's Flamekeepers"
music: The Flame - Cheap Trickmood: Disturbed
There is hardly a more vocal group on the net than CR (Celtic Reconstructionism) when it comes to railing against any practice or belief that goes against what we know of ancient Celtic spirituality. The "usual suspects" as CR elders call themselves, who hang out on Imbas-Public and CR/R on Live Journal, are spending much time on a comprehensive CR FAQ, and seem to have a genuine desire to do the best they can developing a modern spiritual practice that is as "authentic" as possible to what the ancient pre-Christian Celts might have practiced spiritually.
It was quite surprising, then, over
the last month or so, to see a schism divide the group over what is recognized by most Celtic scholars as a well documented Irish tradition of woman flamekeepers tending the flame of Brighid. (http://community.livejournal.com/cr_r/)
Tradition seems to indicate that only women were allowed to tend the flame in Kildare; men were not allowed to participate "inside the hedge" under pain of some serious consequences, according to legends. The debate began when Bob and Brenda Daverin, co-moderators of CR/R and Imbas Public, decided to start a non-gender specific (NGS) flamekeepers group. During this time Kathryn Price NicDhana (Caitriona_nnc), another CR/R moderator, had been also begun organizing a flamekeeper group on a more trad basis, excluding men from the inner circle, however allowing them to participate in an "outside the hedge" group, much in the same way men were allowed to participate in Kildare. Erynn Laurie was also involved in the beginning stages of this project when it became clear the Daverins were going to start the NGS group.
When the NGS group was announced, Erynn openly supported the effort. The Trad group was not amused. For those interested in the details of the sometimes heated debate, you can read it here:
http://community.livejournal.com/cr_r/165708.html
The Daverins NGS Brighid Order:
http://community.livejournal.com/brig_irreg/profile
Kathryn Price NicDhana's Traditional Brighid orders:
For the Women: http://community.livejournal.com/brighidwomen/profile
For the Men: http://community.livejournal.com/out_hedge/profile
In my view, it is clear which side of the fence or "hedge" I stand. I stand with the Trads on this one.
I have been critical of NicDhana's positions on a few other issues here and on the Nemeton list, but it is important to recognize courage and real correctness over "political correctness" that is all too often seen today in CR.
The sources are pretty clear on the legends and traditions relating to Cill Dara. There was a shrine, attended to by chosen women, unmarried, whose job it was to tend fulfill the hearth fire functions for the tribe as did the women of individual households did for their family hearth. They represented the goddess function in both cases to procure the blessings and protection of Brigit, the former on behalf
of the tribe, the latter in each home.
The shrine at Cill Dara built (reluctantly) by Ailill, King of Leinster's men under Brigit's direction was designed with a sacred fire in its center. The fire was surrounded by a hedge and men were not allowed. Men were at the nearby monastery and did join in associated projects, but were not allowed in the shrine or to fulfill the sacred work associated with it (tending the flame), with associated legends of punishment associated upon men who tried to usurp that position. I remember reading a story where some man tried to jump the hedge and his leg withered to a stump, while others either went insane or died. There was also a reference to a man trying to extinguish it being struck with inextinguishable thirst and actually drank to death. ("Lives of Irish Saints" Charles Plummer, Oxford Press 1922 under the sections "Life of Brigit" by Cogitousus and"Bethud Brigte")
There was a monastic group of men, led by Conleth, established near the shrine with Brigit's permission, but, though they worked as co-equals on some joint projects, they were not allowed to share in Brigid's own sacred areas or tend the fire.
There is also related precedent in other cultures to show similarities.
It is pretty clear that the latest "Politically Correct" division of the CR movement represented by the Daverins and some of their associates does not honor the traditional spirituality of the practices related to the ancient Celts in Kildare. I applaud NicDhana and her associates for their resolve in standing up against such "pc" attempts to water down tradition, even when it causes strains on friendship and associations.
An excellent primer on Brighid is Judy Harrow's "Devoted to You" ISBN 0-8065-2392-1. Over 60 pages in Part II under "Imbolc-Brigit" written by Alexei Kondratiev provide a fine dissertation on the worldview associated with Brigit and her functions by the Irish, complete with resources/references. I heartily recommend it to those interested in traditionally honoring Brigit in their homes and daily lives.
