We stand in the lineage of women
who have walked with Brigid
in the light of the Divine Feminine,
illuminating their time.
Women have tended the fire of the hearth
and the light of soul for centuries.
We can remember the prayer for hearth fire
and the art of fire tending
and kindle the light again for our time.
~~~
Brigid of the Mantle,
Encompass us,
Lady of the Lambs protect us,
Beneath your mantle,
Gather us,
And restore us to memory.
Mothers of our mother,
Foremothers strong,
Guide our hands in yours,
Remind us how
To kindle the hearth.
To keep it bright,
To preserve the flame...
To kindle the light,
Both day and night.
--Celtic prayer for hearth fire
Deep in the heart of winter women gather on the feast day of St. Brigid, February 1. Also known as Imbolc, Brigid’s feast day is an ancient Celtic festival midway between Solstice and Equinox, one that marks a deep turning toward the hope of spring. The women gather around a sacred fire, a flame that burned for millennia in Brigid’s monastery of Kildare, rekindled now with revived interest in the figure who is both Irish saint and Celtic goddess.
Brigid inhabited the centuries as Fire Goddess and incandescent Celtic saint, the embodiment of wisdom and the Sacred Feminine. Throughout the ages holy women have allowed her fire to warm and embolden them and in so doing brought light to their time. In our own dark time when all we have known and have loved is in peril, how might we draw encouragement and inspiration from Brigid and the women who embodied her fire?
Join us for a weekend’s immersion deep into the glowing heart and soul of the Sacred Feminine with stories of Brigid and women who exemplify her wisdom, in whose lineage we stand. Be touched by the quiet presence of the winter landscape, the deep knowing rising from the softly breathing Earth and her resting inhabitants. Participate in guided circles of story and ceremony, dance, drumming, and council. Weave community with women drawn together into a wild and holy journey.
Retreat leaders: Lindsay McLaughlin, Leah Rampy, Lisa Bardack, and Katy Gaughan bring years of dedicated learning, practice, mentoring, and leadership in retreats, dance, and drumming.
The retreat will be held at Wellspring Retreat Center, on 200 wooded acres just north of Washington, DC in Germantown, MD. The center has a simple and beautiful gathering space and accommodates guests in three adjacent cabins; both the gathering space and cabins are designed in harmony with the wild land around them and feature window expanses connecting to the surrounding woods.
The retreat begins at 3 pm on Friday and ends at 2 pm on Sunday. Please arrive between 1 and 2 pm on Friday to allow time to settle in before the program starts.
Participants in this retreat are requested to take a rapid COVID test before coming on January 31.
The fee for this retreat is based on the nature of the retreat, cost of lodging and food, and modest reimbursement for four leaders. We realize the fee may be beyond the ability of some and can provide partial scholarships for those who need assistance. We encourage you to apply! Scholarship applications are available at registration. Fees include lodging, six meals, and program.
$485 – single occupancy
$435 – double occupancy (register with a friend/roommate or be willing to be paired)
Space is limited for this retreat. Register early to secure your place. Non-refundable $75 deposit required.
For more information, email Lindsay.
- Register Online
- Pay Deposit
- Pay Balance or Full Amount
- Scholarship Application Form
- Download PDF Flyer