Brighid unravelled

Marion 'Brigantia' van Eupen

144 Pages, ISBN 978 1 8383778 6 1     
Brigantia Publishing, 2nd edition 2024     


Oxford Dictionary: to unravel (verb)

  1. undo (twisted, knitted, or woven threads).
  2. investigate and solve or explain (something complicated or puzzling)


With this book I have intended to unravel the beautiful stories of St. Brighid, the 6th century Christian saint who lived and worked in Kildare, Ireland; to undo the often moralistic, Christianised, early to mid-Medieval language, to listen to a deeper meaning, and to find new words that illuminate Brigid's compassion and healing.

Together with others of the Brighde-Brigantia Clan, I investigated different aspects of nine well-known stories about St. Brighid. We did not endeavor to create new truth, but to examine why these threads were woven as they were, and in doing so we found many twists that sometimes were complicated and puzzling.

We took the separated threads and wove her stories anew, adding our own wisdom and experience of journeying with the ancient Goddess Brigid, as well as the wisdom of others who work closely with her teachings and energy.

This resulted in nine newly woven stories about Brigid, a remarkable woman living in times of great spiritual change. I hope they will inspire you and entice you to question, to investigate, to explore and to open your mind as well as your heart!

Bright Blessings!
Marion Brigantia


(The text above comes from the back of the book)     

In this book you will find partial translations of the following ancient texts about Saint Brigid:

  • Beatha Bhrighdi / Leabhar Breac - 14th century
  • Vita Brigitae / Book of Lismore - 15th century
  • Bethu Brigte - 9th century
  • Life of Brigit by Cogitosus - 7th century


Review
In itself a nice book, I only found it a pity that the relevant old texts were not translated in their entirety but that pieces from different old texts were placed together per subject. Fortunately it was clear what was the old text (printed in italics) and what was the modern retelling. For me the title of the book was a bit contradictory: not unravelled but everything thrown together so that I almost started to lose track of what came from which old source.
After reading some fragments of old texts, the texts where discussed on what they could mean. With one topic (Brigid's birth) I had the feeling that she missed the mark, with another story (Brigid's cloak) the explanation was nice and exactly to the point.
With some stories I did not understand why she had chosen that one, because there are more interesting parts to be found in those same sources. I certainly missed the story about Brigid's youth and the milk from the white cow with the red ears.
All in all a nice book, but unfortunately it does not add much to what I had already red in other books.

If you want to buy a short and concise, inexpensive yet quality book that truly unravels Brigid, then I recommend Morgan Daimler's book about Brigid.
If you are more interested in the ancient texts mentioned in this book, I can recommend: Two Lives of Saint Brigid by Philip Freeman and The Life of St. Brigid of Kildare by Phillip Campbell. These books contain complete translations of several ancient texts about Saint Brigid.
The Life of St. Brigid of Kildare by Phillip Campbell contains a complete translation of the Beatha Bhrighdi / Leabhar Breac and Life of Brigit by Cogitosus. Two Lives of Saint Brigid by Philip Freeman contains a complete translation of Life of Brigit by Cogitosus from the 7th century and the Vita Prima of Saint Brigid from the 9th century.
These complete translations of the ancient texts surrounding Saint Brigid give you a much better picture of Saint Brigid than the fragmentary approach of Marion "Brigantia" van Eupen in her book.

Complete online English translations:

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