Liminal Light

2024 marks the 1500th anniversary of the death of St. Brigid. Liminal Light is a response to two of the recurring themes in Brigid’s story. Born on the threshold of night and day, between winter and summer, neither inside nor outside, liminality features strongly in the hagiography of Brigid. As the female patron Saint of Ireland, she stands on the threshold of the old and the new.

Liminality refers to the transitional state or space between two distinct conditions, where one has left the old but has not yet wholly entered the new. It is a concept often associated with rituals, ceremonies, and rites of passage. In Celtic traditions, liminality played a significant role in various festivals and seasonal celebrations.

Fire and light symbolism are strongly associated with Saint Brigid, fire playing a significant role in her mythology and the traditions of Imbolc, her feast day. As the patron Saint of hearth and home, the hearth fire symbolises protection and comfort. Fire is also a symbol of purification and renewal, and creativity. Fire being a symbol of inspiration, Brigid is also the patroness of poets, artists and craftsmen. The flame of Brigid is believed to ignite the creative spark within individuals, inspiring them to express themselves and their talents. It symbolises the transformative power of artistic and imaginative endeavours.