Solstice - The Goddess Awakens

As she drifted into sleep she became aware of a presence. A man with familiar grey hair and a beard sat in Arthur’s chair, illuminated by the light, which added to his silvery glow. He was dressed in a familiar knitted jumper and trousers. Lola wanted to hug him, but was scared that it was only a dream. He was just staring at her and smiling that same kind, heart-warming smile.

‘Arthur, is that really you?’ she asked hopefully.

He didn’t answer straight away. He just rocked back and forward, chuckling to himself.

‘Of course it is, Lo,’ Arthur finally answered.

Lola was confused, he seemed so at peace, and she had a million and one things to ask him, but she couldn’t seem to formulate a coherent sentence.

‘You are so close to the finish line, Lola. Please don’t give up. You may feel alone, but we are always with you.’

‘We?’ asked Lola feeling confused; this was only one of the thousands of questions that were swimming around her head.

‘There are many forces at work both behind you and against you. But you are never alone. Divine beings of light surround you. All you need to do is ask them for help and guidance.’

‘Like angels?’ asked Lola.

‘Yes, Lo, like angels, sent to you by the Divine Source. Your path is a long and hard one, my dearest, but you are walking in the right direction. Trust your soul and your inner voice and you will find your way. Many trials still lie ahead, but you are getting stronger by the day. You will never walk alone.’ Lola smiled at that. That was her anthem, her team’s anthem. She liked the idea that though she walked through the wind and the rain, like the song said, she would never walk alone. Lola’s eyes began to feel heavy again, she didn’t want to fall asleep, or was she already asleep? She couldn’t tell anymore. She tried to focus on Arthur.

‘Please, Arthur, stay with me. Don’t leave me. I can’t do this without you.’

‘Use the talents that come so naturally to you. Do not look past your training and how that can help you learn and prepare you for what is to come.’ Lola could feel his hand in hers. ‘I have never left your side, my dear. I have trust in you, Lola, and I love you,’ he said as the light began to fade.

Lola woke to the early morning chorus of the song birds busy at their work. It was totally disorientating, she looked around the book room but there was no trace of Arthur. His chair sat empty and motionless. It must have been a dream, yet it had all seemed so real.

Glancing at the rows and rows of books, she waited for her lap-top to start up. She wasn’t exactly sure what she was looking for, as her eyes scanned the spines of the books, most of which she had never even touched. Then something caught her eye, then another and another. Lifting the books out from the shelf Lola laid them on the ground just as her computer whirred to life.

Flicking through the first book, Lola located the page she needed, opening it out she examined the illustration of the bold red head that looked back at her. The caption at the side of the illustration read, ‘Breo Sagit – Brigid of the Fiery Arrow’. But instead of holding a bow and arrow, the Celtic warrior goddess was holding an ornate silver sword in front of her, a single yellowy silver flame emanating from the blade. Her hair was flame red and her eyes emerald green, just like Lola’s. She was dressed in what looked like animal skin trousers and a bodice, with a beautiful purple cloak that was secured with a triple-spiral broach. She looked as though she was ready for battle. Behind her were three crosses made from reeds. Flicking through the second book, again she found another picture of Brigid, this time she was depicted as the triple Goddess. Standing with her hair falling around her, she was dressed in green robes, holding a flame in her hands. At each side stood two maidens, one with a hammer in her hands and other with some herbs. Lola felt strange. It was as though she was looking into her own eyes as they looked back at her from the page. The ring around her neck began to pulse again, as if it too recognised its old master.

Looking at the first picture a little closer, Lola almost stopped breathing when she spotted the small ring. A golden band with an inlaid stone hung loose around Brigid’s neck on a piece of worn leather. It was identical to the one Arthur had left her. Surely it wasn’t the same ring? This book was Arthur’s, reasoned Lola. Perhaps he had a replica made. Lola began scanned the passage below the picture.

Known as the Goddess of healers, poets, fire, inspiration, and wisdom, Brigid is the Goddess of light and energy. She is the Goddess of fertility, and is said to lean over every cradle. She is associated with sovereignty and protection of her isles and the sea. Brigid is the classic Celtic Triple Goddess. She was the daughter of the Good God and Sun God, Dagda and thus one of the mystical Tuatha Dé Danann. The legends of old claim that Brigid was born at sunrise, and that a tower of flame could be seen reaching from the top of her head to the heavens. She is one of the most important Goddesses in the history of this island, but like most deities, much of her history has been lost since the rise of Christianity. While some scholars believe that she, along with her people, left a book detailing their magick and wisdom, it is widely believed that this is the stuff of myth and fantasy. Any written documentation that has survived appears to have been written after the church absorbed her, in order to convert the general population to Christianity.

In order to achieve this, the church transformed her into the Christian Saint Brigid. Through a blending of pagan Christian beliefs the veneration of Brigid the Goddess was absorbed into the Christian faith and the role of priestess became the role of a nun. But many who still follow our old religions believe that there will come a time when Brigid will return to Erin’s green isles.

Exhausted Lola leaned back on the couch so lost in the mire of her own thoughts she didn’t hear her mum come into the room.

‘What an amazing room! It’s funny how I’ve never been in here before.’ Lola turned to find her mum standing at the doorway. Eileen came into the room and sat on Arthur’s rocking chair in front of her daughter. Lola knew that familiar look on her face, the same one she always seemed to bear these days when she was trying to guage if Lola was on the brink of another breakdown. ‘I can see why you like spending so much time in here, pet. You can feel Arthur everywhere.’ Lola tried to close the book discreetly but this only drew her mother’s attention to it. ‘So what’s with Brigid?’ asked her mother, nodding towards the open book.

‘Nothing, was just having a look through some of the books. It’s amazing that I’ve been coming here all these years and never really looked at them, never really saw them.’

‘I don’t think you look like a Brigid,’ smiled Eileen. She could read her daughter’s face like a book, each worry line and furrow giving her away.

‘What do you mean? Was I almost called Brigid?’ asked Lola, trying to keep her voice steady and even. It was all too much.

‘Well, you know your dad and I are big Kinks fans, so it had always been Lola or Julie, but then whenever I had you…’ Her mum paused as if she was regretting starting the story, but this only intrigued Lola more.

‘Go on, Mum, what is it?’ she encouraged. A light flush of pink appeared on her mum’s neck, which only ever happened when she felt uneasy about something.

‘Well, I’ve never actually told anyone about this before,’ laughed Eileen nervously. ’It’s silly really. You were born literally at sunrise on the 1st February, on Saint Brigid’s Day. I had a good labour with you, Lo. In fact, you couldn’t wait to get out, but I did take quite a lot of gas and air,’ she laughed. ’As you know, your gran died a few months before. I must have been high as a kite because I could have sworn I heard mum talking to me through the whole labour. It was as clear as I’m sitting here with you now. As clear as a bell she was, telling me everything would be okay and to call you Brigid. Of course your da thought my head was away with the fairies.

‘Then when you were born I could see this light all around you, it was beautiful. I just kept crying and saying to your dad, “Look, Joseph. Look. Look at the fire around her!”. They all just ignored me because they thought I was doolally. I probably was, but it seemed so real at the time. Silly, isn’t it? So, that’s how you were nearly called Brigid. From the day you were born, I prayed to her every day. Your granny was a big believer in her too.’ Lola didn’t know what to say, or where to begin. How had she not realised that she shared the same birthday? It was all too coincidental. Turning back to the book, Lola scanned the text to see if it mentioned anything about Saint Brigid’s day. Then she saw it.

’Imbolc - when Pagan’s celebrated the coming of spring and the awakening of mother earth, day of celebration for Goddess Brigid, 1st February, which later became St. Brigid’s day.’ How had she not noticed this before?

’I’ll leave you to it love, said her mum as she rose from the chair. She was just about to leave the room when she turned with a huge grin on her face. ‘Oh aye, I forgot to say to you - our Liam tells us you’ve got yourself a man! Said he’s some big yank with a fancy sports car. So when are we going to meet him?’

‘Liam, wait till I get that wee git!’ fumed Lola, as her mum laughed her way down the hall.

Cuchulain shuffled into the room, his long coat was damp and smelt earthy.

‘Hello, my big wolf,’ said Lola, ruffling his coat. Cuchulain was clearly as pleased to see Lola as she was to see him, but as always Liam wasn’t too far behind.

‘Come here, boy. Come here, Cuchulain,’ called Liam. Obediently, the large animal got up to greet Liam, who was idling in the doorway, not sure if Lola would shout at him or not. ‘What are you doing, Lo?’ he asked. Lola could see he was as intrigued by the room as she had been the very first time she’d stepped inside it. She hadn’t been very patient with her baby brother lately and she was feeling a bit guilty. When he was younger he was like her shadow, following her everywhere. Lola adored him. She still did. He was beyond his years in many ways and his interests fascinated her.

‘Well are you going to stand there all night, or are you going to come in and sit down?’ Not needing to be asked twice, Liam bolted into the room, slamming the door shut behind him. Jumping onto the sofa the first place he looked was at the ceiling.

‘That is class! Did Arthur paint that himself?’ That brought a much-needed smile to Lola’s face, her baby brother’s innocence and wonderment provided her with some light relief. Lola checked her emails. She had a full update, including pictures from Ruby and the girls. She couldn’t believe that the summer had gone by so quickly. They would be coming home at the weekend and she couldn’t wait to see them. It would be no time before they would all be heading back to university. Liam sat on the couch behind her reading the emails over her shoulder. There was nothing much in them so she didn’t mind. Going through her inbox, Lola noticed an email from Daithi’s cousin Sean. Opening it there was just a brief hello and a link to a popular online video page. Clicking the link Lola was re-directed to a video. The picture was grainy and the footage had clearly been taken undercover on a night vision camera. The shaky image zoomed in on a large fire that, as far a Lola could tell, had been constructed on a small island in the middle of a river or lake. In the middle of the island stood an altar, and towering above the altar was a massive statue of a stone owl, it must have been about thirty feet tall. There were about a hundred people dressed in cloaks chanting and dancing. Suddenly the person with the camera began to zoom out and started running through the dense forest. Then there was close up of the wooden entrance sign. It read Bohemian Grove.

Lola immediately understood what she was looking at. She remembered what Aibgrene had told her. This place was connected to the Hell Fire Club. Exiting out of the video Lola typed ‘Bohemian Grove’ into her favourite search engine, which responded immediately spitting out hundreds of links. Lola was quite taken aback by the amount of information available. It was hardly a top secret. Hitting the first link, she got a brief history of the place. The article detailed where in California it was located and that it was an all-male Club founded in 1876. There were even pictures of some of its members. Lola couldn’t believe the amount of former heads of state that went there. It fitted the limited knowledge that she had about the Hell Fire Club. Then something caught her attention, the club’s motto. ‘Weaving Spiders come not here.’ It was Shakespeare, from Midsummer Night’s Dream. Before, if Lola had seen this she would have thought nothing of it, but she was different now. On the surface this Club was well publicised. They even had their own website, detailing how to join. Flicking on through some other sites the signs were everywhere.

‘I nearly forgot to tell you,’ said Liam, handing Lola her cell phone. ‘That yank must really like you. He called you about ten times last night. You left your phone in your bedroom and the door here was locked so I couldn’t get in to you. I told him you were at the cinema with your other boyfriend,’ said Liam with cheeky grin as he jumped off the seat with Cuchulain at his side.

‘Did you now?’ laughed Lola.

Checking her phone, she realised he wasn’t joking.