6th Annual Brigid Poetry Festival

Reading and writing poetry can be a healing process. So healing and poetry fit nicely into the Goddess Brigid’s hands. Brigid is honored each Imbolc with a poetry festival.

“It is that time of year again, when bloggers around the world post a favorite poem in honor of Brigid, the Irish goddess and patron saint of smithcraft, poetry, and healing. Brigid’s feast day is February 1st, so between now and then is the perfect time to publish a poem to celebrate.” Anne Hill at Blog o’ Gnosis gnosiscafe.com/gcblog/2011/01/25/6th-annual-brigid-poetry-festival/

Post your poem link or the full poem at the Brigid Poetry Festival 2011 FaceBook community page. www.facebook.com/pages/Brigid-Poetry-Festival-2011/124403944294363

The Institute of Poetic Medicine is a non-profit organization that offers “public workshops, retreats and professional programs with John Fox, Certified Poetry Therapist, and by others, for groups and individuals in therapeutic, healing, medical, teaching and pastoral professions, as well as for individuals living with life altering illnesses.” poeticmedicine.org/about.html

John Fox and the Shade Arts in Medicine program is featured in the PBS Documentary “Healing Words: Poetry & Medicine”.

“Filmed at a large teaching hospital in Florida, Healing Words: Poetry & Medicine tells the stories of patients whose lives have been dramatically changed by the incorporation of poetry into their recovery process. At a time when Americans have grown cynical about health-care … this film affirms that poetry and art can build understanding and compassion between doctor and patient and help facilitate healing among the most critically ill.”

“Since 1990, the Arts in Medicine (AIM) program at Shands Hospital at the University of Florida has used arts therapy to help patients and their families deal with the sorrows, losses and unexpected joys that accompany illness and recovery. As part of the worldwide arts therapy movement, AIM supports therapy in the form of dance, music, drama, visual arts and creative writing.” <a href="http://www.pbs.org/healingwords/"www.pbs.org/healingwords/

Visit the Shades Arts in Medicine program at www.shands.org/aim/

Take a moment to share in the Brigid Poetry Festival by posting your own poem or a favorite author.

How happy is the little stone
That rambles in the road alone,
And doesn’t care about careers,
And exigencies never fears;
Whose coat of elemental brown
A passing universe put on;
And independent as the sun,
Associates or glows alone,
Fulfilling absolute decree
In casual simplicity. – Emily Dickinson