Laura Murphy
Biography
Laura Murphy is a poet, activist and healer from Ireland whose work centres around the ancient Irish poetic practice of Imbas Forosnai. The Filí (Seer-Poets) of pre-Christian Ireland used this practice to bring healing to society and truth to power. Though Imbas Forosnai was central to how ancient Irish society functioned and flourished, it was banned by St. Patrick and all but written out of history.
Since having a spontaneous experience of Imbas Forosnai in 2013, Laura has been working towards reviving this practice within a culturally relevant, modern context.
Laura’s Imbas-infused work has been featured in the Abbey Theatre’s critically acclaimed ‘HOME: Part One’, Herstory Light Shows, TG4’s ‘Imeall’ and RTÉ documentary ‘Finding Brigid’. Laura was the inaugural Poet in Residence at Herstory, the movement illuminating female role-models, she was a key player in the campaign to make Brigid’s Day a national holiday in Ireland and is an advocate for Ireland’s Mother and Baby Home and Magdalene Laundry survivors.
Programme
IMBAS FOROSNAI ~ EMBODYING BRIGID
In this talk, Laura Murphy will share her journey of Imbas Forosnai, the alchemical poetic practice of ancient Ireland and a gift of the Goddess Brigid. While walking on the ancient pilgrimage route ‘Brigid’s Way’ in 2013, Laura had a spontaneous experience of Imbas Forosnai. She heard the words “Stand in your truth with the sword of light. Bring this light forward to fight for freedom.” Eight years later, Laura found herself on the national stage, speaking truth to power on one of the most traumatic scandals of Ireland’s patriarchal history. She also called for Brigid to be honoured in a national holiday to symbolise a “commitment to equality and a new era based on Brigid’s principles of light, inspiration, imagination, healing, truth, justice and love”. Two years later, 2023, that call came to fruition as Ireland celebrated its first ever national holiday dedicated to a woman. Laura will share how her gift of Imbas Forosonai enable her to bring truth to power and healing to society. She will also share her journey through debilitating Lyme disease and how Imbas Forosnai supports her personal healing.
IMBAS FOROSNAI ~ BRIGID’S GIFT
This workshop is a unique opportunity to learn about the ancient Irish practice of Imbas Forosnai while also having visceral experience of this illuminating gift of Brigid, Goddess of Healing.
Using the power of spoken word as invocation, music, well water and sacred oils you will be guided into Tír na nÓg (The Otherworld of Ireland), where you will meet Brigid and Lugh, the Shining Ones of the Tuatha De Danann. They will bestow upon you the gifts of love, wisdom and strength to help awaken your Dán (soul-gift).
You will emerge, illuminated with Imbas Forosnai, the higher state of consciousness from which the Filí (Seer-Poets of ancient Ireland) brought wisdom into their beings, truth to power and healing to society.
A heart-opening experience awaits that will not only bring you to the heart of ancient Ireland but also to the heart of your own infinite intelligence, intuition and inspiration.