As we break into our February theme of Justice, we enter into the days of Imbolc; a traditional Gaelic holiday celebrated by many pagan communities as the time of veneration for Brigid, triple goddess of smithcraft, poetry, and healing. Among her many monikers, this deity has also been known as Brigid Ambue, or Brigid of the Cowless, a protector of those living on the margins, a restorer of broken bonds, and a facilitator of reintegration back into community.

As our country grapples with needed criminal justice reform, let us look back to the old ways, discerning ancient practices of restorative justice as a potential answer to the trauma that punitive justice can unleash on a community.

Topics: Justice