Brigid Amor
The Goddess Brigid (meaning “one who exaults herself“) is known by many names, just some of them being, Breo Saighead, Brid, Brighid (Irish), Brigindo, Brigandu (Gaulish), Brigan, Brigantia, Brigantis or Brigantia (Brittish) and Bride. She the daughter of The Dagda and the wife of Bres, as well as the mother of the craftsmen. Through her three aspects in the triple Goddess form, Brigid’s general areas of patronage are the:
-Fire of Inspiration (Poetry)
-Fire of the Hearth (Healing and Fertility)
-Fire of the Forge (Smithcrafts)
Sometimes, within mythology, the Lady of the Lake who forged Kind Arthur’s Excalibur is associated with Brigid due to her aspect that is representative of the forge. Also, as the Isle of Avalon had an orchard, Brigid had an orchard in the otherworld to which bees traveled to acquire the magical nectar of the apple blossoms. Historically, because of such facts and her association with the fire of inspiration, as well as her connection to oak and apple trees, Brigid was considered to be the patroness of the Druids.
Brigid’s festival is traditionally Feburary 1st and is known as Imbolc, when she returns spring to the land after the time of winter, in Cailleach’s reign. As the earth awakens to Imbolc, Brigid becomes a virgin bride or maiden and becomes the protectoress of women in childbirth.
Due to her close connection to women, Brigid’s flame burned in Kildare (from “Cill Dara“ or “Church of the Oak“), Ireland and was tended by 19 priestesses. Each priestess tended the flame for a single day, then on the twentieth day the Goddess kept care of the flame herself.
When christianity pushed paganism out of Ireland, it is said that Brigid, having loved her people so much, decided she would become mortal and walk among her people to stay connected to them. Thus, it is said she was born to the Druid Dougal the Brown and later became the “foster mother” of Jesus Christ. It is through this act that Brigid became St. Brigid (also Brigit) and kept her fires burning bright in Ireland. Up until the Crusades, her flame burned at Kildare, tended by 19 nuns that on the 20th day let St. Brigit tend her fire and once again walk among her people. This custom was abandoned in 1220 C.E. when a Bishop became angered over the no males policy of the Abbey of St. Brigit of Kildare and the Bishop ordered that the flame be extinguished because it was a "pagan custom." Later, under Vatican II it was declared that there was insufficient proof for St. Brigit's sainthood and her existance, causing her sainthood to be repealled. Due to this action, Brigit is only considered a saint in Ireland and has lost much of her popularity, though she still survives as a popular pagan Goddess as part of the celtic tradition.
Note from the Author:
In my time in the pagan community, I have been asked many times why I chose Brigid as my magical name. It is very simple- it seems that Brigid chose me. While looking through a mythic encyclopedia one evening, I came across the story of Brigid and simply fell in love with her. To me, Brigid is a strong and compassionate woman who cared enough for her people to give up her immorality. She represents many of the things that are wonderful about women as a whole and also represents healing (which I practice) and smithcraft (which I greatly admire.) Brigid is a Goddess whom I can respect and admire and also in some ways is connected to me because she is the bridge between paganism and Christianity (which I once was part of.)
Back The image above is courtesy of Lisa Iris
Note: Image is on slight angle from original as it is scanned from a photograph