BRIGHID’S
WALK
Representing healing, learning and inspiration, Brighid was a powerful
protector, commonly associated with both hearth and smithy fires.
When Christianity arrived, her name changed to St. Brigit, and the Celtic
people continued loving her without fear of reprisal. This painting
is about the great wheel. The days of spring are at hand. A beacon
of light and warmth, Brighid sings of change, past winter gales, and the
coming warmth. Beneath the sighing of wind through the meadow grasses,
and in the merry crackling of the fire, her voice may still be heard:
“Respect the fire, tend to your hearth, and to the home of your heart I’ll
guide thee.”
THE CALL OF THE GODDESS 2004
THE ART & PROSE OF HELEN NELSON-REED
Used with permission
www.Lapizmoon.com www.fine-art-studios.com
BRIGANTIA
Brighid is a Celtic Goddess that has survived from ancient times into
the daily rituals of present day. Brighid’s name is derived from the
Gaelic “Breo-Saighit” meaning “fiery arrow”. She was known as ‘moon
crowned Brighid of the undying flame’. She is a powerful Goddess that
is associated with Fire, Healing, Poetry and Women’s concerns. Her feminine
strength has been a guiding light burning in the hearts of women both past
in present. Her festival is Imbolc on February 1st to celebrate the
first warmth of spring which comes to waken the cold winter’s slumber.
Brighid also calls initiates of the Goddess home to the fire within their
hearts at this time. We find her influence throughout France, Ireland
and Great Britain. She is called Bride in Scotland, Brigantia in England,
Brig, (pronounced Bree), Brighid, Brigid or St. Brigit in Ireland, and Brigu
in France. In Wales she is believed to also be known as Cerridwen and
in ancient Bath as Minerva or Sul. Her influence was wide spread throughout
ancient Celtic Cultures. Her light continues to shine today.
During the change from Paganism to Christianity in Ireland St. Brigit
appeared. She was born at dawn on the threshold of the house her mother lived
in. It is said her father was a Druid free man and her mother a Christian
bond woman. She was full of light, courage and inspiration. Saint
Brigit was known as the foster-mother of Christ or Mary’s aid woman.
She was a great healer and adept at augury and miracles. St. Brigit
was literally a bridge between ancient paganism and modern Christianity and
was accepted in Ireland by both the pagan people and the presiding Christian
powers without violence. The people then and now invoke Saint Brigit
for protection, compassion, and courage in the face of poverty and abuse.
Brigit, gold-red woman,
Brigit, flame and
honeycomb,
Brigit, sun of womanhood,
Brigit, lead me home.
You are a branch
in Blossom.
You are a sheltering
dome.
You are my bright
precious freedom.
Brigit, lead me home.
~Author Unknown
SACRED TO BRIGHID
Milk and the Magical
white cow with red ears said to have an inexhaustible udder, this association
signifies Brigit’s
amazing powers of creating miraculous abundance for those in need
Sun - Brigid is originally
believed to have been a Sun Goddess
The elements of Fire
and Water
The hearth and its
fuel peat is sacred to Brigid
Healing springs and
sacred wells.
Brighid was also
said to be the Lady of the Shores, the Lady of the Threshold, and the Lady
of the Dawn. In-between places
and spaces were held magical by the ancient Celts.
The number 19 – St.
Brigit had 19 female disciples which kept her sacred fire burning continuously
at county Kildaire, Ireland.
Eire – the land of
the Tuatha (the people)
SACRED OBJECTS:
±
Cauldron ~ brewing the elixir of creative inspiration
± Mantle or shawl which Brighid used to create
many miracles
± White willow wand
± Grain ~ Brighid was connected to the abundance
provided by the land
± Artistically interlaced straw cross
± Corn churn staff fashioned into a form of
a woman called “little bride”
± Bright sparkling stones and shells
± Talismans – spinning wheel, little brass shoe,
symbol of triple flame within a heart, jewelry fashioned from metal, Celtic
cross
ASSOCIATIONS:
Brighid was associated
with the sword and shield. She was a Goddess of protection.
Plants: Dandelion “the little
notched of Bride”
Nettle associated
with Brigid and the element of fire and healing.
Trees:
willow and rowan
Birds and
animals: swan
Oyster catcher
or linnet called the “little bird of Bride”,
Ewes and lambs
of first spring associated with new birth and spring
The serpent ~
associated with Brighid’s great healing powers
COLOURS
ASSOCIATED WITH BRIGID
Blue as in
her magickal mantle or shawl. When I have astral journeyed with Brigid
she wears her blue mantle.
Green as
this is the colour of Ireland, spring, healing and the heart chakra
Red for fire
and creativity
Gold for
warmth of the sun and the colour of the grain harvest
White for
spiritual purity
Brigid presides over births, women’s issues, healing the environment, helping
with increasing courage, finding your life purpose or direction, protection,
warmth in relationships, warming the body by the hearth and creating warm
foods to be eaten for warmth and healing. She is a source for practical
knowledge of herbology, hands on healing, and creative expressions of art.
Brighid is also a guide in healing of the spirit and body. She is
an amazing companion and will guide with strength and compassion.
Brigid was also known for her great gift of augury. Augury was the
ability to put both hands together as a tube in front of your eyes (like
a telescope) and look through and see what was happening many miles away
transcending space and time. Brighid will help in developing intuition and
psychic abilities. Brighid truly is “an excellent woman”.
Brigit Is A Triple
Goddess
It is said there were three Brigit’s
- all sisters, each with her own associations
All three
represent transformation:
Rock to metal
– Goddess of Smith craft
Illness to
health – Midwife Goddess of healing
Ideas to
Art – Goddess of Poetry and Creativity
It is also
said that she is the two-faced Goddess
One side
of her face is black and withered and the other white and fresh
Associating
her again with the transformation of winter changing to spring
BRIGHID
Original Watercolor By Lavanee
INVITATION TO BRIGHID
By Lavanee
Set up an altar preferably by a fire, either with candles burning, an
outdoor campfire or at the fireplace or wood burning stove, if none of these
are available set up in the kitchen near the cooking stove.
ON THE ALTAR
A mantle (cloth) of blue, green or white
One large white candle (you may add more candles if ye wish!)
Incense of your choice – scents associated with foods or teas are appropriate
such as cinnamon, vanilla, almond or bergamot.
A few gathered river or beach stones and shells with bright colours especially
tending to orange or yellows would please Brighid
very much
Be sure to have the elements represented – Earth (stones), Air (feathers,
the colours of yellow and astral blue), Fire (candles) and Water (shells,
tea).
Suggested offerings – herbal tea, freshly baked bread and butter, and
blackberry jelly
Have paper and pen ready to write down Brighid’s shared wisdom for you
will definitely want to remember it in detail!
If you would like music to accompany your ritual, Celtic harp music would
be most appreciated.
If you have a wooden wand handy cast your circle with it. A peeled
willow branch decorated with Celtic symbols would be appropriate.
I have a cherry wooden wand which I use with great magical results.
Cast your circle in a clockwise direction, Light the center candle and
incense and recite the following affirmations and chants.
AFFIRMATIONS:
Have at least one affirmation ready for yourself to chant as Brighid
will call you to find your true hearts desire. Self love and inspiration
are especially loved by Brighid for she loves you and will reach inside
of you to bring out your very best.
Suggested affirmations:
“I radiate love & wisdom”
“Love flows into my life like a river”
“My heart glows with the fire of unconditional love”
INVITATION
By Lavanee
Dear Brighid
Excellent Woman
Please join me in
my quest
Light the fires within
my heart
Guide me to my destiny
Open my hands, mind,
and heart
To the truth, purity,
and love
Of my feminine nature
Oh Blessed Goddess
Your Golden light
Shines upon my soul
Words cannot convey
The gratitude which
I feel
My Ancient One
Dear Brighid
Take me now to the
center of the sun
Be sure to have a
comfortable chair or sofa to meditate on as I am sure Brighid will enjoy
your company and share with you now. Share your offerings and be prepared
to step into the light of your true self!
Bless you all my
sisters!
We will never, never lose the way
to the well of her memory.
And the power of her living flame
it will rise, it will rise again
By Starhawk
SOURCES:
The Red-Haired Girl from the Bog – Patricia Monogham, 2003 New
World Library Publishers.
Enchantment of the Faerie Realm – Ted Andrews, 1994 Llewellyn
Publishers.
Drinking From the Sacred Well – John Matthews, 1998 HarperCollins
Publishers.
365 Goddess – Patricia Telesco, 1998 HarperCollins Publishers.
Archangels & Ascended Masters – Doreen Virtue, 2003 HayHouse
Inc.
SageWoman #63 – The Journey, (A Circle is Cast by Jo Lynne Gianvecchio),
Published by Blessed Bee, Inc.
SageWoman #64 – Prayer & Invocation, (Garlands for the Goddess
by Carrie D. Cooper, Published by Blessed Bee, Inc.
Notes from the Journal of Lavanee, 2004
Websites: http://www.angelfire.com/realm2/amethystbt/goddessbrigid.html
http://www.thewhitemoon.com/gallery/Brighid.html
http://www.lunaea.com/goddess/creativity/brigid.html
http://www.goddess.com.au
http://gaelicgirl.tripod.com
This
page is the intellectual and creative property of Lavanee.
