By Anyia Leanaun Sidhe

Personal Note

My call to be a priestess of Brighid came mid-way through the summer of 2005. For a few years, I had been working on my dream interpretation skills. In the early months of 2005 I began to feel a strong desire to find a patron deity, and began doing research on various pantheons. I asked for aid in my quest in my nightly meditations and dream preparations. I asked the spirits of my dreams to connect me with a patron who would guide and inspire me on my Path.

On one particular night, I went through my nightly meditation ritual, and went to sleep. Sometime before dawn, I dreamed I was in a cave. The cave was very dark, and there were many boulders and ground clutter that made it difficult to pass through. Suddenly I see a light. It is faint at first, but was soon right in front of me. The light illuminates the face of a beautiful woman with slate grey eyes and dark hair. She has a white shroud type cloak on. In her hand she carries a burning torch that lights the path ahead. She takes my hand and urges me forward without uttering a word. When we reach an obstacle, she looks back, smiles, and psychically tells me I can make it. I see her smile, which is as bright as her torch, and I feel in my heart that she is the patron I have been searching for all my life. I know this wonderful, guiding Goddess is Brighid.

The information I provide here is a result of the hours of research I have conducted since the night of my revelation. Enjoy and Goddess Bless!

~Anyia Leanaun Sidhe

Brighid: The Diverse Goddess

Culture: Brighid is an ancient Celtic/Gaelic Goddess who is worshipped on the isles of Ireland and the British Isles.1 The root word of her name brig means flame, force, vigor, and exalted status.2 She was so popular, that she later made a successful transition into Christianity and became St. Brighid. She is a triple Goddess, meaning that she has representations that honor the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone. This triple Goddess status later migrated with Brighid into Christianity and became the holy (male) Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.8 She is associated with the Goddesses Minerva (Rome) and Athena and Hecate (Greece).3

Name Variations: There are many variations in the way this Goddess’s name is spelled. The different spellings stem from the different areas on the map where she was worshipped. These variations include: Brigindo (Gaul), Brigantia (N. England), Brig (Ireland), Brid, Brigid, Brighid, Bride (Scotland), Brigit (most ancient form), Brigan, Brigandu.8 Diverse interpretation of Brighid’s names provide these definitions: Bright Arrow, The Bright One, The Powerful One, The High One.

Legends: There are many legends surrounding the Goddess Brighid.

Family: Brighid comes from the Tuatha De Danann tribe of Celts. Her father is rumored to have been Daghda (the great God of Knowledge). She was married to Breas (the God of fertility and agriculture) and they produced a son Ruadan. Ruadan was killed in battle, and Brighid invented wailing for the dead or keening.5

Associations: Brighid is associated with fire (hearth and forge), domestic arts (housekeeping/weaving/broom making/bread baking/marriage/childbirth), the Moon, water, and serpents. She is patron Goddess of agriculture, healing, herbalism, inspiration, learning, divination, occult knowledge, poetry, prophesy, and smith craft.4 She is also considered the patron Goddess of tunnel divination. Tunnel divination is when the diviner makes a tunnel out of their hands to form a ‘seeing tube’ to discover lost people or animals, or to inquire about the health of a family member or friend.6 Brighid guards her followers against evil, calamity; and provides guidance to those who wish to achieve courage, compassion, inspiration, hope, healthy animals, and those wishing to become healers.10 She is in command of the powers of water as well as the powers of fire. She has power over the health of trees and animals as well.1

Sacred Symbols: Brighid is associated with many different symbols.

Worship: Legend states that Brighid was worshiped in a temple which held an eternally burning, ash less flame that was tended by nineteen priestesses.2 This temple was located in Kildare, Ireland.3 When Brighid was Christianized, the nineteen priestesses became nuns. When patriarch religion took over, the ‘eternal flame’ of Brighid was extinguished. Today, the importance of worshipping Brighid has been rekindled.

Festival/Sabbat: Imbolc (or Imbolg) is Brighid’s celebration. She is accredited for bringing the light back to the Earth after the long, dark winter. Imbolc is held on or near February 1. In Germany, it is called Olmelc, which means ewe’s milk or lactation. The night before Imbolc was considered ‘Brighid’s Eve.’ On Brighid’s Eve, young women wearing white, would go from house to house singing and dancing. The occupants of the house were to give them small gifts such as eggs or money.5 Today, Brighid is worshipped by people desiring to reconnect to the old ways of Celtic worship. Worshippers call on her to rekindle their hope, inspire their creative endeavors, and create compassion.

Evidence: Archaeological inscriptions have been found on statues and wells that mention the name of Brighid. In western Europe, there are rivers, towns, and places that bear derivatives of the name of this Goddess. There are also many folk practices that have been handed down from family to family that call on the name of Brighid.2

Compressed List of Correspondences:

DEDICATION TO BRIGHID RITUAL

You walked out of ancient mists

Bringing light to my hearth,

Blessing with fire,

Restoring the life with the flame.

Clothed in your grace,

I follow your footsteps

To the place where mysteries merge

And the shapes behind myth

Are revealed as truth.

Your presence soothes

And sharpens memory,

You are my maker of song,

The radiant flame of gold

That illuminates the land

Beyond the ninth wave,

That forges a sword of light,

To penetrate, to heal.

Kneeling at your well

I drink of your mystery,

The waters of the sun

Flood my skull

With sacred fire,

Flowing with light,

My spirit sings of the deep.

<South:(Fire) Brighid brings the fire light in early Spring a time of change, will, and passion. BLESS ME BRIGHID WITH YOUR WARM HEALING LIGHT.

<West:(Water): Brighid inspires psychic ability in divination by opening the subconscious mind to those who visit her wells. BLESS ME BRIGHID WITH YOUR DIVINE SIGHT.

<North:(Earth): Brighid provides abundant healing power and stability. BLESS ME BRIGHID WITH YOUR HEALING POWER BY KEEPING ME STABLE, SOLID, AND DEPENDABLE.

<East:(Air): Brighid gives inspiration to those with a creative mind. BLESS ME BRIGHID WITH CREATIVE INSPIRATION THAT CHALLENGES ME TO USE MY INTELLECT.

<Kneel before the altar and light the red candle. Warm hands in front of the candle and read poem:

Hail Brighid of the Eternal Flame

I humbly ask you to be my guide

As I am taking the steps again

That will lead me back to my inner light

For I am back on the Old Path

That I have taken some lives ago

I remember the words of the ancient oath

As they were written upon my soul

I sing the songs I know by heart

I dance again the spiral dance

My will is strong and so my desire

I let go my body to seek you in trance

I long to see the Island of Apples

To see the hills

To feel the calm

To smell the sweet fragrance of flowers

To be once more in the Faery Realm

Oh blessed Brighid of the Sacred Fire

Show me the way, take me by the hand

Part the mists that cover my sight

Welcome me back into your domain

<Light the white candle. Warm hands in front of the candles and read poem:

Be my shelter, be my guide

Be my dream and my reality

Be my dark side and my bright

Be my friend and be my guard

Be my music and be my silence

Be my mother and be my lover.

Walk behind me as I go,

Walk beside me when I’m sad,

Walk in front of me as torch,

Help me carry all my bags.

Be within my lonely heart,

For I need You more than ever,

Be my voice and I’m your bard,

Let us always be together.

<Anoint necklace with oil.

<Anoint with water and salt.

<Pass through the flames of the Goddess candles.

<Lay cleansed necklace on the pentacle on the altar.

<Say: 'By Charging this divine token with earth, air, fire, and water, may the protective, inspirational, and creative mantle of Brighid, the Great Triple Goddess, descend on __________ (name of dedicant) and surround her all of her days on Earth and the beyond.'

<Stand at the altar.

<Take medicine bag and hold out over altar.

<Read poem:

May the Flame of the Hearth

Warm and Cheer You

May the Flame of the Healer

Turn Away disease and Ills

May the Flame of Inspiration

Teach and enlighten your mind

May Brighid’s sacred flame

Lead you toward her light.

<Place necklace around neck.

<Kneel/Stand in front of the altar again holding the necklace out in front of body.

<Read poem:

I am she who is born of the Goddess

I am she who chases the moon

I am she who is cleansed in it’s light

I am she that wields her might

I am she who tends the flame

I am she that keeps the hearth

I am she that honors sacred space

I am she that knows the Lady’s face

I am she the writer of words

I am she the teller of tales

I am she that holds the moon

I am she who’s heart holds the tune

I am she the healer and healed

I am she the teacher and student

I am she the Mother and child

I am she the tame and the wild

I am she from the forest green

I am she from the lakes so bright

I am she that walks within night

I am she a daughter of the Lady Brighid

-----

‘Bless me mother for I am thy child.’

((Anoint eyes))

‘Blessed be my eyes, that I may see thy path.’

((Anoint nose))

‘Blessed be my nose, that I may breathe thy essence.’

((Anoint mouth))

‘Blessed be my mouth, that I may speak of Thee.’

((Anoint breasts))

‘Blessed be my breasts, that I may be faithful in my works.’

((Anoint loins))

‘Blessed be my loins, which bring forth the Life of humanity as thou hast brought forth all creation.’

((Anoint feet))

‘Blessed be my feet, that I may walk in thy ways.’

Thank you for your presence tonight Brighid.

I am honored to be a Daughter of the Flame in your Earthly temple.

<East: Thank you for bestowing your creative inspiration on me tonight.

<North: Thank you for bestowing your healing ability on me tonight.

<West: Thank you for bestowing your psychic abilities on me tonight.

<South: Thank you for bestowing your ever burning healing light on me tonight.

(poems in this dedication were given to me by a friend, whom found them at unrelated sources. I think some of the poems were written by some of my fellow priestesses in the school, but I can not be sure. Many apologies if used unwillingly)

1 The Mythic Images Collection. http://www.mythicimages.com/printbrigit.htm

2 Nicholson, Francine. http://geocities.com/celticwall/ejournal/imbolc/brighid.htm

3 Beith, Mary. The History of Brigit the Moon Goddess. West Highland Free Press.

4 Witches Way. http://www.witchesway.net/links/goddesses/Celtic.html

5 ADF website. http://www.adf.org/articles/gods-and-spirits/brigid.html

6 Brighid’s Fire. http://www.brighidsfire.com/

7 Brighid, Bright Goddess of the Gael. http://inanna.virtualave.net/brighid.html

8 Lansberry, Joan. ‘Brigit, The Goddess Who Would Not Die. http://www.aztriad.com/brigit.html

9 Magic of Mythology. http://www.shee- eire.com/Magic&Mythology/Gods &Goddess/ Celtic/Goddess/Brigit/Factsheet1.htm

10 K, Amber and Azrael Arynn K. ‘Musings on Candlemas and the Goddess Brigit.’ New Worlds Magazine. Issue #NW021.

11 Valentine, Lin and Goddess Vision. http://www.goddessvision.net/Brigid History.htm

12 Virtue, Doreen. Goddess Guidance Oracle Cards. ‘Brighid.’

http://www.lunaea.com/goddess/creativity/bridshrine.html

http://www.crystalforest3.homestead.com/files/Brighid_Celtic_Goddess_James_Wappel_Studios.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigit's_cross

http://anamspirit.com/brigid.htm