She is known by many names across time and in many cultures:
St. Brigit, Brighid, Brid, Bride, Briga, Brigid, Bridgid, Briginda, Brigdu, Brigittina, Brigantia, Maman Brigitte.
A
beloved Celtic Goddess of fertility, spring, poetry, smithing, healing
and protection. And when the Christian church took reign over
Ireland she would then be transformed into a Saint, one so widely known
throughout the land. In Kildare in The Goddess Brighid and her 19
Priestess kept a perpetual flame burning in her fire temple, which was
continued by St. Brighid and the sisters of the monastery that was then
built on the same sacred ground. In the 16th century the flame
was extinquished but has been rekindled by the Brigidine Sisters in
1993. That same year a small group led by Mael Bridge called The
Daughters of the Flame would begin to tend their own flames in honor of
Brighid, 5 years later a member of The Daughter of The Flame with
Mael's permission started Ord Brighideach, her name was Kim, her goal
was to be able to have many groups to make up the Order and to include
men too, over time many other groups began to develope doing the same
over the years, especially with the ease of social networking.
Just like the Priestesses and Sisters each group consists of 19
flametenders, on a 20 day rotation, and on the 20th day Brighid herself
tends to the flame. Each flame keeping vigil is for a 24 hour
period, starting and ending at dusk.
Still to this day so many will travel to visit the Cathedral where her fire temple once shined bright and
to see her sacred wells, which are believed to bring healing. In
Patrick Logan's book "The Holy Wells of Ireland" he names 15 wells that
have been dedicated to Brighid, however there are atleast 2 others in
Ireland and also wells in Britain, Scottland and Wales named after her.
Many that are called to Brighid find themselves not only tending
her flame but also tending to her waters in some way to honor her.
For some that is being concious to use enviromently friendly
products to keep from adding to the polution of our waters, for others
its cleaning trash at local river banks, lakes and oceans.
I was given permission from a member of Ord Brighideach to use her recent photo
Her
name means the exhaulted one, but I also see it meaning a bridge, she
was born at a threshold, which is a bridge between worlds, she also is
a bridge between Pagan spirituality and Christian religion and last but
not least, she was the bridge of peace between her tribe of Danu and
the tribe of the Fomorians, by marrying Bres.
This is my favorite story of Brighid.
ST. BRIGID'S CLOAK
The
King of Leinster at that time was not particularly generous, and St.
Brigid found it not easy to make him contribute in a respectable
fashion to her many charities. One day when he proved more than usually
niggardly, she at last said, as it were in jest: "Well, at least grant
me as much land as I can cover with my cloak;" and to get rid of her
importunity he consented.
They were at the time standing on the
highest point of ground of the Curragh, and she directed four of her
sisters to spread out the cloak preparatory to her taking possession.
They accordingly took up the garment, but instead of laying it flat on
the turf, each virgin, with face turned to a different point of the
compass, began to run swiftly, the cloth expanding at their wish in all
directions. Other pious ladies, as the border enlarged, seized portions
of it to preserve something of a circular shape, and the elastic
extension continued till the breadth was a mile at least. "Oh, St.
Brigid!" said the frighted king, "what are you about?" "I am, or rather
my cloak is about covering your whole province to punish you for your
stinginess to the poor." "Oh, come, come, this won't do. Call your
maidens back. I will give you a decent plot of ground, and be more
liberal for the future." The saint was easily persuaded. She obtained
some acres, and if the king held his purse-strings tight on any future
occasion she had only to allude to her cloak's India-rubber qualities
to bring him to reason.
This picture was published by Dublin’s Cuala Press in the 1920s, reflects the Saint Brighid's association with the start of spring and the lambing season.Imbolc
is known to be Brighid's day, and also the birthday of St. Brighid,
just like she is known to be called upon for fertility, she is known to
walk the land and fertilize it on Imbolc.
Prayers to Brighid
Brigid,
spread your mantle about us,
May Brigid Bless the house
Covering
us with hope and harmony, joy and love.
Wherein you dwell,
Shine
your light where there is darkness; ignite our fires with your flame.
Bless every
fireside, every
![page1image3229451584]()
Wall and door.sustain
and nurture us to fruition.
Bless every heart that beats
Beneath its roof.
Bless every hand that toils to
Bring it joy.
Bless every foot that
walks
Its portals through.
May Brighid bless the
house
That shelters you.
Symbols Sacred to Brighid
Offerings For Brighid
Brighid's
Cross
Poetry
Hearth
Gratitude
Flame
Flame Keeping
Sunrise
Tending Her Waters
Candle
Milk
Spark
Grain
Springs
& Wells
Honey
Forge
Anything Made By You
Thressholds
and Doorways
Bread
Cloak/Mantle
Music
Corn Doll
Acorn
Correspondences Associated with Brighid
Day - Sunday
Element - Fire & Water
Direction - East & South
Season - Spring
Celebration - Imbolc
Solar System - Neptune & Sun
Color - Blue, Red, Green & Yellow
Trees - Blackthorn, Cedar, Hawthorn, Oak, Rowan & Willow
Herbs & Flowers - Nettle, Blackberry, Dandelion, Daffodil
Animal - Lamb, Fox, Ewe, Cow, Bear, Swan, Chicken, Bee, Badger & Groundhogs
Number - 19
Gemstones - Azurite, Peridot, Garnet & Ruby
A Flame Keepers Ritual
Create
an altar for Brighid. The only item truly needed is a candle but
other symbols to represent her can help,you to connect with her.
Things to consider a Brighid’s cross, a statue or picture of Her.
Anything representing her water aspect, a corn dolly, an acorn
etc. Her colors are green, blue, and red, so working these colors
into your altar is a wonderful way to honor her.
Create sacred space by Saining, ringing a bell or using a rattle
Ground and center
Cast Circle
Calling in the quarters:
I
call upon the four sacred directions, East, South, West, North, the Sky
above, the Land below, the Oceans all around and the Sacred Flame that
dwells within my heart. With deep love and gratitude I ask for
your presence in my circle tonight.
Invocation of Brighid
Beloved Goddess I both honor you and invoke you, with these words.
Radiant Goddess Brighid, mother, healer, and protector.
Goddess of enlightenment and illumination.
You who tends the sick and gives to the poor.
Share your wisdom with me.
Keeper of the sacred flame, I ask for your radiant light to uplift my words.
Allow your light to shine, even in the darkest times,
Guide me as I begin my vigil and offer my blessings to others in need.
Beloved Goddess Brighid guide me with your wisdom and light
as I tend to your flame tonight.
Now as you light your candle say;
O Dear Brighid,
Goddess of Fire and Water
May your eternal flame
guide my heart.
(Or in Irish, a special thanks to Stephen B. for these perfect words, both in English and Irish.)
A Bhríde daor,
Bandia na tine agus uisce,
go dtreoraí do lasair shíoraí mo chroí.
Ask her to send blessing and healings to anyone you know that may need it.
Recite the poem below to begin to raise energy
Bridget Bright – A Poem By Hedgewytch
She is known as Brigid Bright,
Goddess who shines against the night.
At Cille Dara, at the setting sun,
Her sacred flame is kept by one.
Nineteen times the earth turns round,
As sacred springs come forth the ground.
Twenty times the sun has burned,
And now the Goddess has returned.
Alone she tends her thrice-bright flame,
Born of her heart that bears her name.
The Dagda knows Brigid as Daughter,
Triple Blessed by fire and water.
Poets call her name to inspire.
And healers oft gain from her fire.
Wayland too would know her well
As hammer and anvil ring like a bell.
A sorrowful cry did she give meaning,
When first she brought to Eire keening.
Oh Sacred Fire against darkest night,
Burn for Brigid, for Brigid Bright!
Fire in the head…to quicken us.
Fire in the cauldron…
Fire in the forge of the heart…to temper us.
Now continue to raise energy by Singing or Chanting the following song, inspired by Kellianna's song I Walk With the Goddess.
I walk with Brighid
And Brighid, she walks with me.
She is the brillant sun up in the sky,
She is the flowers that bloom in spring,
She is the healking waters of the holy wells,
She is the spark that light the sacred flame.
I walk with Brighid
And Brighid, she walks with me.
When
finished release the energy out into the universe with the intention of
carrying your prayers and blessings out to be answered.
Now state all that you are grateful for, as an offering to Brighid.
Devoke both Brighid and the Elements
Radiant
Goddess Brighid, mother, healer and protector, I thank your from deep
within my heart and soul for your presence tonight as I began this
vigil. With deep love and gratitude, I bid you farewell.
And
to the four sacred directions, elements of Earth, Water, Fire and Air,
I thank you all from my heart. With deep love and gratitude, I
bid you all farewell.
Open your circle
End with saying;
This sacred space is now closed, but the blessing continue to flow.
*Keep candle lit for your vigil for as long as you are able to tend to it safely.
It
brought me great joy to create this doll in honor of Brighid.
Much of it was without the use of a pattern. You will see
she has a green cloak, just like in the stories that have been told of
her. On her dress a Brighid's cross, in her hands her
eternal/sacred flame and if you look closely her cloak's closure and
her hair tie, they are both Celtic knots.
Book sources:
Brigid History, Mystery, and Magick of The Celtic Goddess by Courtney Weber
The Goddess Brigid by Russell Knowles
Brigid Goddess, Druidess and Saint by Brian Wright
Tending Brigid's Flame by Lunaea Weatherstone
In Brigid’s Footsteps: The Return of the Divine Feminine by Linda W. McFadden
The Holy Well's of Ireland by Patrick Logan
Brigid's Way: Reflections On The Celtic Divine Feminine by Bee Smith
Saint Brigid, The Celts and The Early Irish Church By Justin R. McCarthy
Website sources:
