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In Old Irish: Brigit. In Modern Irish: Brighid. In British: Brigantia or Brigantis. In Gaul: Brigandu. In Welsh: Fraid. Today, she is most often known as Brigid, a fiery goddess with flaming red hair. This Goddess of many names in many places is a powerful figure in Celtic mysticism. She is a daughter of The Dagda, the High King of the Tuatha De Danann, the Shining Ones of Ireland. Her sacred flame is kept in Kildare, Ireland where 19 nuns currently tend it where 19 priestesses once did. Each nun tends the flame for a day. On the twentieth day, it is believed Brigid Herself tends the flame. This has been the tradition for centuries.
Hill tops, high rising flames, wisdom, excellence, poetic eloquence, craftsmanship, healing, warfare, and the hearth are among the many things associated with Brigid. Her name and power have crossed and survived much cultural mingling. She has crossed oceans, and continents and remains relatively intact.
While the name used to call Her, and the images used to define Her may change from culture to culture, Brigid’s power continues to burn brightly in every case. Ever morphing and ever changing, She remains present as She ever has been.
The stories of Brigid and who She is and what She has done are of such multitude and diversity that we cannot possibly cover them all. Brigid is a goddess of many facets. We are all multifaceted, there is none among us who can claim to be only a poet, only an accountant, only a taxi driver, or a police officer, or a mother, or a son, or a baseball player, or any number of things. We are not any single thing, we are multifaceted, just as Brigid is.
For this week, we will celebrate Brigid and Her many facets. Our work will primarily be with three of Her often celebrated facets as the Triple Goddess.
Brigid is known as a Goddess of Craftsmanship. She is a smith, working and shaping and changing things. Firing them in Her forge and then reshaping them with hammer, tongs, and tools until they are just right.
Brigid is known as a Goddess of Healing. The blessed waters of Her well offer much to those in need. Healing herbs abound in her gardens where she steeps them into healing remedies of all kinds.
Brigid is known as a Goddess of Poetry. Muse to poets, singers, and bards. She is a place of refuge for any struggling artist to seek inspiration.
During our week we will spiral dance, drum, witness sacred drama, trance walk, tell tales, sing songs, mingle waters of the world, walk a labyrinth, attend a tea party, and ecstatic dance. Come prepared for magic.
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