Brigit, Celtic Goddess and Catholic Saint
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The energies of Brigit can help you ignite the flame of inspiration within you, heal mind and soul, and work through blockages. Brigit is both Catholic Saint and Celtic Goddess of Poetry, Healing and Smith-craft. The Celts have worshipped her as a Saint for 1500 years and as a Goddess since long before the Roman invasion of Britain and the birth of Christ. In Celtic mythology, Brigit is the daughter of Morrighan and Dagda, Chief of the Tuatha de Danaan, Ireland’s ancient fairy race. |
| Brigit married Bres, the King of Formorians, the ancient foes of the fairy folk, in an alliance to bring peace between the two warring factions. In an act of betrayal, Brigit’s eldest son, Brian, killed the Danaan’s blacksmith, a sacred position within the tribe. The blacksmith stuck a fatal blow before his death, and Brian died. Brigit’s lamentations were both an expression of mourning for her son, as well as for the enmity between maternal and paternal factions of family. This was the beginning of the end for the Old Ways.In other sources, Brigit is the daughter of Boann, goddess of the River Boyne in Ireland. She is the patroness of womanly arts – midwifery, dying, weaving, brewing, and guardian of children and farm animals, particularly cows. She is also patroness to Druids in her aspects of poetry, healing, prophecy, and smithing.Brigit morphed into the Catholic Saint Bridget. Myths evolved connecting her to the life of Jesus. One legend claims Brigit was the midwife at Jesus’ birth. She placed three drops of water on his forehead, reminiscent of a Celtic myth of three drops of water placed on the head of the Sun of Light to confer wisdom.The emphasis by Christian patriarchy on virginity left its mark. But Brigit’s virginity is mostly symbolic; she is not compromised by allegiance to one lover or husband, and she is beyond the grip of any one tribe or nation. Therefore, she can mediate to ensure unity for the good of all. Her fire is the spark in every one of us.
If you’d like to work with Brigit’s energies of healing and inspiration, sign up for my free eBook of Brigit affirmations and listen to my guided meditation on Brigit (see video trailer, below). |
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Sourceswww.druidry.org/obod/deities/Brigit.html & www.druidry.org/obod/festivals/imbolc/index.html Credits
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