In the middle of winter, just as you can begin to sense the days are getting longer, the Goddess Brigid stirs. February 1st/2nd is the ancient Celtic holiday of Imbolc (IM-bolhk), one of the four cross quarter holidays in the pagan wheel of the year that fall between the solstices and equinoxes. These holidays were of more importance to the Celts than the solar holidays and Imbolc was the celebration of the great fire Goddess Brigid and the start of spring.
To help you understand a bit about deities and how to begin working with them, I wrote a blog post detailing my journey that you can read here. I don't want you to blindly believe everything I say about any deity. This path is about exploring and discovering what makes sense for you. Maybe that will be Brigid, maybe not. If you feel uncomfortable diving into working with her as an actual Goddess, you can simply see her as an archetype or an inspiring story.
Source: Temiel
Brigid is personally my main Goddess. My first interaction with her was as the Catholic saint, since I grew up going to St. Bridget's Catholic Church. Looking back, I feel like my upbringing in that faith was guided also by her hand.
Since then I first got to know her in her original Celtic form by celebrating Imbolc. My first Imbolc celebration I meditated on her and I was shocked that I felt her presence so strongly during that solitary ritual. She felt like a gentle guide, yet full of inspiration and passion. Now as a fire dancer, writer, and more recently a bit of a homemaker – I feel her fiery presence in so much that I do. She is included in my morning prayers, her cross is a protection in my home, and I tell the story of the amazing, transformational, resilient Celtic Goddess, Catholic Saint and Voodoo Loa whenever I can. I hope she inspires you as much as she has inspired me.
Who is Brigid?
"It is tempting to view this tender goddess of the early Spring only as: a wide-eyed, golden-haired girl, encircled by children. But behind her girlish innocence is the power of a once-great ancestral deity, Brigid, whose name means “The Exalted One,” queen and mother goddess of many European tribes. She is also known as Brigid, Bridget, Brighid, Brighde, Brig or Bride and some scholars consider her name originated with the Vedic Sanskrit word brihati, an epithet of the divine.
The 10th century Cormac’s Glossary describes her as the daughter of the Daghda, the “Great God” of the Tuatha de Danaan. He calls her a “woman of wisdom…a goddess whom poets adored, because her protection was very great and very famous.” Since the discipline of poetry, filidhect, was interwoven with seership, Brigid was seen as the great inspiration behind divination and prophecy, the source of oracles.
She is said to have had two sisters: Brigid the Physician and Brigid the Smith, but it is generally thought that all three were aspects of the one goddess of poetry, healing, and smithcraft. Elsewhere she is described as the patron of other vital crafts of early Celtic society: dying, weaving and brewing.A goddess of regeneration and abundance, she was greatly beloved as a provider of plenty who brought forth the bounties of the natural world or the good of the people."
Excerpt from Donna Woodka
I see Brigid as the Triple Fire Goddess of Hearth, Forge and the Inspired Heart. She rules both the external flames that warm the home and temper raw metal into tools and art, and the internal fires of creativity. She is protection, inspiration, divination, abundance, guidance, fertility and healing. In my experience, she feels like a supportive mentor that always pushes you to be your best self because she believes in your greatness.
She is also adaptable. When Christianity came to Ireland, she found a way to slip into the new faith and keep her sacred fire burning for centuries. The Feast Day of Saint Brigid of Kildare is also on February 1st, the same day as Imbolc. To learn more about her fascinating history as Gaelic Goddess turned Catholic Saint and the traditional ways she was honored, check out this article.
She is also the only white Goddess to make it into the Voodoo pantheon. As enslaved Africans and Irish indentured servant lived together in Haiti, the Celtic Goddess Brigid morphed into the Voodoo Loa Maman Brigitte, death goddess and wife of Baron Samedi. In the Voodoo tradition she is foul mouthed and drinks rum infused with hot peppers while lovingly guiding the dead into the next realm.
Her ability to smoothly integrate into new religions is a testament to her resiliency. She has a power to captivate the heart and mind of those who meet her, so much so that they find a way to weave her into their spiritual traditions.
As she is the Goddess of poetry and inspiration, another beautiful way to get to know her is through some verses written in her honor.
"Feel Me now as Maiden.
I am the initiator.
I am the twinkle of an idea.
I am the spark that activates and inspires.
I am the light that illuminates manifestation.
I bring the energy that encourages the sleeping Winter world to begin to stir.
Feel My presence.
I am the spark of life in all things."Excerpt by Wendy Andrew
"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...to heal us.
Fire in the forge of the heart...to temper us."
By Hedgewytch
Source: Ester Remmington
How to Connect with Brigid
Feel Her Fire - whether a candle or bonfire, one of the best ways to honor Brigid is with flames. Light a candle for her or kindle a fire in your hearth or fire pit. Scry into the flames and open yourself up to new inspiration and insight.
Wax Poetic - get creative, especially with your words. She was beloved by bards, poets and storytellers, so let your creative juices flow!
Wade in the Water - Brigid is also connected to sacred wells, so it a good time of year to visit your favorite watering hole and leave an offering of some herbs, flower petals, or tying a (biodegradable) ribbon to a nearby tree with blessings written on it. Drawing yourself a bath with salt and your favorite relaxing scents like lavender and chamomile is another good way to connect with her watery side.
Decorate your Hearth - Traditionally the hearth is the floor of the main fireplace where most of the heating and cooking would take place. Nowadays the symbolic hearth can be either the main fire place or the stove. If you’re a bit of a kitchen witch and spend most of your time cooking and concocting, you can place a Brigid Cross above your stove. If you’re more likely to curl up in front of the fire with a craft or a good book, I’d make the mantle seasonally festive with some spring flowers.
Read my Imbolc Article - and get more inspiration here!
Join Me for Imbolc
Deeply nourish yourself in sunny St. Petersburg, FL and enjoy an Imbolc weekend retreat with me.
Rekindle Your Fire: Dancing with Brigid’s Flame is a weekend brimming with activities that will reconnect you to the Divinity within as well as help you deepen your relationship with Brigid and her transformational element of fire.
Activities include:
Dancing/Moving with Fire Lessons
Fire Photography
Sound Healing and Voice Activation
Nourishing Healthy Meals
Breath Work
Ecstatic Dance
Guided Meditation
Vision Board Creation
Fire Divination or Scrying
Tarot Reading with Rebecca
Cord Cutting Ritual
Fire Clearing (using fire as a smudge tool)
Optional Microdose for Journeying
Want to save $45 and get even more?
Join Growing Light: A Winter Self Love Story - the exclusive two month one-on-one addition to my virtual coven Spiral Within - and save $300 off the Imbolc Weekend Retreat. You also receive a Year Ahead Tarot and Astrology Reading ($200 value) all for only $250/month.
It would be my honor to lovingly guide you though the coldest months and bring some light and love into your winter.