Brighid, pronounced “Bree-ed”, is known as the White Goddess and is also known by the names Brigid, Bride and Brigantia. Her name derives from the Irish epithet, Brid, meaning ‘bright one’, sometimes translated as ‘the bright arrow’ or ‘arrow of fire’. An alternative meaning stems from Brig, meaning ‘power and authority’, while another interpretation knows her as ‘exhalted one’. Eventually Christianised into Saint Brigid (also known as St. Bride or Mary of the Gael), Brighid is primarily an Irish goddess but is also associated with Wales, France and Spain.
Who is the Celtic Goddess of Fire?
Brighid is a sun goddess, symbolised by the sun wheel, whose flame of purification serves her as a fire goddess of hearth and home. She is a goddess of fertility, patroness of smiths, doctors and poets, and presides over family, childbirth, livestock, creativity and inspiration. She is also said to be a ruler of the moon, and the female equivalent of Archangel Michael, with her warrior energy that lights the fire of inspiration, healing and divination.
Brighid is a Triple Goddess, but not in the usual Maiden, Mother and Crone sense, although she is celebrated as the spring Maiden on her special feast day of Imbolc, at the start of February. She has three aspects; one as poet and muse of inspiration and occult knowledge, one as goddess of smithcraft, and one as a healer and goddess of medicine. All three aspects are united through the symbolism of fire in one ageless goddess.
The Legends of Brighid and the Tuatha de Danann
According to legend, Brighid was the daughter of the ‘Good God’ Dagda, making her one of the legendary Tuatha de Danann. These regal folk were the original gods and goddesses of ancient Ireland, who departed to the Hollow Hills and became known as the People of the Sidhe. Brighid is half-sister to the love god Aengus, and legend has it she was born with a flame coming out of her head, connecting her to the universe.
Brighid was a much-loved goddess of ancient Ireland, and had a shrine erected in her honour in the Irish town of Kildare, where priestesses tended her everlasting sacred flame.
Are the Goddess Brighid and Saint Brigit the Same?
Saint Brigid is a patron saint of Ireland and was second only to Saint Patrick in importance. She lived from the mid 5th century until 525AD. A healer and goldsmith, she was the daughter of a druid, while her mother was allegedly a Christian Pictish slave whom Saint Patrick baptized.
Legends tell of her being unable to eat food prepared by her druid father as a child, until he gave her the milk of a cow that had been milked by a Christian. She was also considered to be the midwife of the Virgin Mary.
Many healing wells are named after Saint Brigid, originally dedicated to her goddess counterpart. Original legend saw Brighid accused of a wicked act, to which she picked up a hot coal from a bonfire, placed it in her bosom and walked with it to the Pound of Killen. Unhurt, she dropped the coal and a well sprang up. Its waters have been responsible for countless healing miracles ever since.
When Pope Gregory the Great declared monasteries to be built upon pagan sites, Saint Brigid founded a community of nuns at Kildare, replacing the earlier pagan sanctuary to Brighid. Nineteen nuns guarded the sacred fire for many centuries, never letting the flame go out. On the 20th of each month, it was said that Brighid appeared to tend it herself.
Most of the stories of Saint Brigid are actually those of Brighid. The story of her hanging her washing on a sunbeam that miraculously solidifies to dry her clothes comes from the legend of Brighid ‘hanging her cloak on the sun’s rays’. At Imbolc, pagans would leave a piece of cloth or a cloak outside their house, and if it was marked the next day, they believed Brighid had passed by in the night and blessed them. Christians went on to perform this ritual at Candlemas. Both pagans and Christians also craft a ‘ Brighid’s Cross ’ at Imbolc to symbolise her sun wheel and protect the home throughout the coming year.
The two are now thought of as the same, with Brighid embracing the guise of Saint Brigid as her own.
Rituals Associated with Brighid
Brighid’s feast day, Imbolc, is the traditional time of initiation for witches and druids. Her ritual fire of purification is the perfect tool for harnessing motivational energy for change and new goals after winter.
Brighid’s many associations and customs include her four sacred animals, an affiliation with the rowan tree, and special foods such as bread, milk and oats, which form a staple basis of the the Imbolc feast.
People work with Brighid for intense healing, purification and inspiration. She is a loving and passionate goddess who wishes to bring her healing and strength to others.
Louise Heyden - Louise Heyden is a writer, artist, work at home mum, sound technician and former school Library Manager.
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