BRIGID
Known variously as Brid, Brighid, Brigit, Brigantia, Brigdu, (and many other forms), this Irish goddess was one of the most revered deities of the ancient Celtic people. Her tenacity and popularity enabled her to maintain power and status, even through Christianization … eventually becoming St. Brigid of Kildare, the patron saint of Ireland.
Brigid’s story is difficult to pin down, as is most Celtic mythology. However, many versions seem to agree that Brigid was born of Dagda and Boann. Dagda (meaning “shinning”) was the chief god of the Tuatha Dé Danann and represented kingship, life, and death. Boann (interpreted as “white cow”) was a river goddess representing fertility, inspiration, and knowledge. From this parentage, it is easy to see Brigid’s connection to inspiration, invention, fire, trades (especially smithing), strength, and creativity.
Her name – meaning “high” or “exalted” – has etymological roots back to the Proto Indo-European, and maintained its meaning all the way through the Proto-Celtic, Ancient Celtic, and Old Irish languages (as well as Sanskrit and Old High German). This etymology is also the reason behind Brigid’s association with the intellect (heightened awareness) and trades (high architecture).
While she values and governs all trades, smithing is her particular favourite. The importance of the forge in ancient times can not be overstated. While on the physical level forging provided the necessary tools for life (and war), on the metaphysical level the smith was the alchemist mastering the elemental powers necessary for the creation of life and the transformation of the world.
Her forge association also connects her to elemental fire, where she is often depicted with light rays surrounding or emanating from her…which in turn tends to get interpreted as a solar connection. She has never been directly identified as a solar goddess but she is a symbolic source of light, vitality, and healing. However, while she is often portrayed in a very fiery way, it is important to remember that first and foremost Brigid is a goddess of air and the mind. Her fire is the flame of inspiration and innovation. The etymological root of her name also gives us the English word “bright”, which speaks to both her physical appearance and her intelligence, as “bright” is often used in English to indicate intellectual aptitude.
She was also associated with wells – not water generally, specifically wells – as the access point where we connect to underground rivers of life. In other words, wells are a metaphor for inspiration; where ideas are drawn up from source waters.
With the transition to Christian saint, Brigid was assigned more “virginal” or “motherly” qualities in keeping with the patriarchal view and fear of the feminine. With the modern rebirth of paganism, Brigid has been assigned all sorts of attributes that tend to try to make her everything at once. However, Brigid is not a mother goddess, she is not a goddess of the hearth and home, and she is not a goddess of fertility, agriculture, or childbirth. Most of these associations seem to stem from an excessively narrow interpretation of “creativity”, Brigid’s erroneous conflation with her mother (Boann), contemporary ignorance of elemental fire, and the neopagan obsession with categorizing all great goddesses as mother goddesses… frustratingly accepting the patriarchal view that the source of feminine power and importance comes from bearing and caring for children.
Brigid has lived through many eras, philosophies, and cultures, acquiring all sorts of attributes along the way. However, it is important that we see and respect her for who she is at her core. When we clear away all the excess noise, Brigid speaks to us most powerfully as a goddess of inspiration, innovation, and creation. Brigid is the vital energy, the fire, behind promethean life.
May her breath infuse your creations, inspire your life, and help you reach your highest potential.