PBP: B is for Brigid

(Artwork by Susan Falcon-Hargraves)

Brigid is the patroness of healing, poetry and smithcraft. She is also called Brigit, Brigid, Bride, Brighid, Bridget, etc. She comes from Ireland but is a pan-Celtic deity who was so widely honored and beloved that the Catholic Church canonized her as St. Brigid, Her name means, "bright one," or, "bright arrow." She is the daughter of The Dagda, or, "The Good God." Brigid is a triple goddess. Her festival is Imbolc. She had an exclusive female priesthood at Kildare and an ever-burning sacred fire. She is a goddess of fire, fertility, the hearth, arts and crafts, martial arts, healing, agriculture, inspiration, learning, poetry, divination, prophecy, smithcraft, animal husbandry, love, witchcraft, and wisdom.

Some of the symbols and associations for Brigid include fire, rowan, blackberries, shamrocks (which represent both Ireland and Her triple nature), milk, lambs, shields, wells, and the heart. The symbol most associated with her, however, is Brigid's cross:

I plan on changing my altar this weekend in preparation for Imbolc and will post a picture after it is finished and talk a little more about my experiences of working with Brigid. I have a beautiful depiction of Her by the artist Emily Balivet.