Spirits of this place
Brigid
The patron Saint, or the tutelary Goddess for the Druids of Albion is Brigid, or Brighid, Bride, Bridhe, or Bridget...
Brighid is arguably the most important goddess in British history yet most of what was known of her has been lost with the oral tradition that fostered her devotion. Written sources, such as “Sanas Chormaic” (Glossary of Cormac) and “Leabhar Ghabhala” (Book of Conquests), date from the 9th and 12th centuries respectively. This is long after St. Brighid established her community at Kildare so we have to be careful that we do not construct a goddess from our knowledge of the saint. The Irish Celtic scholar, An t-Athair Sean O'Quinn, rightly says, “It is an exercise in futility to try and separate the historical Christian Brighid from the Goddess since clearly the two are so interwoven.”
The patron Saint, or the tutelary Goddess for the Druids of Albion is Brigid, or Brighid, Bride, Bridhe, or Bridget...
Brighid is arguably the most important goddess in British history yet most of what was known of her has been lost with the oral tradition that fostered her devotion. Written sources, such as “Sanas Chormaic” (Glossary of Cormac) and “Leabhar Ghabhala” (Book of Conquests), date from the 9th and 12th centuries respectively. This is long after St. Brighid established her community at Kildare so we have to be careful that we do not construct a goddess from our knowledge of the saint. The Irish Celtic scholar, An t-Athair Sean O'Quinn, rightly says, “It is an exercise in futility to try and separate the historical Christian Brighid from the Goddess since clearly the two are so interwoven.”
Brighid is the Goddess of healing, (smith)craft and poetry, useful and inspired wisdom. She is the Goddess of fire, the hearth and energy. She is the Goddess of fertility and is said to lean over every cradle. She is associated with sovereignty and protection of her isles and the sea.Today, many places in the British Isles bear her name. As “Brigantia” she may have given her name to the Celtic lands of the North of England. Rivers are also named after her including, Afon (River) Braint, the longest river on Ynys Mon (Anglesey); Brent, London; and Brue, Somerset. The Goddess Brighid may have been linked with one of here servants (a ban Druid or Druidess) who may have taken her name, or it was used as a title for Brighids highest priestess. The potentailly actual individual can been seen as the link between Brigid the Goddess and Bridget the saint. St. Brighid or Bridget lived at the threshold of Christianity in the British Isles. The accounts of her birth and childhood are redolent of Celtic paganism. Her life is full of magic and miracle. The date of her death was purposefully aligned with the feast of Imbolc.
The Celtic Church seems to have been happy to lay her story over that of the Goddess. Most early Celtic saints are unknown outside their immediate locality. But here Saint and Goddess are guardian and healer of the common people of the land. She aids birth, ensures the harvest, increases the lactation of cows, protects the croft, lights the winter fire, provides the ale, inspires the storyteller and guides the smith's hands. It is no wonder that her cult spread widely.
For more information on this character see this excellent website Brighid Goddess and Saint from which a lot of our information is taken.
Our friend Sister Oystercatcher is a Priestess of Brighid and has written a cycle of poems, or songs, to Brihde based on the wheel of the year, whilst they can be found here what follows now is a glimpse of her work:
In Intercession for a Friend
In times of ailing, Brighid is there
The lightest touch upon the wrist
Easing the stress with delicate care
In silver pearl and amethyst
When black rain falls from a leaden sky
And darkness penetrates the soul
The light of Brighid glows ever nigh
A glimmering Golden Oriole
Sweet Brighid of fragrance of the flowers
My sister needs your warm embrace
Send perfumed petals in aromatic showers
For everything she has to face
Heather Upfield
© 28 May 2009
The Druids of Albion support the work in reverance to Bride and Geoff Boswell is an Individual Flamekeeper for Brighid through the Ord Brighideach International.
The Druids of Albion further support the work on the land to Bride and Geoff Boswell is a member of the Friends of Brides Mound.
We recommend an excellent book, Brigid: Goddess, Druidess and Saint by Brian Wright.
For more information on this character see this excellent website Brighid Goddess and Saint from which a lot of our information is taken.
Our friend Sister Oystercatcher is a Priestess of Brighid and has written a cycle of poems, or songs, to Brihde based on the wheel of the year, whilst they can be found here what follows now is a glimpse of her work:
In Intercession for a Friend
In times of ailing, Brighid is there
The lightest touch upon the wrist
Easing the stress with delicate care
In silver pearl and amethyst
When black rain falls from a leaden sky
And darkness penetrates the soul
The light of Brighid glows ever nigh
A glimmering Golden Oriole
Sweet Brighid of fragrance of the flowers
My sister needs your warm embrace
Send perfumed petals in aromatic showers
For everything she has to face
Heather Upfield
© 28 May 2009
The Druids of Albion support the work in reverance to Bride and Geoff Boswell is an Individual Flamekeeper for Brighid through the Ord Brighideach International.
The Druids of Albion further support the work on the land to Bride and Geoff Boswell is a member of the Friends of Brides Mound.
We recommend an excellent book, Brigid: Goddess, Druidess and Saint by Brian Wright.