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Re: Goddess Brigid

Imbolc, Feast of Saint Bride
Imbolc, or Óimelc, occurring the first of February, is one of the four major Celtic festivals in the year, going back to Druid times. The other three are Beltaine (the first of May), Lughnassad (the first of August), and Samhain (the first of November.)

The important Celtic feast of Candlemas fell on February 2 nd. It was held to mark the quickening of the year. In Ireland and the Highlands, February 2 nd is, very properly, the day of St. Brigit, formerly the White Goddess, the quickening Triple Muse.

Imbolc, Là Fhéill Bhrìghde, was a festival of the original herding culture – where lambs are born and ewes are in milk. The milk provided drink, butter, cheese, and whey after a long, hard winter when the stocks of food were low – a matter of life and death to early Celtic people.

The rite of Imbolc is a women's ceremony, where the coming of Spring is celebrated with Brighid's feast (Maiden aspect of Goddess), and the waning of the Cailleach's winter power is acknowledged (Crone aspect of Goddess). It is at the other side of the wheel of the year from Lughnassad, which is a male rite, celebrating Lugh, the God of Light. The struggle for power between the Cailleach and Brighid is the turning of the seasons from winter to summer. Early February marks the time when winter first begins to lose its power and the light can be seen to increase, thus it is also called Candlemas, when candles are blessed. In the myths, Cailleach brings winter snows while Brighid brings the first spring rains.

A tradition in the Highlands and Ireland is to put a strip of cloth or ribbon outside your door on Imbolc Eve (Jan. 31 st) for Brigit to bless. This cloth represents her mantle and can be used for healing throughout the year. Children are encouraged to notice if the cloth has grown the next morning, as Brigit's mantle did!

I've designated a tree in my own backyard as a 'clootie tree', which has been used in many a healing ritual for my family and friends.
The ceremony is also a rite of purification, and homes and barns are cleaned out and blessed, after the dregs of winter. Imbolc rites solicit the return of light and warmth, the beginning of a new season of growth and abundance, planting, fertility and health.

Imbolc is also a traditional time to do divination. Looking into the ashes in the hearth the next morning one might find symbols of the coming year, or perhaps the very footprint of Brigit herself.

Re: Goddess Brigid

Candlemas
The Catholic Church celebrates Candlemas on Brigid's feast day (which is also celebrated as the 'Purification of the Virgin Mary'). This is appropriate, because Brigid is a patroness of light. In her earlier version, she was a solar deity. On Candlemas, the members of the parish carry their lighted candles in a procession around the church, then the priest blesses the candles. The candles are then taken to their homes and used in protection from storms, demons and evil. February 3rd is the feast of Saint Blaise, where two crossed candles are placed at the throat to protect the person from throat ailments

Re: Goddess Brigid

Shrines and Pilgrimage
There are many shrines and wells dedicated to Brighid throughout Ireland. In Faughart, the place many believe her to be born, there is an outdoor shrine where people come for healing. Cloths, bandages, ribbons, rosary beads and other items are tied to bushes around the shrine. A stream flows nearby with stations of the cross marked for pilgrims to honour her, usually the first Sundays in February and July.

In Killmagh, there is a 'bullaun' (stone block with cup like depressions). Supplicants ask the Saint for help, and turn smaller rocks within the depression.

Re: Goddess Brigid

Brigit, the Milk Maid
Cattle, milkmaids and milk were sacred to Brigid, 'Thig a Bhride mhor na loin, Thig, a bhanachaig Iosda Criosda ('Come, great Bride, the beauteous, Come thou milkmaid of Jesus Christ.') 'White Brigid's Day' is another name for her feast day, referring to her association with milk, a vital food product to the early pastoral Celts. Milk was left out for her overnight, or poured out on the ground as a libation to her.

She is associated with pastoral and agricultural enterprise – especially sheep and cows, during lambing and calving season, and thus a Goddess of animal fertility. She is particularly associated with milk and dairy products. She is thus a Mother Goddess with strong associations with Danu or Anu.

Re: Goddess Brigid

Brigit and Animals
Brigit had a way with animals, and could call birds to her hand. A hunted boar once found its way to her courtyard, and was granted sanctuary from its pursuers, remaining at the monastery for the rest of its life.

A white skinned red eared fairy cow is associated with her. This fairy animal provided the only sustenance she would accept as an infant – its pure white milk. This cow is said to be her favourite companion.

She saved a man's life who had accidentally killed the King's pet trained fox. The king condemned the poor peasant to death for his offense. Brigit replaced the animal with a wild fox from the woods who performed the same tricks that the king's fox had performed. The fox disappeared back into the woods as soon as the peasant was set free by the king.

Brigit is also associated with a white snake, and with fish that sometimes appear in her healing wells.

Re: Goddess Brigid

Smooring the fire
The women of the household rake the embers into a circle and divide them into three sections with a small boss in the middle. Three peats are placed in the spaces and ashes scattered over all so that the fire is banked down for the night and easily rekindled in the morning. I have my own tradition, where I light a candle for Brigit and ask her blessing on my house:

I kindle this candle in the name of Brighid,
Goddess of Smiths.
I sain this house in the name of Brighid,
Goddess of Healers.
I smoor this candle in the name of Brighid,
Goddess of Poets.

Re: Goddess Brigid

Brigit of the Hearth
Brighid is also associated with the teinntean (the domestic hearth) especially in Gaelic Scotland, which is why Brighid doll's are placed near the hearth on her feast day. The doll is usually dressed in white, with ribbons, lace and even jewellery added. Mine has a green (handkerchief) mantle, with a Brigit's Cross made out of a piece of Irish peat.
A slat geal (white wand) is often placed in the leabe Bride (Brigit's bed) with her image, as a fertility charm. She is the patron of agricultural, pastoral, and domestic fertility and abundance.An offering of grain and milk products is left for her – bannocks, cheese, cream, butter, milk. The Bridie doll is kept throughout the year near the hearth, hung on a wall, or near the door, as a talisman of protection, then burnt in the next year's

Togail an Teine
Mar a thogadh Muire.
Caim Bhride 's Mhuire
Air an tula 's air an lar,
'S air an fhardaich uile.

Kindling the Fire
As Mary would.
The encirclement of Bride and Mary,
On the fire, and on the floor
And on the household all.

Beannachadh Smalaidh
Smalaidh mis an tula
Mar a smaladh Muire;
Comraig Bhride 's Mhuire

SmooringBlessing

I will smoor the hearth
As Mary would smoor;
The encompassment of Bride and of Mary.
Air an tula 's air an lar,
'S air an fhardaich uile. On the fire and on the floor,
And on the household all

Re: Goddess Brigid

Brigit the Midwife
Brigit is the patroness of midwives. She was the midwife of Mary, bringing Christ into the world.

Bride Ban-Chobhair
Chainig thugam cobhair,
Moire gheal is Bride;
Mar a rug Anna Moire,
Mar a rug Moire Criosda
Mar a rug Eile Eoin Baistidh
Gun mhar-bhith dha dhi,
Cuidich thusa mise 'm asaid,
Cuidich mi a Bhride!
Mar a gheineadh Criosd am Moire
Comhliont air gach laimh,
Cobhair thusa mise, mhoime,
An gein a thoir bho 'n chnaimh;
'S mar a chomhn thu Oigh an t-solais
Gun or, gun odh, gun ni,
Comhn orm-sa, 's mor m' othrais,
Comhn orm a Bhride!

Bride the Aid-Woman
There came to me assistance
Mary fair and Bride;
As Anna bore Mary,
As Mary bore Christ,
As Eile bore John the Baptist
Without flaw in him,
Aid thou me in mine unbearing
Aid me, O Bride!
As Christ was conceived of Mary
Full perfect on every hand,
Assist thou me, foster-mother,
The conception to bring from the bone;
And as thou didst aid the Virgin of joy,
Without gold, without corn, without kine,
Aid thou me, great is my sickness,
Aid me, O Bride!
As patroness of midwives, she was invoked at the door of the home where the woman was giving birth, by the midwife.
"Bride, Bride, come in!
Thy welcome is truly made,
Give thou relief to the woman,
And give thou the conception to the Trinity.

She is the guardian of every newborn child, their cradles often protected with a woven Brigit's Cross. Upon the safe birth of the child, it was 'sained' by the midwife, with three drops of water on the child's forehead, dedicating the child in the name of the Trinity. A candle was also carried around the bed sun-wise three times. All these are elements from the Goddess Brighid, who was a solar deity also associated with healing wells. Could saining be from an older tradition of putting the newborn child under Brighid's protection?

Re: Goddess Brigid

Goddess of the Healing Wells
Wells throughout the Celtic lands are named after Saint Brigit. There are many legends that the Saint had stopped by a well in her travels, and blessed and healed people at the site. 'Clooties' are often tied to the trees (often Hawthorne) overhanging the wells, with healing wishes. These wells were probably dedicated to the earlier Goddess, Brigit, with a presiding priestess or Druid.

Famous wells in Ireland dedicated to the Saint include: Kilbride parish, Co. Mayo; Chiffony, Co. Sligo; Faughart, Co. Louth; Ardagh, Co. Longford; Buttevant, Co. Cork; Castlemanger, Co. Cork; Dunteer, Co. Louth; Inismagrath parish, Co. Leitrim; Killinagh parish, Co. Cavin; Kilranelagh parish, Co. Carlow; Liscannor, Co. Clare; Marlerstown ,Co. Louth; Mullingar, Co. Westmeath; Tully, Co. Kildare; and Outeragh parish, Co. Leitrim

Re: Goddess Brigid

Brigit, the Healer
Brigit is the patroness of healers, using the elements of fire and water to heal. She taught the properties of herbs, and blessed many springs and wells across the land, that are still venerated today. Her girdle and mantle had healing properties, which she shared with others. A drop of water from her mantle created a healing lake.

As a solar deity, she also taught that sunlight and water could be used for healing, especially the eyes. She advised sufferers to find a clean, clear spring, or fast moving body of fresh water, sparkling with sunlight, and lathe it on sore eyes for a restorative cure. In Catholic tradition, they pray to Saint Brigit for eye maladies.
In folk tradition, a girdle (belt) is woven of straw at Imbolc, wide enough for people to step through three times in a healing ritual. Stips of cloth or ribbon are also left out to be blessed by the Saint on Imbolc, imparting the healing properties of her own cloak to them.