The Three Fold Brighid - Goddess, Saint and Druidess

The 1st or 2nd of February is the sacred day of Brighid, the triple formed Celtic Goddess, Saint and Druidress.

 

Within Irish mythology, Brighid (whose name means, amongst others, "exalted one") was one of three daughters of the Dagda, the chief God of the Tuatha de Danann, all of whom were named Brighid.  She was also the wife of Bres (a Fomorian) to whom she had a son named Ruadan.

 

Brighid was considered to be the Patroness of bards and poets, and inventor of the Ogham; Patroness of craftsmen, particularly associated with smithing and the hearth; and Patroness of healers and midwives.  It was unclear from Irish mythology as to whether these functions were performed by one Goddess or shared amongst all three sisters.

 

St Brigid's Well, Kildare, Ireland

Brighid’s connection with Druidism is based around the concept that Druidism was the belief system of the Celts who arrived in the British Isles around 500 BCDE.  Brighid herself was a “pan Celtic” deity who was worshipped by both the Goidelic and Brythonic Celts under the various names that she was known by - Bree/Brid/Bride, Briga, Briginda, Brigdu, and Brigantia.

 

When Christianity came to Britain, and in particular Ireland, Goddess Brighid became "Saint Brigid" as a way of converging the two beliefs (Pagan and Christianity) when the Church realised how popular and strong worship of the Goddess was amongst the people.  As such, within the many myths and legends surrounding the saint, elements of Druidism can still be found, such as her father Dubthach (“dark one”) often being referred to as a druid.

 

Aside from her name meaning "exalted one", Brighid's name is also said to mean "fiery dart"  or "fiery arrow".  It is this fiery aspect of Brighid, fire, that is appropriate to focus on when honouring Brighid in the Southern Hemisphere, as February is usually one of our hotter months, reflecting her inspirational, creative, healing and transforming fires.

 

Fire is one of the agents needed in the alchemical process that is reflected in the very landscape of this southern land as many native plants need fire in order to transform, to germinate.  Therefore, from drawing inspiration from the land we reside in, the goal is to transform (or at least obtain the keys to enable us to do this) via the fires of Brighid.