Working with Brighid for Healing and Protection
Ritual and Tradition Associated with Brighid, Celtic Triple Goddess
Feb 1, 2009
Triple Goddess Brighid is divided into three aspects of inspiration, smithcraft and healing. Celebrated at Imbolc, she has many valuable lessons to teach throughout the year.
Why Work with Brighid?
Who is Brighid? She is goddess of fire and sun, whose sacred flame represents the transformative power of change. Work with her when making life changes, setting goals, or planning for the coming year.
Invoke Brighid for fire rituals and early spring rites. Burn a white or orange-red candle and call her name.
As goddess of fertility, Brighid presides over expectant mothers, and in all matters concerning mothers and children. She protects hearth, home and livestock. She is a healer and teacher, whose transformative power can light the way forward. Her name translates as ‘bright one’, ‘shining one’ or ‘exalted one’.
Call on Brighid to help with:
- Healing
- Inspiration
- Writer’s block
- Teaching
- Life purpose and direction
- Increasing courage in women
- Cleansing and purification
- Transformation
- Warmth
- Children and childbirth
- Protection
Sacred Associations with Brighid
- Animals – There are many animals connected to Brighid, including her four sacred animals, the Wolf, Cow, Bird of Prey and Snake.
- Sun – Brighid is a sun goddess. Her symbol the sun wheel is an off-centre cross representing the cycle of solstices and equinoxes. It is said she hung her cloak on the sun’s rays.
- Moon – Brighid is the ruler of the moon, most associated with the new moon, also known as Bride’s moon.
- Plants – Rowan trees are sacred to Brighid, and her arrows were carved from rowan wood. The more common three-leaved variety of shamrock represents the goddess’s triple aspect.
- Fire – Brighid tends the sacred flame. Her shrine at Kildare had a fire tended for centuries by priestesses or nuns, never letting the flame burn out.
- Foods – Bread, milk, clover, dandelion, oats and corn are associated with Brighid.
- Mirror – One of three totems depicted with Brighid, representing divination.
- Spinning Wheel – This second totem represents the turning wheel of the year, and the spinning centre of the cosmos. Brighid was born with flame coming out of her head connecting her with the universe.
- Cup or Grail – This third totem represents the womb of the goddess, from which all is born and sustained, as the ewe’s milk sustains the lambs at Imbolc.
- White Wand of Inspiration – This was used by Brighid to regenerate, bringing new life into the world after winter’s decay.
- The Number 19 – Nineteen priestesses or nuns tended her sacred flame at Kildare. Brighid is also a lunar goddess, and the moon’s progress through the heavens is repeated every nineteen years.
Rituals and Traditions at Imbolc
Legend tells that Brighid hung her washing on a sunbeam. The Brighid Cross is a charm of good fortune, representing the sun with four sunbeams. Crafted in Ireland at Imbolc, it is still custom to make Brighid’s Crosses today. Traditionally woven with straw or reeds, paper or ribbon can also be used. They are hung over the front door or hearth to protect the household throughout the coming year.
Imbolc is a traditional time to be initiated into the Craft. Brighid is one of the most popular icons for a young druidess, with many choosing her as a teacher. Women often select her as their dedicated Celtic goddess, while kitchen witches honour her as goddess of hearth and home.
On the eve of February 1st, a piece of material is left outside. If marked in the morning, Brighid has passed by and blessed the household. It is also customary to safely leave candles burning in the window, welcoming her into the home.
References:
Franklin, Anna. Familiars: Animal Powers of Britain. Capall Bann, 1997
Virtue, Doreen. Archangels and Ascended Masters. Hay House, Inc. 2003
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