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Brigid
BRIGHID /
BRIGIT / CERIDWEN etc. Brigid is a goddess found in many mythologies
including those of Ireland, France, and Wales. Because she exists in
so many different cultures, Brigid has literally a never ending list
of names. The name Brighid comes from the Gaelic words Breo-Saighit,
her name means "fiery arrow". Brigid is symbolized by fire, flames,
and the hearth; she is also symbolized by water (cauldrons), grain
(Brigid wheels, Brigid's Bed), creatures (a white cow with red ears
and swan) and also by talismans (spinning wheel).
Brigid is the
goddess of inspiration, smithcraft, and healing. Brigid oversees
poets, poetry, creativity, prophecy, and the arts; in smithcraft she
oversees blacksmiths, goldsmiths, and household crafts; and in
healing, Brigid looks after healers, medicine, spiritual healing, and
fertility (crops, land, cattle).
Though best known
as Brigid, another name for her is Ceridwen. Ceridwen is Brigid's name
in Welsh folklore. Ceridwen holds an incredibly important role as a
mythological and historical figure because she is said to be the
mother of the famous Welsh poet, Taliesin. Although Ceridwen and
Brigid have separate histories the only difference comes from the
separate cultures. She is the 'Lady of the Shores', for the shore is
one of those magical in-between places that so fascinated the Celts.
These in-between places such as shorelines, fords, doorways and so on,
were neither one state nor the other. The shore is neither dry land,
nor is it the sea, yet it is the meeting place of both. If we consider
that the land represents our solid, material world, while the sea
represents the Great Cosmic womb of all life, the intuitive side of
our nature, we can see that the shore is a meeting place between one
world and another.
Brigid is also
known as the 'Two-Faced One'. In the legends she is described as
having one side of her face black and ugly, and the other white and
beautiful. The Mystery of Bride is to be found in the annual
transformation of the cailleach, the hag of winter, into the fair
maiden of Spring. She is also represented as the Triple goddess (see
picture below).
Brighid is the
goddess of all arts and crafts. She represents the potential of all
women for she is the eternal flame that burns in the heart and hearth
of every woman of the Gael, 'moon-crowned Brighid of the undying
flame'. She is also said to
preside over the cradle of the new born infant. It is a common
practice for the women of the Isles to hang rowan crosses over their
cradles whilst reciting a charm or prayer to Brighid to invoke her
protection.
Gemstones: Carnelian,
coral, agate, brown jaspar, gold, angelite, sodalite, lapis lazuli to
open the throat chakra.
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