"Almost into modern times, the ancient worship of the fire goddess Brigid continued at her sacred shrine in Kildaire, where nineteen virgins tended the undying fire and where, on the twentieth day of each cycle, the fire was miraculously tended by Brigid herself.  There, into the eighteenth century, the ancient song was sung to her:  Brigid, excellent woman, sudden flame, may the bright fiery sun take us to the lasting kingdom."  Patricia Monaghan, The New Book of Goddesses and Heroines

Her Story

Brigid (pronounced 'breed', Monaghan) is a goddess that goes by many names-  Brighid, Brigantia, Bride, Bragndu, and finally the Christian St. Bridget.  She is a Celtic Goddess, daughter of Dagda (a part of the triple Goddess Morrigan).  Some say that Brigid's history goes back even further into pre-celtic Ireland and Scotland, with a legend about Bride.  Some even link her with the Sheela- na- Gig (pg. 96, Husain).

Brigid, like many other goddesses, is also a triple Goddess- but not the more typical  maiden,mother, crone variety.  She had three forms, a goddess of smithcraft, goddess of poetry and inspiration, and a goddess of healing.  Even the Christian Bridget kept these qualities as she "was invoked as both a muse and as a healer, continuing the traditions of the Goddess." (pg. 74, Monaghan).   These three aspects of the Goddess were brought together by the symbol of fire.  Her name means "bright arrow" or "bright one" (pg. 74, Monaghan).  She is "considered a virgin deity, but Her priestesses, the kelles, consorted with men". (pg. 37, Conway)

Brigid is credited for inventing whistling, and keening (the mourning song of the irish woman) (pg. 74, Monaghan).  She is also identified with the earth herslef, and the soil's fertililty, according to Monaghan.  Ritual is what kept Her story alive, "the exclusive female priesthood at her sactuary in Kildare kept an ever-burning fire; there were 19 priestesses, representing the 19-year cycle of the Celtic "Great Year" (pg. 37, Conway).  

"The Moon has long been associated with water and the granting of wishes or prayers.  Several goddesses...the Cetlic Brigit, ahd sacred Moon wells where rituals large and small, were held for the granting of desires."  (pg. 291, Conway 5)  Many wells and springs became sacred to Brigid throughout Ireland and Britain (pg. 243, Conway 5).  One example is, "Near the village of Brideswell (also meaning "Brighid's well")in Country Roscommon is a well that was said to grant fertility to barren women.  (91, McCoy).  

Today Brigid is still remembered and honored during Imbolc.  Imbolg is one of the Greater Sabbats, a festival celebrated on February 1 or 2, the first day of Celtic spring, and a feast day for Brigid (pg. 35, Husain).  It is a fire festival that honors Brigid. "Her festival was so deeply a part of Irish culture that the church could not banish it, and was forced to name it as St. Brighid's Day" (pg. 195, McCoy).

What is sacred to Brigid?

Poetry (according to my first link, this includes stories, folklore, music, singing, etc.) 
Creativity
Inpsiration
Smithcraft/cauldron
Healer, healing, medicine
Agriculture
Inventions
Childbirth
Fire, hearth
Brigid's Cross
Feminine arts, including midwifery/fertility
Divination, prophecy, witchcraft , herbs
Milk and milk products
Domestic animals
Love
Physicians and healers
Spiral
The number 19
Wells
Ram and ox
Blackberry, clover, oak, crocus

 

Connecting to Brigid Today

People, many women and men, still honor Brigid today.  They do this with  prayer, magic, celebrating special days or feasts, doing creative works and projects, or healing work.    Divination, ritual, or any other magical work with Brigit, in my experience, must be fluid.  It isn't something we write for someone else, as she is the Goddess of poetry, inspiration, creativity.  This is something I really feel one must do on their own.  However, I've included her some ideas of ways to connect with Brigid, to ask her help in healing, for inspiration, for creative works or more.  

Consider making your location, be it indoors or out, to include some of the things sacred to her.  A cauldron, a candle flame, the heart, a well, blackberries or leaves, etc.  Being that she is a Goddess of inspiration, ask her for that, and allow the experience to flow through you, trusting yourself and inner wisdom to guide you.  Ask what you need to do, and follow it.  

The following are a few examples- like being in the garden, baking pie, healing herb work, and a craft to connect with the Goddess Brigid today:

In My Garden

Being outdoors is where I connect with spirituality best, and so I found working on this final project, adding Brigid to my garden seemed the best way to connect with Her.  In my Goddess Garden, I've placed the entryway in honor of Brigit. 

There is a well (it's not a working well, but the symbolism is right:), with blackberries on either side.  I also placed lavender and yarrow in the garden, as herbal works are sacred to Brigid, and these are useful herbs for me.  There is a large stone my husband moved down for me, and can be used as an altar, or seat, during magical works.  As most of my works, divination and creativity and herbal work, feminine crafts- are all sacred to Her, it seemed very appropriate to pay tribute to at the entry way and altar of my garden!

Just moments after dedicating the space, I felt so much creativity and inspiration.  I wrote six long pages of an article, which has now turned in to my moon journal!  It was INCREDIBLE!

Brigid's Cross

If you are the type that likes crafts, a great way to meditate and be creative (and have a great piece of art for your altar or home at the end!) is to do a Goddess Craft.  Brigid's Cross is sacred, and all over Ireland.  These are often made on her feast day, February 1.  Here are several links as to how to make one of your own:

http://www.iol.ie/~scphadr/makecross.html
http://www.widdershins.org/vol4iss7/04.html
http://www.earthwitchery.com/makeacross.html
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ASaints/Brigit.html

Brigid's Blackberry Pie!

Blackberry's are sacred to Brigid.  What better way to connect to the Goddess than by preparing a meal.  Cleanse your kitchen using lemon juice water, or vinegar, or water with a bit of thyme.  Then, bring yourself to a meditative place.  Allow the process of baking the pie to be a peaceful experience, and one you devote all love and energy too.  Maybe a loved one needs some healing, bring them Brigid's pie to help promote healing in their life!  Here's a link to a great blackberry pie recipe for Brigid:  http://pie.allrecipes.com/az/77129.asp

Healing with Herbs

Herbal Healing is Sacred to Brigid. You can use herbs medicinally under the supervision of a trained herbalist, midwife, or doctor.  But herbs also can be used in a spiritual practice without ingesting anything at all.  For example, during prayer or meditation, consider holding a healing herb, or setting it on an altar while you work.  Or, for more magical work, herbs can be used in spells, sachets, poppets, infusions, incense, baths, and more!  

Here are just a few herbs you may want to use with doing healing work, however, please do not ingest anything without consulting a skilled herbalist!

Blackberry - this is sacred to Brigid.  Use this for her aid.  It is also for healing, money and protection. 
Mint - for healing
Garlic - for healing and protection
Saffron - for healing
Eucalyptus - healing and protection
Fennel - healing
 

The following is an example of a magical use of a healing herb, using and old invocation to Brigid, taken from Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs:

The blackberry leaves are used in spells of wealth, as are the berries themselves, and the vines are protective if grown.  The balckberry plant is also used to heal scalds by dipping n ine blackberry leaves in spring water and then laying them against the wound gently, while saying the following chant three times to each leaf (27 times in all):

Three ladies came from the east, 
One with fire and two with frost.
Out with fire, in with frost.
 

Links

http://www.druidry.org/obod/festivals/imbolc/index.html
http://www.moonlitriver.com/brighid_goddessgallery.html
http://homepages.iol.ie/~ajmull/Brigid.htm
http://www.annball.com/books/garden.shtml
http://realmagick.com/articles/07/1807.html  

References

1. The New Book of Goddesses and Heroines by Patricia Monaghan.  Llewellyn, 1998
2. Maiden, Mother, Crone by D.J. Conway, Llewellyn, 1996.
3. Celtic Women's Spirituality by Edain McCoy. Llewellyn, 1998.
4. The Goddess by Shahrukh Husain.  TimeLifeBooks, 1997.
5. Moon Magick, by D. J. Conway.  Llewellyn, 1997.
6. Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, by Scott Cunningham.  Llewellyn, 2005