Goddess of the Flame Brigid

February 1/2 is the Pagan celebration of Imbolc  St. Brigid’s Day Candlemas Groundhog Day. It’s a Cross-quarter day of the Wheel of the Year signifying that we are half way to Spring in the Northern Hemisphere- Spring is coming. 

[CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) Entrance to St. Brigid’s well

The Fiery Goddess Awakens 

On a secular level Bill Murray’s famous comedy is a spiritual teaching metaphor which gained wide appeal and is considered a classic fable/comedy 20 years after its initial release.  Bill Murray plays a cynical newscaster who keeps waking up on Groundhog Day living a deja vu, being stuck in time and immortal. Eventually, he figures out that being kind and nice and improving himself is the best thing to do. He learns to care and love and wins the love of his colleague and is free to move on from being stuck in his karmic lessons and live his life.  

Feb. 1st –2nd Traditional Irish and Pagan Holiday Celebrations

Saint Brigid’s Day,or Bride’s Day, is both a Catholic and Pagan Celebration of an ancient Goddess tradition. Christians overlaid the Ancient Goddess holiday renaming it Candlemas or the fest of the Purification of the Virgin

In the Tarot Brigid would be the Queen of Wands or The Woman on the Strength card.

Triple Goddess/Saint Brigid/Bride

According to scholar Robert Graves, Brigid is the most Ancient Triple Goddess worshipped since time out of mind. The Goddess rules scholars and poets.  She is said to rule over people who work with cows and chickens, brewers, fugitives, midwives, infants, printers, sailors, travelers, New Zealand, & Irish nuns.

This day symbolizes a time of transitions, initiations, new beginnings, of planting seeds that will sprout later. Brigid/Birgita represents the light half of the year,and new growth.

If you are uncertain of your path imagine yourself at a four-cornered crossroads, or go to an actual one and invoke Brigid to show you which path to take. 

Read more about BRIGID here https://infinitynow.wordpress.com/2018/02/01/bride-day-celebrate-wiccan-ritual-imbolc/

Goddess of Augury, prophets and seers. Celtic seers divined by looking into deep water and into flames. This is a great time to do divination with either.Elements- Water and fireBrigid rules the Waters and wells. Many healing springs are dedicated to Brigid. Natural bodies of water also signify Her presence, particularly where three streams joined together. Good time to take a special healing water bath or shower in Brigid’s honor.

She is the Goddess of fire and inspirations, poetry, creativity, smithcraft and healing. It is customary to make candles for the coming year and bless them on this day.

Protecting Goddess

In her aspect as Brigantia, she carries a flaming spear, an orb of victory, and wears a war crown. She symbolizes protection of the country from invaders and slavery. The name “Britain” is derived from Brigit’s name. Britain’s symbol, the Goddess Brigantia, is still found on their 50 cent coin is Brigid.

Midwives

As Patroness of Midwives, she was invoked at the door of the home where the woman was giving birth, by the midwife. Brigid guards every newborn, their cradles protected with a woven Brigit’s Cross, an equal-armed cross.

Brigid Ruler of the Hearth

Especially in Gaelic Scotland, Brigid’s dolls are placed near the hearth on her Feast Day. The doll is usually dressed in white, decorated. A white wand is placed in her bed as a fertility charm. As she is patroness of agriculture, pastures, livestock, and abundance. An offering is made to her of dairy products. The Brigid doll is kept throughout the year near the hearth hung on a wall, or by a door, as a talisman of protection, then burnt the next year.

RITUAL for Brigid 

INCENSE: Rosemary, Frankincense, Myrrh, Cinnamon

 

Gemstones: Turquoise, Amethyst, Garnet and Onyx

Your house especially the hearth needs to be cleaned and purified  to make way for Brigid to bless your house all year-long. Light a candle and carry it into every room to welcome her. 

 Call her

Bride of the earth, keeper of the Eternal Flame 

daughter of the Tuatha de Danaan, sister of faeries, 

She comes to waken the earth from its slumber,

to strengthen the Sun’s rays, 

She bring warmth and light  back once more

and sets seeds slowly stirring below our Mother earth

Her Light is ever eternal, waxing and waning, 

Brigid light my heart and my passion afire anew . 

Light a Candle and Invoke the Goddess at this time-I kindle this candle in the name of Brighid, Goddess of Smiths,BRIGID is alive and well.

Light 1 candle-

We gather together in this time of darkness. We look to the return of the light.

We look to the first light of Spring.

(Light two more candles.)

Maiden, Mother, and Crone – A Triple Goddess.

It was customary to write wishes upon scraps of cloth

and tie them to the bushes near her sacred wells.

This is Her Time of Year, a very special moment.

A day upon which to seek wisdom from inside the Earth.

In the time before Patrick, serpents were sent out because they dwell in both worlds, above ground and below.

 

IMBOLC song written by Lisa Thiel 

Blessed Bridget comest thou in
Bless this house and all of our kin
Bless this house, and all of our kin
Protect this house and all within Blessed Bridget come into thy bed
With a gem at thy heart and a crown on thy head
Awaken the fire within our souls
Awaken the fire that makes us whole Blessed Bridget, queen of the fire
Help us to manifest our desire
May we bring forth all thats good and fine
May we give birth to our dreams in time

Blessed Bridget comest thou in
Bless this house and all of our kin
From the source of Infinite Light
Kindle the flame of our spirits tonight

Blessed Bridget come into thy bed
With a gem at thy heart and a crown on thy head
Awaken the fire within our souls
Awaken the fire that makes us whole

Blessed Bridget, queen of the fire
Help us to manifest our desire
May we bring forth all thats good and fine
May we give birth to our dreams in time

Blessed Bridget comest thou in
Bless this house and all of our kin
From the source of Infinite Light
Kindle the flame of our spirits tonight

Plant seeds which will sprout at spring equinox. 

BLESSED BE on IMBOLC 

All writing is copyright of Tara Greene

get a reading from Tara http://www.taratarot.com