¬  Brigid  ¬

Brigid is the goddess of high dimensional aspects, such as physical and psychological elevated states of consciousness, including wisdom, perfection, excellence, high intelligence, poetic eloquence, healing ability and druidic knowledge. She is also associated with high-rising flames, highlands and upland areas, hill-forts. She is also the goddess of craftsmanship such as blacksmithing and warfare skills. Whether seen as a Pagan goddess or a Christian saint, she is largely associated with the hearth and home.

In Ireland Brigit became Brighid, and in England Bridget became Brigid. In Scotland she is Brighde or Bride, and in Wales she is Fraid (Vraid). She was the founding goddess of Great Britain as Brigantia or Brigantis. In Switzerland she is Bringindo, and in Gaul Brigandu. In Taihiti she is Maman Brigitte.

The festival of Brigid is Imbolc, celebrated on the 1st or 2nd of February, when she brings the first stirrings of spring to the land. For Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, and some Anglicans mark the day as the feast of Saint Brigid, where the festival is known as Candlemas and Purification of the Virgin. During a marriage ceremony the Bride represents Brigit, dressing in white as the aspect of the pure virgin.

Brigid is associated with perpetual, sacred flames, such as the one maintained by 19 nuns at her sanctuary in Kildare, Ireland. The tradition of female priestesses tending sacred, naturally occurring 'eternal flames' is a feature of Indo-European pre-Christian spirituality. In this respect Brigid is associated with Vesta and other Hearth-goddesses.

Brigid was also connected to Holy Wells in Celtic lands and is still celebrated in these places today, such as Chalice Well in Glastonbury, for example, where well dressing and the tying of 'clooties' to the trees next to healing wells is carried out in her honour .

She was one of the most popular goddesses worshipped by the Celts and Druids, and many of her stories survive in the persona of Saint Brigid.

Brigid's Roman eqivelent was Minerva, and her Greek equivelent was Athena. In Haiti Maman Brigitte is one of the Lwa of Haitian Voodoo. She may have arrived with the Irish who where kidnapped, enslaved and forced to labour in the Caribbean alongside enslaved Africans. Through intermarriage and cultural blending between the Irish and Africans, it is possible that Haitian Voodoo is partially influenced by Celtic polytheism. Maman Brigitte is worshipped as the Lady of Cemetery and her colours are purple, violet and black.

¬  Blodeuwedd  ¬

In Welsh mythtology, Blodeuwedd is a woman made from the flowers of broom, meadowsweet and the oak, to be the wife of Lleu Llaw Gyffes. Blodea means flowers or blossoms and gwedd means face, aspect or appearance, therefore Blodeuwedd translates litterally as 'flower face'.

Lleu had been placed under three curses by his mother Arianrhod, the last of which would prevent him from ever having a human wife. King Math and Gwydion, Lleu's uncle, created Blodeuwedd from flowers and she then marries Lleu.

But, Blodeuwedd has an affair with Gronw Pebr, and they both plot to kill Lleu. However, Lleu can only be killed under certain conditions, so Blodeuwedd tricks him into telling her what they are. He cannot be killed neother indoors or out, on horseback or on foot, and can only be killed only by a spear forged while peole are attending mass. He can only be killed while he has one foot in the bathtub, if it is placed on a river bank but under a roof, and the other foot on a goat. Blodeuwedd asks Lleu to demonstrate how these conditions might be fulfilled, while Gronw lies in wait with the appropriate weapon. Gronw kills Lleu and he and Blodeuwedd assume power.  When Gwydion hears the news he sets out to find and cure Lleu, who is now living in the form of an eagle. Once Lleu is restored to human form, Gwydion kills Gronwand curses Blodeuwedd, turning her into an owl, saying, "You are never to show your face to the light of day, rather you shall fear  other birds; they will be hostile to you, and it will be their nature to maul and molest you wherever they find you. You will not lose your name, but will always be called Blodeuwedd."

Blodeuwedd by Christopher Williams, 1930

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¬  Andraste  ¬

¬  Cerridwen  ¬

¬  Arrianrhod  ¬

¬  Aine  ¬