Brigid, the Celtic goddess of fire.

​Born at the exact moment of daybreak. She was the daughter of Dagda, the great ‘father-god’ of Ireland.

​In Druid mythology, the infant goddess was fed with milk from a sacred cow from the Otherworld. Brigid owned an apple orchard in the Otherworld and her bees would bring their magical nectar back to earth.

​It is said that wherever she walked, small flowers and shamrocks would appear. 

​Brigid became the wife of Bres, an Irish king. Brigid and her husband came from two warring tribes and 

​a major battle between the two families was about to begin.

​Brigid’s eldest son, Ruadan was  killed.

​She then went to the battlefield to mourn Ruandan’s death. Brigid’s grief was enormous for the death of her son. Her lamentations were so loud they were heard throughout Ireland and so heart-rending that both sides left the battle and forged a peace. The goddess Brigid is said to have originated the practice of “keening” or lament, heard in Ireland. Until recent times, it was tradition to hire women to caoine (cry) at every graveside or wake. What a powerful way to mourn.

The 1st February marks the feast day of Brigid of Ireland and the 1st day of spring in the Gaelic traditional calendar with a time of beginnings and hope.

PRAYER: Brigid, woman of peace

‘’You were a woman of peace.
You brought harmony where there was conflict.
You brought light to the darkness.
You brought hope to the downcast.
May the mantle of your peace
cover those who are troubled and anxious,
and may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in our world.’’