Celtic Goddess Bridghid

Imbolg

Celtic Goddess Bridghid Celtic God Lugh

Supplies: sage, incense, water 19 individual white candles White triple wick candle White flowers White cloth for cross of equal sides for firewheel on floor Green cloth for stripe in each arm of cross White and green cloth for each person’s “Brighids mantle” Wine Milk Bread (Irish Soda) Honey laden bread/biscuits Stones Cleanse space of negative energies to “make ready” for the celebration.

By Air – smudge with incense around circle in a clockwise manner, person can recite Music the following or their own words; “The fragrant air swirls and rises cleansing away any negative energy”

By Fire – candle carried around circle in clockwise manner as persons says; “With Brighids holy flame we cleanse this space from any dark or negative energy”

By Water and Earth – water with salt sprinkled around circle in clockwise manner as person says; “Water like that of Brighids holy wells and salt from our great earth mother cleanse this space for our sacred celebration” Everyone is smudged with sage as they enter the sacred space.

Consecration of the Circle by High Priestess or Priest

Calling of Quarters East – ______(Bridghid seer, sight)

South -______(Bridghid the fiery arrow, Goddess of the forge, inspiration, the hearth fires of the home)

West - ______(Brighids holy wells and springs of healing, rivers named after her)

North - ______(Brighid, protector of the lands)

Invocation of the Celtic Goddess Bridghid Lady Annabelle

Invocation of the Celtic God Lugh Jerry

Tonight we celebrate the fire festival of Imbolg. This celebration is known by several other names you may be familiar with; Candlemas and St. Bridgit’s Day. These names came about after the RC church couldn’t stop the “pagans” from celebrating Imbolg so they adopted the celebration as a saint’s day for St. Bridgit, who really was still Bridghid the Goddess. Bridghid means “exalted one”. In France, where there were Breton Celts, Imbolg was again adopted by the church in the guise of a saint also, St. Blaize, who shared the aspects of protection and healing with Bridghid. The name Blaize correlates to the English word blaze representing fire to also relate to Bridghid the “fiery arrow”.

(Does anyone remember having their throats blessed with candles at church when they were young?) “Brighid is the Goddess of fire, inspiration, healing, along with crafts that include metal smithing and in the far north of Scotland childbirth as well as for prophecies and dreams are included to be attributed to Bridghid. She is patroness of poets, metal smiths, healing and the hearth (fire).” (Farrar, J and S; Witches Goddess) Bridghids healing was related to wells and there are some still in existence in the United Kingdom. The legend came from a story of St. Bridgit who carried a hot coal in her bosom after a man insinuated that she was not holy. She carried the hot coal while walking for a long distance and did not have any burns or injuries to show the man that she was holy. The legend goes that after she was done walking she dropped the coal and water sprang up to make a well. It was a place of healing and miracles.

Brighid, the Goddess, was a daughter of the Tuathas’ “Good God” called the Dagda. The Tuatha De Danaan were the peoples of the Goddess Dana. Their history was of defeating the Fomorians*** in battle, but then the tables turned and the Tuatha De Danaan were defeated by the Gaels. The Tuathas’ then went to live in the realms of the fairies, in the hollow hills. The Bride Bed The Bride Bed or Bridghids Bed represents the invitation for the God to impregnate the Earth Mother. The doll is symbolic of Bridghid and the want with the pine cone is the phallic symbol for the God, tonight Lugh. Let us recite the traditional chant to Bridghid three times:

“Bridghid is come, Bridghid is welcome”

So as we honor Brighid tonight, let us celebrate the return of the Sun to warm us after winters cold, short days and long nights. The daylight now grows longer as we continue to turn the wheel of the year. The wheel of the year is now at the place where the first stirrings of life that we cannot see happening which is called “the quickening” by many. Imbolc means “Ewes milk” because this is the time of year when pregnant Ewes would begin to lactate in readiness for the birth of their baby, which was taken to be a sign of the coming spring.

This is also the time when many people begin to “make ready” (where the term “redd up” comes from) for spring which can include simple things like “spring cleaning” of our homes to planning repairs, gardens or new activities. In agrarian societies farmers would have to plan how they used their fields for particular crops to ensure a good harvest that could sustain them through the next cold, blustery winter.

Tonight, our quest is to prepare and make ready for that which we want to grow, create, or obtain inspiration to begin something new in our lives. Lighting of the Triple Wick Candle Me: The eternal flame was shut down by the monarchy in the 13th century at one time then relit and in then extingusished in the 18th century again. The flame was relit by a Brigedian nun on February 2, 1996 with the intent to keep it burning. I am not sure if it is burning since she was taken off of the saint list by the RC church. (http:www.inanna/virtualave.net/brighid.html)

Person lighting the Candle says: “With the Fire of her eternal flame kept alive in the Abby in Cill- Dara, I light this candle to Bridghid in Her triple aspect and being the Goddess of Poets, Healers and Smiths. By candle flame remove the dark. Blessings of Bridghid be upon us”

All say the following together:

“Grant O Goddess, thy protection, and in protection, strength, And in strength, understanding, And in understanding, knowledge, And in knowledge, the knowledge of justice, And in the knowledge of justice, the love of it, And in the love of it, the love of all existences, And in the love of all existences, the love of spirit and all goodness.”

Lighting of 19 candles to honor Brighid Me: The number 19 was sacred to Bridgid as it was the number of the keepers of the flame besides Brighid herself. The Celtic great year was 19 years also, which was the time of one new moon to the next that coincides with the winter solstice.

Each person lights a candle and recites a verse around circle clockwise until all 19 candles are lit. ( a copy to be given to each person to read)

1. I light this first candle to honor Brighid. 2. I light this second candle to honor her as Brigantia, guardian of the land. 3. I light the third candle to honor Brighid, daughter of the Morrigan and the Dagda, of Tuatha de Danaan. 4. I light the fourth candle to honor Her as Mother of the three Gods of Danu, Ruadan, Iuchar and Uar. 5. I light the fifth candle to honor Her human birth, Bridgit, daughter of Dubthach and Broicsech. 6. I light the sixth candle to honor Her ancient teachers who recognized Her talents. 7. I light the seventh candle to those who kept Brighid present, though veiled, in the guise of a saint. 8. I light the eighth candle to honor her as Sun Goddess and maiden of the hearth. 9. I light the ninth candle to honor Her as a guardian of the healing waters of Her wells. 10. I light the tenth candle in honor of Her as the inspiration and muse of Poets. 11. I light the eleventh candle to honor Her as midwife and healer, protector of children. 12. I light the twelfth candle to honor Her as patron of the blacksmiths and all other crafts. 13. I light the thirteenth candle to honor Her as prophetess and seer. 14. I light the fourteenth candle to honor Her as mistress of domestic arts and crafts, the home hearth. 15. I light the fifteenth candle to honor Her as the patron of farming, fertility and protector of animals. 16. I light the sixteenth candle to honor Her as a Lady of charity, who gave away all to those in need. 17. I light the seventeenth candle to honor Her as Brighid of the Mantle, who spread her healing cloak. 18. I light the eighteenth candle to honor Her ancient Celtic orgins. 19. I light the nineteenth candle to honor Her as Mistress of the Keepers of the flame. All then say together: “Brighid guard your fire tonight, for this is your night”

Each person is given piece of white cloth and stone to hold while meditating on intentions for few minutes.

As basket with cloth and stones are passed around, I read: Get info on Bridghids mantle Me: It is custom to leave it out this night for Bridghid to bless as a source of healing for body, mind and spirit. So as we contemplate on our intentions let us ask Holy Bridghid to envelope us in Her green mantle that our vision is clear while we are wrapped in Her mantle.

After meditation, share intentions, place stone in “well” (in lieu of coins) as offering.

Lady Annabelle sings song for Brighid

Everyone says together: “May the Blessing of Brighid be upon us. May we carry her flame in our hearts, may we draw on the well of her wisdom. May the blessing of Bridhid be upon this cloth as a portion of Brighids mantle”

Tradition is that as the Wheel of the Year turns and we find ourselves once again celebrating Imbolg, we can return these pieces of cloth to Bridghid for her fire.

Cakes and Ale Milk and bread libations also.

Close Quarters

Thank the Goddess Bridghid and God Lugh Open Circle