Wishing you Bright Blessings for New Beginnings. Brigid’s (Bridget) festival is honoured on February 1 and is called Imbolc “ewe’s milk”, Imbolg, or Oimelc. The celebration embraces the return of spring, the welcomed end of long, cold, dark winter months. On the eve before her day, ancient folk would lay out strips of white virgin cloth for the goddess to bless with her healing abilities. Young girls would make a female image of cornhusks to display in the village and Brigid’s crosses made of grass were often given out. Imbolc was a season of renewal and rebirth. Houses would be sweep out and cleaned, the birth of our spring cleaning rituals.
Brigid has been revered as both Goddess and Saint. Brigid has been known by many names, which vary according to time and place. She was often called Brighde in Ireland, Bride in Scotland, Brigantia in Northern Britain, Brigandu in France, and was also called Brid, Brig and Brighid. Brigid means “Power,” “Renown” and “Virtue.”
In the Celtic mythology she is a triple goddess. But that refers to her own three aspects, not maiden, mother and crone, as is often thought. Brigid’s three aspects are of poet, blacksmith and healer.
Poetry does not just refer to rhymes; it encompasses the power of poet and muse, goddess of inspiration, education, divination, and mystical knowledge. The second aspect of Brigid is goddess of the blacksmith, hence her association with sword and cauldron. The third aspect of Brigid is of healer, goddess of healing and all forms of medicine. Brigid was often known as a goddess of fertility, the hearth, and all feminine arts and crafts. She is the patron saint of poets, dairymaids, cattle, healers, nuns, midwives, and new born babies.
We honour her strength and her gentleness.
Invocation To Brigid At Imbolc
We welcome you, Brigid, on Candlemas Eve,
We pray for your blessing, new life to receive,
O Mother of Poetry, teach us your art,
That your inspiration many enter each heart.
O Mistress of Magic that stands by the fire,
And shapes the bright to the form you desire;
O Mother of Smithcraft, please teach us your art,
That the power of changing may enter each heart.?
You kindle the springtime to quicken the earth,
From under your mantle the old has new birth.
O Mother of Healing, please teach us your art,
That peace and contentment may enter each heart.
Prayer To St Bridget
Bridget, 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.
Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all God has made.
Bridget, you were a voice for the wounded and the weary.
Strengthen what is weak within us.
Calm us into a quietness that heals and listens.
May we grow each day into greater wholeness in mind, body and spirit. Amen.