Bridget

[White Rose]

With Imbolc coming closer, I've been checking out things on Bridget (other spellings too, yes?). I just wanted to know anything you all may know about her, and if you involve her in your Imbolc celebration/everyday life?
Thanks. :)

<333

[blueiris]

brigid, hmm, well i feel as she's been entering my life more often, part of my imbolc ritual will be to honor her...darn i had some links for info about her...
http://witchonthego.com/imbolc.html
http://groups.msn.com/FullMoonParadise/lammas1.msnw
http://druidry.org/obod/deities/brigid.html
that's all i have for now, hope those help! :colorful:

[White Rose]

Thank you, those were all very helpful!
Anyone else with help?

<333

[LittleRhiannon]

This helped me a lot, it has about everything you ever wanted to know about bridget, and it comes in wonderful packet file form!

[Bran83]

There was a fire that was continually kept at Kildare that was maintained by the Priestesses of Brighid. And it was said that all the homes of Ireland were lit by this fire as a blessing of the home.

[~Shamanna~]

She is the Goddess who brings the light to the dark of winter and quickens the seeds to start springtime. She is the Goddess of hearth and home and She is a wonderful healer. She is often associated with healing wells. She has been claimed by Christians as St.Bridget and St.Bride. She inspires poetry and is the Goddess of smithcraft. She is wonderful and one of my favourites.
At Imbolc myself and children make Bridie dolls in her honour and these are kept and cared for. She loves snowdrops and her totems are the swan and the cow. Some drink ewes milk like the spring lambs.
Taking light to dark places is a simple but beautiful way of honouring Bridie as is writing poetry.
She is the energy that stirs us into spring cleaning! She is a Triple Goddess and very ancient.
Love & Light
~Shamanna~

[White Rose]

Thank you all so much!
All very helpful. :D

<333

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

There was a fire that was continually kept at Kildare that was maintained by the Priestesses of Brighid. And it was said that all the homes of Ireland were lit by this fire as a blessing of the home.

Actually that fire was relit on Imbolc 1993 (or thereabouts) by an order of the Brigadine sisters in Kildare. As was done in the past, 19 of them each take their turn watching the fire for a night, leaving the 20th night for Bride to tend it herself. They've set up a community in the heart of Kildare and in 2002 the flame was put on view in a vessel in the town square. Additionally there are two other organizations, Daughters of the Flame (http://www.obsidianmagazine.com/DaughtersoftheFlame/index.htm) and Ord Brighideach (http://www.ordbrighideach.org/) that are international orders of women who are dedicated to keeping Bride's flame alive.

The Daughters of the Flame actually relit the flame in their own way, by lighting a candle in Canada dedicated to Brighid. Coincidentally it is was also relit on Imbolc 1993, in Vancouver, BC, Canada. There organization is fairly small, consisting of only three cells of 19 who each take a turn tending the flame, even though it is spread throughout the world (mostly in Canada). They intend to stay small and if you wish to join them, you may have to be put on a waiting list until a spot opens in one of the three cells. It is also worth mentioning that this organization is only open to women. You can read more about them at the webpage that I linked above.

The Ord Brighideach was started by two woman who were former members of the Daughters of the Flame who wished to make it open to more. They actually went to Kildare and had their candles lit at Brighid's sacred flame at the temple there. From that one candle they have shared Brighid's fire throughout the world. They are a much larger group consisting of about 350 people, both men and women, spanning about 15 countries, 22 seperate cells and still growing. To join there is a $20 membership fee, and again I linked to their website above.

[Alexandra Asinine]

For an interesting read, look up the stories on Saint Brigit. The Christians' way of letting the Pagans convert while keeping their beloved Goddess.

[TornadoAli]

For an interesting read, look up the stories on Saint Brigit. The Christians' way of letting the Pagans convert while keeping their beloved Goddess.

I've kind of done that in reverse...my mom is very christian and is not cool with me being pagan, but when I was explaining a little about Imbolc and Brigid I told her how Brigid is also a Catholic saint...which kind of made her more interested in what I had to say. Whatever! ;-)

[Seren_]

There's an article here: http://www.celt.dias.ie/publications/celtica/c23.html about Brigit (called The Festival of Brigit the Holy Woman, which is a bit dry and academic but has interesting stuff on folklore too).