Brigit

 The Way of Brigit

by Ishtar Babilu Dingir

Ever wonder where the word ‘Britain’ comes from? It originated with Brigit of the Fae, whose name the Romans, for reasons best known to themselves, combined with that of another indigenous spirit, Ana, to create Britannia. They changed her sun disc into a shield and her wand into a sword, and thus almost managed to emasculate the true spirit of these isles.

I say ‘almost’ because they didn’t succeed. The spirit of Brigit is beginning to burn bright again as more and more people search to uncover their spiritual roots. In fact, Brigit is the key to one of the most ancient initiations into the Underworld going back many thousands of years

I only mention it now in order to signal that although I will be explaining the origins of Brigit, and going into some of the ancient customs associated with her, this is not going to be one of those dry, dusty, fusty essays about folklore that don’t lead anywhere. I leave all that to the folk historians. I’m not the least bit interested in folk songs or Morris dancing or corn dollies or May poles unless I can trace the magical, transformative seed underneath — the catalytic spark that creates change through magical or shamanic initiation. There is a very good reason for all that Morris dancing and singing of ballads, but that’s the bit most folk historians leave out.

Etymology of her name

The name Brigit means Fiery Arrow or Bright One.  Her oldest name is Briganti, which could be derived from the ancient Indo European Bhrghnti (or in Sanskrit Brihati), which means ‘exalted one.’

The Celts shared many sacred ritual practises with the ancient Vedic Indians. They migrated from across and through the Himalayan region after the last Ice Age, eventually arriving in Europe. The Brigantes were among them. Before becoming the largest Celtic tribe in the British Isles, the Brigantes had settled in Austria near Lake Constance in a place known as Bregenz. They had fire priests known as bhrisingrs after the bhrigus or fire priests of the Anu tribes.

Brittany in northern France was also named for Brigit, and she was also the inspiration for Brechin in Scotland, the river Brent in England, the river Braint in Wales, and Bridewell ~ both in London and in Ireland. The city of Bristol takes its name from Brigit. And Brenin, the Welsh word for King, meant consort of Brigantia.

There are also the Bridestones, a Megalithic site on the outskirts of Congleton in Cheshire. These stones are thought to be more than 4,000 years old.

 (There’s probably loads more Brigit-inspired locations, and so if you know of one, please do add it in the comments.)

In Celtic mythology, Brigit appears as one of the offspring of the Dagda and the Morrigen, She was part of the Tuatha da Danaan, which is another name for the Sidhe, the Fae, the Little People or the Gentry.

Brigit was known as the patron spirit of healers, smiths and bards, and she rules the elements of fire and water. Brigid’s Feast Day is on Imbolc in February, which the Christians call Candlemass. On Imbolc, milk products are offered to her as the young Bride. Butter, cheese and milk are put out for her. People say that Bride herself is abroad on Imbolc Eve. So they leave out pieces of cloth for her to bless as she passes, and which are used later in healings.

Painting by Sam Dolman

One of her symbols is the serpent entwined around a white wand, predating Asclepius. Other important animals associated with Brigit are the white swan, the white wolf and the white cow.

The Romans Christians, as was their wont, found a way to amalgamate Brigit into the Christian religion by adding her to their pantheon of saints. Her centre was at Kildare in Ireland. “Cill Dare” means “Church of the Oak”, thus betraying its Druid past, and it was in an area known as Civitas Brigitae, “The City of Brigid”.

Brigit is found in a carving within a wall of what remains of the St Michael church on top of Glastonbury Tor, milking a cow. In this way, even within the Christian pantheon, she retains her association with her primary totem animal.

Because Celtic Christianity retained many of the indigenous spiritual practises, Brigit’s fire was kept alight day and night at the Kildare convent, by dedicated vestal priestesses, for centuries — until they were finally put out by Henry VIII’s shock troops of the Reformation.

More about Brigit here

Brigit is the ripeness of summer and the abundance of the Year’s harvest. Her power has ripened blackberries, apples and wheat. She gives everything she has to give, even in the garden. There are elderberries for our healing and for the pigeons, who revel in their juicy ripeness. There are cooking apples that get turned in to sauce and pie. There is a second flowering of roses and a reddening of rosehips. Brigit pours out her solar energy to ripen the fruits of the Earth. Then she pours out fruit to feed the creatures of the Earth. And finally, in a flush of colour, she pours away her greenery to feed the Earth itself.