Brigid – Goddess of Fire and Alchemy

• Attributes: Goddess of poetry, alchemy, medicine and forges
• Símbolo: Fire, poetry, bell, arrow or spear, cow, water fountains and wells
• Local: Ireland

With many names and devotees, the Goddess Brigid is a Celtic Goddess very popular in Europe, especially in Ireland.

She is the Goddess of fire, female fertility, power, healing, medicine, agriculture, inspiration, divination, witchcraft … Brigid has many associations and qualities, and in the past there was an order in Ireland formed only by women who were dedicated to keeping a fire in her homage continually lit.

This Goddess is often represented by three beautiful women wearing mantles: The Poetess, the Doctor, and the Blacksmith. In this form she is called the Triple Flame, for fire feeds the forges, warms the alchemical experiments, and sets the minds of the poets on fire.

We can say then that Brigid is also the Triple Goddess in Wicca, because although she is not considered Maiden, Mother and Crone by the Celts, she has several qualities of these faces.

Her story bears resemblance to other goddesses’ of the ancient world since she shares the importance of the cow with the Goddess Isis; her intelligent and warrior aspects is also very similar to that of Goddess Athena and Goddess Freyja.

Even today Brigid is a very revered Goddess and her eternal flame still burns. One of the four Celtic religious festivals, one of the eight current Wicca Sabbats, is made in honor of her. Imbolc happens when the earth is recovering from winter and the sun is strengthened for spring, it is a season of spicy foods, torches, and bonfires. Traditionally celebrated on Februrary 1st or 2nd, Brigid crosses are made and a doll-shaped figure depicting the Goddess is built to wander the streets of cities and to protect the homes.

Many beliefs

Brigid had her myth probably originated as a Sun Goddess and she is the best example of “survival” in christian times. She was canonized as Saint Bridget by catholicism and had her history linked to that of Jesus Christ. In older tales she was a midwife of the Virgin Mary, so she started to be summoned by women in labor.

A well-known story is also that her father, a Druid predicting the coming of catholicism, was baptized by St Patrick and then she, as his daughter, became a nun and later the founding abbess of Kildare Abbey. Strangely she had the power to point the bishops of her area, more strangely still she demanded that they too were blacksmiths.

Summoning Brigid

Although Imbolc is celebrated in Februrary, Brigid can be revered at any time of the year. She is the guardian of the home and families and she also gives prosperity and helps in the harvesting of planted seeds.

This ritual should preferably be done during the Crescent Moon or Full Moon so that your requests do not wane.

Necessary Items:

• 1 green candle
• 1 red candle
• 1 white candle
• Milk
• Seeds
• Metal container

Purify yourself normally and arrange the items where you will perform the ritual.

Light the candles, put some milk in the metal container and throw the seeds in it.
Make your requests to the Goddess, thank her for her light that shines daily even when we do not realize it. Finally, recite the following verses:

Bury the seeds so that they grow and your requests bear fruit. Do not forget to thank her when you finish.