Irish Imbolc Jewelry Celebrating The Birth Of Goddess Brigid And Spring
Brigid – The Triple Goddess
The Irish goddess of spring, fertility and life. She loved learning, knowledge and inspiration.
Brigid is one of the most prominent goddesses in Irish history. She is a goddess of the Tuatha De Danann people, the original godly race of beings that first occupied Ireland.
Born to Dagda, King of the Celtic Irish gods, and his wife Bres.
Qualities she inherited from her father include magic, healing, knowledge, producing an abundance of food and control of the weather.
Her mother gifted her with knowledge of fire, foretelling the future and protection of her people.
Brigid created remedies from Irish wildflowers and herbs to heal the sick.
She used violets for their anti inflammatory properties and primroses to heal headaches, insomnia and rheumatism.
She became one of the most beloved and worshipped goddesses in Western Europe. Becoming so well-loved that during the Christianisation of Ireland, she became a saint; quite unusual for a pagan goddess.
Triple Goddess
Brigid was a triple goddess – goddess of poetry, healing and smith-craft.
As a triple goddess she presided over the life, death and rebirth cycles which were very sacred to the Irish people.
Goddess Brigid had many powers. As goddess of poetry she governed the inspiration and writing of poetry and divination and prophecy.
As goddess of healing she governed childbirth and ruled over the sacred wells of Ireland. Wells were held in great reverence by the Celtic people. Believed to have healing powers they were also a place to communicate with dead ancestors.
As goddess of fire, she brought cleansing, blessing, purification and protection.
Fires applied to the fields prepared them for spring planting. During winter months, fire provided warmth and light.
Legend says that she was born with flames around her forehead.
Imbolc
Born on February 1, her birthdate is celebrated each year in Ireland with the Celtic fire festival Imbolc.
The festival welcomes the transition into spring. A time for regeneration and renewal.
To honor Brigid’s role in changing the four seasons, crosses were woven each year during Imbolc.
A small cross in the form of a solar wheel usually woven from rushes with four arms tied at the ends and a woven square in the middle.
The Brigid’s crosses were kept in people’s homes to protect their house from fire.
My father called this Celtic Cross that I created my “Magnum Opus”.
It is a hollow form in 22k and 21k gold with granulation and inspired by the “Tara Brooch” and the “Ardagh Chalice” – both masterpieces of Celtic metalwork dating from the 8th century.
I believe Brigid was looking on as I worked this “smith-craft” which took me over a year to complete!
Healing Cloak
As the Goddess of Healing and Childbirth, her healing cloak could expand in size and she would spread it all over Ireland in times of need.
She was said to spread her cloak over Ireland during Imbolc to aid the change of seasons and turn winter into spring. It was believed that the morning dew that fell from her cloak on Imbolc was infused with her healing. People would leave rags out to catch the dew and use them to cure the sick.
Remembering Goddess Brigid
Many believe Brigid to be the most powerful religious figure in Irish history with both Christians and pagans celebrating St. Brigid’s Day on February 1.
Three rivers are named for her; the Brigit in Ireland, Braint in Wales, and Brent in England.
She was also called the Flame of Ireland, Fiery Arrow.
The Triple Goddess image created by Margaret McKenna, depicts the Maiden Goddess lighting the sky with her energy of sunlight, whilst the Mother Goddess nurses her offspring.
The Crone or Ancestral Goddess is the pinnacle of power in ancient Ireland and presides over the cycle of life.