Brigid: Goddess of Creativity
Brigid, also know as Brigit or Brig is a goddess of pre-Christian Ireland. In Irish mythology, she was a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and a daughter of the chief of gods, The Dagda. The Celtic Goddess of inspiration, creativity, the arts, childbirth, and healing, this deity is one of the most powerful in the Celtic pantheon. Her name means ‘exalted one.’
When Christianity crept into Ireland and the old pagan ways were banished, Brigid’s followers revolted against turning away from their revered Goddess. Associated with wisdom, poetry, blacksmithing, protection, childbirth, and domesticated animals, she touched on so many vital aspects of Celtic lives, they refused to dismiss her. It’s believed that in a bid to appease the pagans and encourage them to convert to Christianity, the Christian monks morphed her with their St Brigid, blending their histories and attributes. Today, legends surrounding Brigid straddle the boundary of both her Goddess and Saint forms.
As a source of influence for creatives, Brigid is seen as the Fire of Inspiration. She motivates the alchemy of our creativity, when the meeting of our inspiration and action merge to form beauty. Brigid is the quickening of heart when an idea sparks into life, she’s the passion that drives our creativity, the healing that comes from creative flow. As the Goddess of fire and hearth, she encourages transformation, asking us to look beyond the ordinary so we can create the extraordinary.
Brigid asks us to view our creative world from a new perspective. Fire transforms, and so she asks us to do the same with our processes. Welcome in the forces of destruction and renewal, and see how it transforms both you and your creative projects. When we release the old, we create space for the new. Imagine what could bloom in its place, and the opportunity and inspiration that awaits!
In many illustrations, Brigid is often depicted stirring a great cauldron. This witch’s magical tool symbolises the womb and the Devine Feminine. Brigid encourages us to stir our own inner cauldrons, regardless of gender, and embrace the creativity that bubbles to the surface. She truly is an inspirational goddess for creatives!
If you’re lacking inspiration, or feel your creative cauldron has stagnated, you can call upon Brigid to rekindle your fire. One of the easiest ways to do this is with a simple candle ritual.
Below are the correspondences associated with Brigid. Take a look through the list, and if you have any of the items, you can include them in your ritual. Go with what feels good to you! There’s no right or wrong.
Elements: Fire and water
Food: Water and milk.
Herbs: Rosemary, heather, bay, and thyme.
Plants: Snowdrop, crocus, dandelion, sage, chamomile, acorns and oak tree, corn, shamrock, rushes, straw.
Animals: Lambs, ewes, serpents, farm animals, dairy cows, domesticated animals.
Crystals: Carnelian, amethyst, jasper, fire agate.
Colours: White, yellow, green, blue.
Planet: Venus
The inspiration of Brigid can also be found in tarot. You could place one or a combination of these cards near your ritual setting, or journal about the card that speaks most to you.
The High Priestess; the subconscious, wisdom, serenity.
The Empress; fertility, abundance, nature.
Death; transition, endings, beginnings, change
The Star; renewal, new ideas, hope, clarity
The Sun; joy, inspiration, positivity
Ace of Cups; creativity, new beginnings, purity
Three of Cups; creativity, pleasure, community
Ace of Wands; inspiration, enthusiasm, creation.
Queen of Wands; creativity, growth, intuition, passion
Ritual to invoke Brigid
Place a candle in a safe setting in the space where you create. If you’re using herbs, plant cuttings, crystals, or any of Brigid’s correspondences, you can place them around the candle holder in a way that pleases you.
Should you wish to use an oil, anoint the candle by rubbing a few drops along the length of a pillar candle, or by placing one or two drops away from the wick in a tealight. Be careful, as some oils can ignite. If you’re not comfortable with oil being close to a flame, sprinkle a few drops over your herb or plant offerings instead.
Take a few moments to consider your request. You might like to write it down in advance, or just go with the flow once you’re in the moment. Either way, call upon Brigid with respect and gratitude. I’ve included a small verse of my own creation you might like to use or change to suit your specific needs.
Light your candle and recite your verse.
You can leave the candle to burn out in full, or snuff it out and repeat the ritual daily for as long as you feel appropriate.
Usual cautions apply to unattended candles!
'Goddess Brigid, Mother of Life and Flame, I call on you to blaze kindly into my life.
Mother of Creativity, alight on my tongue, dance in my heart, and inspire my hands.
Guardian of Waters and Wells, I welcome your healing and inspiration. May the passion of your creative flow feed my cauldron once more.
Mother of Milk and Water, thank you for your nourishment and blessings.'
If you're feeling especially creative and would like to make your own St. Brigid's Cross, here's a link to a YouTube tutorial. It's too complicated to type out the process, but not too tricky to make. We often made them as kids in school for St Brigid's Day on February 1st, which is also the pagan festival of Imbolc.
If you work with the Goddess Brigid in your creative life, I'd love to hear how she influences and inspires you. You can reach me at julie@creativesoultarot.com
For more on Courtney Davis, the artist who created the beautiful image on my altar, click here! I recommend taking a peek around his site, and checking out the online store. (Just don't spend all your pocket money at once!)