Fire of the Hearth, Fire of the Forge, Fire in the Head
Bride by Thalia Took
http://www.thaliatook.com/AMGG/bride.php
This is the time of Brigid, the Celtic Goddess of many aspects. She is the guardian of the hearth, smiths, warriors, and poets. Brigit was born at sunrise, just before dawn, and a tower of fire burst from her crown and leapt to the heavens, making the house look like it was on fire. She is the daughter of the Dagda and one of the Tuatha De’ Danaan. Variations of her worship was found throughout the ancient Celtic lands and she had many names. She was deeply revered. When the Romans invaded the Celtic world, they called her Minerva and when Catholicism spread, they made her into St. Brigit. Thus is the extent of her power and influence.
Her name has many meanings including “power,” “fiery arrow” and “she who exalts herself.” She has responsibility and power over much of life. She is the patroness of poetry and inspiration, patroness of hearth and home, patroness of the forge. Through that triple responsibility, she rules fertility, healing, creativity, the crafts, spinning and weaving, goldsmith and smithcraft, poetry, and bardic lore. Her power was imbued in the countryside, so that the highlands, hills, wells, streams and rivers were her body. Her symbols speak of her power: fire, wells, cauldrons, the forge. mistletoe, and the Rowan tree. She is associated with animals emblematic of the bounty of the world, the ewe, boar, and cow. Snakes are also sacred to her as a symbol of transformation and change. She invented whistling so she could bring friends to her side in time of need; and she invented keening to express sorrow too great to be held inside.
Her magic is born of mystery. She is a triple goddess, but not in the Maiden-Mother-Crone aspect revered by modern pagans. Her triplicity is expressed in her most potent symbol, fire. She is the Muse, the Fire of Inspiration, of poetry and lore. She is the Fire of the Hearth, the patroness of childbirth, fertility, home-crafts, and of healing. She is the Fire of the Forge, patroness of smithcraft and the art of war. She is protection, creativity, procreation of all sorts, healing, transformation and renewal. Her triplicity has been expressed as “Fire of the Hearth, Fire of the Forge, Fire in the Head,” with the fire in the head denoting the fiery power of poetry and eloquence. And so we get fired up by her and her inspiration.
The Charge of the Goddess Brigit
I call to you my children, my sisters and brothers to hear my charge
I, who am Brigit, Brid, Brigantia, Braga, Branganca, Fraid and many other names,
Do charge you to find the fires of life within your soul
And forge yourself to be strong, sharp and powerful.
Pull the elements of the earth into your being;
Breathe the inspiration of poetry, song, and art into your soul;
Be heated by the flames of the fire and ember;
Be tempered and soothed by the cool waters from my sacred well;
And be shaped and fused into magic at my hearth
Come to my wells for healing and wishes
Be nourished and soothed by the waters
Tie your wishes to the branches of my trees
And know that wishes spoken
Become the magic of the world
Become your wishes, the magic at my well.
Sing the inspiration of the mystery with your voice
Inspire yourself with joy and love
Delight in the blessings of creation
Become the Art you were meant to be.
The Rowdy Goddess 