IMBOLBOC BRIGITS DAY OF THE GODDESS

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Hail Brigit’s Day of the Goddess:

This is what is know of Brigit: (also known as Brid, pronounced Breed) Brigit was probably the most important Pre Roman 

Catholic Celtic Goddess in Eire;Her following was so widespread and so important that she was adopted by Roman Catholicism 

at an early stage, and made the patron Saint of Ireland.The Honouring of Brigit was spread over Ireland Britain and parts 

of Europe.Her feast day is Feb. 1st/2nd, The Festival name Imbolc (ie in the belly), associated with fertility. 

It is a fire festival and is known as Candlemass to Christians.Legend says she was foster mother to Jesus. 

This is an example of pagan/ christian crossover. Another Celtic catholic story makes her the midwife at the birth of Jesus. 

The Brigit’s cross is pre-catholic in origin, and probably was a sun symbol. She is the daughter of the Tuatha De Danann 

in Celtic mythology. She is patron of healing, smithcraft, poetic inspiration, learning, prophesy and healing. 

Her chief catholic shrine  in Ireland was in Kildare where a flame was burned constantly in her honour for centuries. 

Literally hundreds of holy wells around Ireland are dedicated to her. Many had Sweat Houses( teach ealluis) built nearby to

infuse the healing qualities of the waters to the sick. In my research over these past few years I discovered this old 

tradition and its similarity to the Native American Sweat Lodge ceremony  I have held in Ireland for many years now. I was

delighted to discover a Teach Alluis still intact in Galway on the Tuam road some years ago. One day soon we are going to 

restore it fully to hold Healing ceremonies and blessings there for all with the support of the Ancestors and Brigit

Blessed Be

Hail Brigit’s Day of the Goddess:

This is what Is know of Brigit: (also known as Brid, pronounced Breed) 

1. She was probably the most important   Pre Roman Catholic Celtic Goddess in Eire; 

Her following was so widespread and so important that she was adopted by Roman Catholicism at an early stage, 

and made the patron Saint of Ireland; 

The Honouring of Brigit was spread over Ireland Britain and parts of Europe 

Her feast day is Feb. 1st/2nd, The Festival name Imbolc (ie in the belly), associated with fertility. It is a fire 

festival and is known as Candlemass to Christians; 

Legend says she was foster mother to Jesus.This is an example of pagan/ christian crossover. Another Celtic catholic 

story makes her the midwife at the birth of Jesus 

The Brigit’s cross is pre-catholic in origin, and probably was a sun symbol; 

She is the daughter of the Dagda (one of the MOST Ancient Celtic Dieties) in Celtic mythology; 

The christian Brigit was said to be the daughter of a Druid; (pagan/catholic merging again) She is patron of healing, 

smithcraft, poetic inspiration, learning, prophesy and healing. 

Her chief catholic shrine  in Ireland was in Kildare where a flame was burned constantly in her honour for centuries. 

Literally hundreds of holy wells around Ireland are dedicated to her. Many had Sweat Houses( teach ealluis) built 

nearby to infuse the healing qualities of the waters to the sick. In my research over these past few years I discovered 

this old tradition and its similarity to the Native American Sweat Lodge ceremony  I have held in Ireland for many 

years now. I was delighted to discover a Teach Alluis still intact in Galway on the Tuam road some years ago. 

One day soon we are going to restore it fully to hold Healing ceremonies and blessings there for all with the support 

of the Ancestors and Brigit

Blessed Be Dermot

www.dermotoharaonlne.com

SEE TEACH EALLUIS CELTIC SWEAT CEREMONY

www.irishmegaliths.org.uk/sweathouses.htm

CELTIC DRUID PRAYER

Grant us  Gods thy protection

And in protection, strength

And in strength, understanding

And in understanding, knowledge

And in knowledge, the perception of Justice

And in the knowledge of Justice, the love of it

And in the love of it, the love of all existence

And in the love of all existence the love of the Goddess Brigit

FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE OF AMERICA PRAYER

Oh Great Spirit of our Ancestors I raise my Pipe to you

To you messengers of the four winds and to Mother Earth who provides for our children.

Give us the wisdom to teach our children to love, to respect and to be kind to each other so that they may grow with 

peace of mind.

Lets us learn to share all good things that you provide for us here on Mother Earth.  

CELTIC DRUID PRAYER

Grant us  Gods thy protection

And in protection, strength

And in strength, understanding

And in understanding, knowledge

And in knowledge, the perception of Justice

And in the knowledge of Justice, the love of it

And in the love of it, the love of all existence

And in the love of all existence the love of the Goddess Brigit

FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE OF AMERICA PRAYER

Oh Great Spirit of our Ancestors I raise my Pipe to you

To you messengers of the four winds and to Mother Earth who provides for our children.

Give us the wisdom to teach our children to love, to respect and to be kind to each other so that they may grow 

with peace of mind.

Lets us learn to share all good things that you provide for us here on Mother Earth.  

A one day spiritual retreat where by the end of the day you will have the answers to these questions:

What is My Truth?

Who am I?

What are My Myths?

How can I Create New, Supportive Stories?

How can I be a Vessel of Truth?

How can I Become Enlightened? 

Your Soul knows the Truth. Take time to listen, to trust, and to follow your Soul.

During the day we will weave together... 

 Meditation to bring to your awareness that the peace of the present is your grandest gift to your Self, allowing you 

to release attachments to your stories.

 Channeling: "Meet Your Soul Self. Listen to and trust your Soul. Your Soul Knows the Truth"

 Journaling to uncover your deepest Myths. What messages does the voice in your head keep repeating? Listen to the 

messages, but don't believe them. Discover their origins and replace the myths with the Truths of your Soul. 

~ Automatic Writing to uncover your Inner Wisdom. Receive personal guidance and healing from your Soul - 

experience various Tools you can use for your Personal Transformation 

SAINT BRIGIT

St. Bridget of Kildare

450 - 525 

Patron Saint of Ireland

St. Bridget, Mary of the Gael

St Brigid was born in the year 450 on the first of February. She was born in Faughart in Dundalk. She was the daughter of 

a powerful Leinster Celtic Chieftain named Dubhthach (also spelt Dufach) and his Christian slave named Brocessa. 

The slave girl was sent to a cabin at the foot of the Cooley Mountains near Dundalk, Co Louth, to have the child. 

Much of St. Bridget's life is shrouded in mystery and folklore, and although reliable information is lacking, 

Roman hagiography states she founded the first convent in Ireland at Kildare (originally Cill-Daire or 'church of the oak')

sometime around 470 AD. The oak was sacred tree in Ireland, and in the inner sanctuary of the Church 20 nuns maintained 

a perpetual flame, a religious symbol of the Christian faith. Contemporary reports reveal the sacred flame was surrounded 

by a circle of thick hedges which men were forbidden to enter. 

St. Bridget

In keeping with the life planned for her, she became a vestal virgin in service to the Goddess Brid, and eventually 

high priestess at the Kil Dara (the temple of the oak), a pagan sanctuary built from the wood of a tree sacred to the 

Druids. There she and her companions kept a perpetual ritual fire, in honor of Brid. 

The exact circumstance of her conversion to Christianity are unknown, though it is certain that her Christian mother was 

a guiding influence. Some claim that she personally met St Patrick, which is possible since she was ten years old before 

he died, but there is no proof of that. Whatever the circumstances, Brigid and her companions in service to Brid, 

all accepted the Christian faith, and formed Ireland's first Christian religious community of women. 

St. Bridget, of Ireland

St. Brigit had the power to appoint bishops and they had to be goldsmiths. She was associated with miracles and fertility. Into the 18th century a women's only shrine was kept to her in Kildare (meaning Church of the Oak) in Ireland where, nineteen nuns tended her continually burning sacred flame. An ancient song was sung to Her: 'Brigid, excellent woman, sudden flame, may the bright fiery sun take us to the lasting kingdom.' St. Bridgit was said to be the inventor of whistling and of keening." 

Brigid was known as the "Mary of the Gael" due to her legendary generosity. When sent to collect milk or butter as a child, she was said to give it all away. One account declares if she gave a drink of water to a thirsty stranger the water would miraculously be changed into milk. It was claimed she once gave a barrel of beer to a community and it was wonderfully able to satisfy 17 others. Many of her "miracles" involved multiplication. It was said that her cows gave milk three times in a single day in order to provide milk for a visiting bishop. 

So strong was the respect and reverence for this holy lady that she became the patroness of parishes, towns, and counties, 

not only in Ireland, but all across Europe. During the age of Chivalry, she was so revered as a model for women of every 

age, that gentlemen, knights, and nobles began the custom of calling their sweethearts, their Brides - a custom that has 

come down to this very day. 

St. Bridget's Day is celebrated on 1st February. It was originally the feast day of the goddess Brid or Brigid, 

the Goddess of Fire whose manifestations were song and poetry, which the Celts considered the flame of knowledge. 

In Celtic tradition it is also called Imbolc as it marks the changing of the season from winter to spring. 

In traditional Irish custom, this is the season of "na oícheanta airneain," or evening visits. With no farmwork to 

be done and the weather improving, it is a time when neighbours gather together to share stories, song and dance. 

It is a joyous time. 

As the shamrock became associated with St Patrick, a tiny cross made of rushes was linked with St Brigid. 

Supposedly woven by her to explain the passion of Christ to a dying pagan, similar crosses are fashioned to this day 

as a defense against harm, and placed in the rafters of a cottage on the feast day of St Brigid - February 1. 

St. Bridget's Cross

In 835, her remains were moved to protect them from Norse invaders, and interred in the same grave that holds the remains 

of St. Patrick and St. Columcille at Downpatrick. 

She died in 525 and she is buried with Saint Patrick and with St. Colmcille in the Cathedral in Armagh

An annual Féile Bríde, which precedes Brigid’s/ Brigit’s feastday on the first of Febraury. Féile Bríde is a five day 

event organised by the Brigidine Sisters. It has a pilgrimage and a peace and justice conference as a core component. 

There is something for everybody. Local school children dramatise the legends of Brigid/ Brigit;  Brigid’s/Brigit’s 

crosses are woven by young and old. The celebration of the Eucharist and other creative rituals are conducted in the 

local churches and at St Brigid’s/ Brigit’s Well. Artists entertain those who come to a feast of poetry, music, song 

and Irish Dancing. Locals and visitors together explore places associated with Brigid/ Brigit, within the local area.

Féile Bríde attracts participants from many countries. The exciting growth and success of the Féile has its source 

in the energy and efforts of the community from which it sprang.

Events of Féile Bríde for 2010 can be seen on the Brigidine Sister’s website http://www.solasbhride.ie/component/content/article/41-feile-bride-2010

Brigid/ Brigit is forever associated with Kildare Town and the Curragh is known as St. Brigid’s Pastures or Pasturage. According to legend it was granted to St Brigid/ Brigit , by the King of Leinster in return for reducing the size of his ears. Having agreed to settle for a portion of land that her cloak would cover, Brigid/ Brigit threw down her cloak and it spread until it encompassed the whole Curragh (5000 acres).