The Sacred Flame
By: Aisling Bronach of House Shadow Drake
Published in "PagaNet News," Mabon 2000 (Page 7)
Brigit was the daughter of the Dagda, or "Good God." She is often associated
with the goddess Dana, and the two are often synonymous with one another. Her
brothers and sisters included: Aenghus mac Og, Midir the Proud, Oghma, and Bodb the
Red. The Dagda had three daughters by the name of Brigit. One was associated with
healing, another with smithing, and the third with agriculture.
The legends tell us that she was married to King Bress, son of Elathan. In this,
she became the Queen of the Tuatha de Danann. It is only fit for her as she was the
daughter of the first chieftain of the Tuatha. Together they had four sons: Brian,
Iuchair, Iucharba, and Ruadan. The first three are said to actually be one son by
the name of Brian, who was in ancient times called Brenos. It was under this Brenos
that the Celts waged war upon Delphi and Allia. These were the Dei Dana, the gods
of light of the Tuatha de Danann. Ruadan sided with his father when Bress returned
to his Fomorian father. He acted as a spy for the Fomorii because of his relation
to the Tuatha. Unfortunately, in an act to sabotage the forge and kill the smith
Goibnui, Ruadan was killed.
In essence, though, Brigit was a toutal goddess of the Brigantes. The Brent
River was named after her. In this, she becomes on of many river goddesses that are
so characteristic to the Celtic peoples. It is most likely through this association
that she becomes identified with the goddess Dana.
Dana was a toutal river goddess of the Danube river. She was a third function
deity, meaning that she belonged to the realm of fertility and agriculture, a
goddess of the river and the land itself. Her name derives from Dannuia, the
original name of the Danube River. She is synonymous with the goddesses Anu and
Danu. Together with Badba and Macha, they form a triple goddess. Anu's association
with fertility can be found in the Paps of Anu located in western Ireland.
Brigit was often identified with the new moon, which was viewed as the beginning
of growth. She was the flame itself which ignited the creative thought within
mankind. In earlier times, people would carry an effigy of the goddess in chariots
and then throw it into the sea or a lake to celebrate her festival, Feile Bhride or
Oimlec. To many of her followers, she was the goddess of fire who was born at
sunrise and whose breath could revive the dead to live again.
Often times, she is portrayed as standing next to a cow holding a branch of oak
or corn, and carrying a pail of milk. Men were excluded entirely from her worship
which included nineteen sacred kelles. But, not much more is known about this
religious following.
What information that can be gathered concerns the same goddess under the name
of Brigantia, and other such variations of her name. We know that she was
worshipped under the title of Dea Brigantia by the Romans who occupied Brigantian
territory. Altars dedicated to her lay scattered across the British countryside,
but unfortunately they are not very numerous. It can thus be judged from the
apparent lack of shrines and altars throughout the entire area as a whole that
religion was more of a private matter practiced at home rather than in public
gatherings.
The most important religious rite associated with the worship of Brigit involves
the making of a corn dolly from the last portion of the crops to be harvested on
Samhain, or October 31. It was said to come alive with the spirit of Brigit on the
evening preceding Oimlec. Offering would then be left for Brigit to bring good luck
to the household. When the first seeds of the crops were planted, the horse that
helped to till the ground would be fed the dolly to ensure the fertility of the
fields.
But where Brigit was the golden fire goddess, she also had a darker half called
Cailleach Bheara. Cailleach Bheara was originally a Spanish princess named Bheara.
It was prophesied that she would go to the River Eibhear on a certain night and
discover a salmon dressed in colorful garments. On that night, she would meet her
future husband. Eventually, that night came to pass, and she eloped with Eoghan
Mo'r of Magh Nuadat. They set sail for Ireland. Upon there arrival, they landed on
the North side of Bantry Bay. Eoghan named the peninsula after his wife, Bheara.
A legend concerning Cailleach Bheara says that she was once married to Lugh. The
Book of Lecan mentions that she had seven youthful periods, during which she
married seven husbands, and adopted fifty foster children who founded the numerous
tribes of Ireland.
In Scotland, she is the Blue-faced hag who represents the three months of
winter. Her reign is broken by the appearance of Brigit at Oimlec. At Beltaine, she
hides her staff underneath a holly bush. Throughout all time, she continues to
chase her son, the "Young Son," in an endless battle.
Cailleach then becomes acquainted with the Roman Juno under the guise of Nicneven
in Scotland. She is the "Bone Mother," and was said to be seen flying through the
air followed by a league of demons at Samhain.
Cailleach means "Old Wife." She formed a triple goddess with Cailleach Bolus and
Cailleach Corca Duibhne. It was she was said to have let loose the rivers, shaped
the mountains, and swung her hammer over the green grasses.
The Dingle Peninsula is considered to be Cailleach Country. There are more than
2,000 archeological sites in this area, many of which pose religious significance.
The mountain range of this area is ruled by Mish, a personification of the
Cailleach. In fact, almost every aspect of this area is named after Cailleach
Bheara. In the area of the Cliffs of Moher, she is called Bronach. And at Hag's
Head, she is called Mal. Her names had variations were numerous.
Brigit became associated with the lighter part of the year, and Cailleach Bheara
reigned over the three dark months of winter. Brigit was the young ewe, and the
Cailleach the great dragon. In the distant past, a game was played called Sibyl in
which the two sides fought against one another.
In this eternal balance of light and darkness, the land was made fertile by the
powers of these two goddesses.
