I’m no expert on Brigid , born 450 to 521, the Celtic pagan goddess or Saint Brigid, however the words Divine Feminine Energy resonate with me and I perceive Brigid as That. I feel that Brigid is a remarkable female Celtic goddess and/or Saint that represents our divine feminine energy, attributes and qualities that you can embrace if you cherish her.
This is the first year that I’ve embraced the feminine energy of Brigid whatever religion she is – pagan or Christian she is a powerful form of Shakti – Sanskrit for Divine Feminine Energy.
Last week I went with some friends to visit Saint Brigid’s shrine, stream and well, in Dundalk.”
Getting a ”feel” for Saint Brigid and what she represents. Taking part in the healing rituals of tying a ribbon to the tree of life beside the well; immersing a piece of cloth in the well water to be preserved for healing during the year eg. to be placed on the chest if someone has a cough; going barefoot in the stream that runs through the sacred grounds for self healing and cleansing; there are rocks with holes for placing parts of your body like the head or feet or knees. Putting a cloth out in a tree in the garden, on the eve of 1st February for Brigid to bless, on her way over and also received a gift of a cross made with rushes to put above my door for protection. The rituals didn’t feel strange to me, as I do rituals for the Hindi goddesses, they felt right.
I did feel a beautiful stillness and spaciousness when I placed the top of my head in a dimple in the rock where so many others have done the same while praying and chanting continuously enriching the energy of the rock and place. I saw photographs of all the ancestors who have gone before us praying and creating a continuation of Saint Brigid’s loving and compassionate nature.
Finally Ireland is recognising Brigid as the Mother Saint or Great Mother of Ireland that should not be forgotten or thought less of. We can love the Celtic Goddess Brigid or Saint Brigid there is no division. She doesn’t belong to someone or something or some place she is there for everyone to enjoy. This is a wonderful pathway for us all to see our connection to each other rather than our differences especially in Ireland.
The Celtic goddess Brigid symbolises healing, Spring, fertility, life poetry, crafts and smithing. Her 4 armed Celtic cross made of rushes is an ancient symbol of the goddess set over doors or windows to protect a home from harm, fire or disease.
Saint Brigid was the first women in the history of Ireland to build a monastery in Kildare, about 470 AD, for nuns and monks so she embraced the coming together of the feminine and masculine energies recognising the need for the presence of both, like yin and yang, Shiva and shakti, purusha and prakriti.
St Brigid represents courage and strength. She is still remembered to this day for the achievements she made while living in a very patriarchal world and becoming an Abbess (higher than the Abbot) in a very male dominated religion during those times.
Brigid is a triple goddess. Her healing is represented by water; she is the goddess of alchemical force of fire, and a goddess of poetry, words and art. She has qualities of many different Hindu Devis because it would seem she is the Mother (perhaps the Mahadevi) of all the Celtic goddesses.
Over the last few years I’ve been reading about the Hindi goddesses, meditating on their different qualities and attributes, chanting their mantras and embracing my own feminine energy through these practices. When we do the practices we create a shift in our feminine energy that can be self empowering and create a nourishing feeling of self respect and balance between the feminine and masculine energies residing within us.
When we allow someone to disrespect us we are allowing that person to disrespect the universal Divine Feminine Energy. When we create an affinity with this energy we have loving respect for Mother Earth, animals, nature, our hearts open with more compassion for others, instead of feeling separate to the earth and nature we feel a part of it, this is how we can embrace the Celtic goddess. We must become passionate and active about saving the planet, helping those who are suffering and encouraging others to develop the same self awareness for the good of the world.
I think what’s absolutely vital during the chaotic time we are living in is to become Aware of the Divine Feminine Energy that resides within You and for both women and men to connect deeply with it.
Women need to rise up now and be recognised as healers and leaders by discovering and cherishing the Grace of Brigid or other female goddesses, Saints or Mother Earth or whoever you feel drawn to. We need to raise the feminine energy again and bring it into balance with the male energy. Meditate upon Her and use religion, rituals, or nature to strengthen this wonderful Vibration of Life, Joy, Courage, Fertility, Creativity, Love, Compassion and so much more. Enjoy the journey.
Blessed Mother, Blessed Earth, Blessed Womb, Blessed Temple 💓
Mantra of praise for MahaShakti The Goddess Who Is All That Is. Goddess of Universal Power:
Ya Devi sarva bhuteshu- shakti rupena samsthita- Namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaha – Ya devi sarva bhuteshu – chetanetyabhidhiyate – namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai.
O Goddess, who lives within everything in the form of power, Salutations to you, salutations to you, salutations to you. O Goddess, whom we name with the word awareness, Salutations to you, salutations to you.
I apologise in advance for any mistakes I may have made in the details while writing this.
If you are interested a Nurturing Yoga Retreat on 12th February including movements that connect us more to the earth and nature then hit: link https://beyondmindfulnessni.com/product/nurturing-yoga-retreat-2 for more detail and to book.
Link for details on weekly Yoga Classes