| Archangel Raphael art, icons, information, medals | |
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The festival of Imbolc (Oimelc or Imbolg), generally observed on February 1 (sometimes February 2), means "ewe's-milk" for the lambing season, and marks the traditional beginning of spring. | |||||||
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Brigid the Goddess is joined to Brigid the Saint by intricate Celtic knotwork
woven from threads of history, legend, fact, fantasy and necessity. Venerated in Ireland, Wales, Britain, France
and Spain, she is known as Brigid,
Bridget, Brighid, Brigantia, Brighde, Brig, Bride, Brigit, Brid, Briggidda, Brigan, Brigindo, and Brigandu. Her name means variously "The Exalted One, "Power," and "Fiery Arrow
of Power." Folklore and legends abound, with many variations among them. Some say Brigid was actually three sisters: Poetess/Muse, Physician/Healer and Smith/Warrior. The “three were one and one was three, united through the symbol of fire.” She was also know as Mother-Goddess of Fertility, the Hearth, Domestic Arts and, somewhat paradoxically, the Martial Arts. She was identified with the changing moon and is closely connected with livestock and domesticated animals . A number of wells, springs and rivers are named for Brigid and are believed to contain healing waters. A shrine at Kildare was said to have a perpetual flame tended by 19 virgins (representing the 19-year cycle of the Celtic "Great Year"). In Scotland, Brigid was considered a great fritheir (seer or augerer). Thus the hedgehog is associated with Brigid, as a symbol of the foretelling of the coming of spring (evolving to Groundhog Day in the U.S.). Brigid is often said to be the daughter of Dagda, "The Good God." She is credited with starting the practice of keening (caoine) the Irish mourning wail, when she cried for her slain son (some say her brother). The banshee (bean-sidhe), the spirit whose keening is said to presage a death is thought to be the spirit of Brigid. Nineteenth-century folk historian Alexander Carmichael wrote: With the coming of Christianity, the powerful energy of the pagan goddess was transmuted into Ireland’s much-loved Saint Brigid. ![]() n doing research for this series of artwork, I came across a lot of interesting material on the web. I'm happy to pass some of the best along to you in the links below. |
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We also have St. Brigid. ![]() |
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