I have both bright and dark sides. A positive image reflecting
my bright side is of
a strong blond woman with braids. As Lady of Bringing-into-Being, I have
been worshipped at the beginning of new projects. When I am associated with
nature, I am the lady of childbirth, of new streams and recently dug wells,
which gush down the mountainside, and the lady who brings health to newborn
animals.
When I am associated with culture, I am the lady of the plough, the
foundry, and the cooking fire, all of which begin and transform things. As
childbirth goddess, I hold the gateway for the soul which passes
between the spirit
world and the physical world. As goddess of hearth and plough, I bring life
and strength. I have been associated by the Romans with Vesta, the hearth
goddess, and by Christians with Mary, who gave birth to Jesus without sin
or pain.
I have even been worshipped by the Norse tribal people, as queen
and warrioress. For the Fair Folk, I was an artist of power, for the Celts
a goddess, for the Christians, a saint. However
sometimes these overlapped. When I became worshipped as a Christian saint,
I was given a life history and was characterized as a devout human woman,
but I still retained associations with my older roles. So I became a virgin
goddess of childbirth, a warrior queen and defender of the faith, and a
holy presence at sacred streams and wells. My identity as a member of the
Fair Folk was furthest from their minds, though I maintained a link with
the Fair Folk and their artistic endeavors.
I became an ideal of piety, strength and devotion, an ordinary woman who
could do extraordinary things through faith. Thus there grew up many
stories and myths around me.
As a warrioress, I defend true Christians on the battlefield, and can
embody the force of curses and revenge. There are still churches, which
retain my battle form, which was shared with the Norse image of the
Valkyrie. In another set of stories, I am the humble maiden who plays with
animals, with peace in her voice and healing in her hands. Yet again, I am
also the lady-queen, whose authority is based on my ability at creation, and defense
of land and tradition. As guardian goddess, I have been adopted by many
faiths.
I am the lady of safe harbor, who nurtures and strengthens, and brings new
things into the world. As goddess, I am worshipped with milk and cakes
and silver. As saint, I am mostly asked for favors. There are many
advantages to the goddess role.
In each case, I appear with long hair bound, and a white dress which
ripples in the wind. I wear reeds and white flowers, and come to help those
in distress. I come to bless new beginnings, and bring safety and
protection, at endings, so that a new life may begin.
Bridget and the Druids
I am the goddess of creativity, inspiration and idea. For that reason, I
was a hidden goddess of the Druid priests. Much of their training was
memorization, but with me, they got to explore new ground. Their chants
created imaginative strands with traditional and repeating patterns,
but I inspired them to weave
tapestries of new designs. While women wove the physical cloth for robes,
men wove the spiritual cloth to create the history and future of their
people.
There were priestesses but they had different roles. Much Druid knowledge
involved war - there was surveillance of enemies by supernatural means,
techniques of control of weather, and insight into future dangers to the
culture. The priestesses dealt more with health and fertility, curing
ailments and giving children to the barren. While women could be warriors,
this was exceptional and was normally only done under threat. To the men, I
gave fertility but also destruction. To women I gave healing springs and
holy wells.
While much has been made of gender equality during Druid times, this was
really not the case. Both men and women had their own societies and their
own forms of knowledge. An occasional fighting women did not mean a race
of warrioresses.
However some women did learn sorcery, though not from me. These women
rarely benefited from this kind of knowledge, as sorcerers in general end
up in unfortunate situations. They alienate the gods, and then there is
nobody to turn to when they get into trouble.
I teach only defensive strategies, which should
only to be used in times of danger. But
these are not my preference. I like fresh water, nobility, honesty,
heroism, and beauty. I inspire the blacksmith and the weaver, the cook and
the builder. I like sacred wells in sacred groves, virtuous maidens and
warriors capable of self-sacrifice and acting to help others. I do not have
the taste of the Fair Folk for jewels, silks and colored veils. Simplicity
is fine for me. It goes with an open mind and innocent heart.
Though I am called by many names, my values stay the same, and I bless
those who follow them.
