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St. Bridget's Cloak

The first and second day of February is St. Bridget's day.  I do not know if you are familiar with her but she is both a marvelous and magnificent woman and she speaks to me and my work often and with much healing and love.  Her name means "Exalted One" and truly, Bridget is one of the loveliest and most honoured of Celtic Deities.  Originally, she was a Triple Goddess of Healing, Smith craft and Poetry.  She is also known as the “Lady of the Flame" and the sacred fire was perpetually tended in her honour.  She holds the eternal flame of Inspiration, Transformation and Sovereignty.  St. Bridget is second only to St Patrick in popularity in Ireland.  Cows and milk were sacred to her as her Special day was when the ewes were pregnant and lactating, thus marking the first promises and signs of spring.   

February 1-2 is St. Bridget's Cloak day.  That is the day (in the Olde Irish tradition) that Ladies would all hang their cloaks or coats and wraps out of doors in order to infuse them with the healing powers of St. Bridget.  On this night (Feb. 1^st.) before you go to bed, hang a cloak or a blanket (I have a hand-made crochet blanket that I use for healing so I always use that to capture St. Bridget’s marvelous healing energy) and either hang it on a line or fold it and place it on a chair or balcony railing.  In the morning (Feb. 2nd.), you bring in the garment and from then until Feb. 1-2 next year, you use it to wrap up in (whether it is you or a member of the family) if you are not feeling well.  This simple ritual is a marvelous way to honour her and bring a bit of Celtic Spirituality into your home and your life.  She is most definitely one of my favorite Ladies and I call upon her often and with much love.    

She was born in the year 450 A.D. of an interfaith marriage; her father was a Druid and her mother was Catholic.  To this day, a small community of Nuns in the hamlet of Kildare carefully tends the flame that burns in honour of this Goddess/Saint.  There remains a mystery as to the rites and rituals performed within those cloistered walls.  These rites have long been believed to be an intermingling or a blending of both Pagan and Christian ways.  Some scholars say she never really existed; they see her as a version of the Goddess who was slightly altered to be acceptable to Christians. 

In the very near future, I will complete the Ritual to St. Bridget and in that Ritual; we will make the Celtic Cross, which is attributed to St. Bridget.  It is called St. Bridget's Cross and is an ancient adaptation of the sun wheel.  Lots to learn here. There is a marvelous prayer to St. Bridget that I would like to share with you.  Perhaps you could recite this while placing your garment outside.  To ignite her flame within you - say her prayer written below by one of my favorite authors.

Blessed Bridget of the golden flame. 

Hear me as I call your name.

I invoke your Spirit to burn in me.   

All I will, precious lady, so it must be.

                                  by Edain McCoy

What better way to begin the month than with a Triple Goddess joining our group work.  I hope you enjoyed reading about St. Bridget and all of her fabulous attributes. 

Enjoy and Heal       Willow

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