Early Spring/Imbolc celebrations are traditionally a time of celebration of and dedication to, the nurturance of the New Young Being, as the new young light of the year begins to grow. This nurturance of new and tender life is no wimpy task: it is for the brave and courageous, whether one is committing to the new being in another, or within one’s self. The Great Goddess Brigid of the old Celtic peoples (and perhaps pre-Celtic) is traditionally invoked for such a task. She has been understood for millennia as One who tends the Flame of Being: thus, a Brigid-ine commitment may be one that is unwavering in its devotion to the central truth of each unique particular self. The stories of Old speak of Brigid in three primary capacities that may need spelling out in our times, as they are frequently almost forgotten skills: She is imagined as Blacksmith, Physician and Poet … all three.

Blacksmith is one who takes the unshapely lump of raw metal, melts it, then takes the fiery hot form and shapes it … this is no stereotypical “feminine” act: Goddess of Old is not bound by such patriarchal dualisms. She is spiritual warrior, shaman – this is Her eternal uncompromised virgin quality, never separate from her qualities of mother or old one, and no need to characterize such power as “masculine” or dissociate it from “nursery” activity.

Physician is one who understands the “physics” of being, of matter … how a body relates within itself and within its context, functions harmoniously and thus may heal/whole. In this role, Brigid is scientist, healer … none of it separate. Her physics is biologically connected – an understanding of dwelling within a whole and seamless Universe.

Poet of Old is one who speaks the metaphors, the stories of cultural knowledge, the sacred language of Creativity – one who “spells” what may be so. It is a power of spirit: the voice enabled by air, resonant with the winged ones – the birds – whose perspective transcends boundaries. The ancients knew Poetry as a sacred and powerful task – that with our words, we do create what is so. Brigid’s “motherhood statements” are statements of the Mother/Creator, Who once again is never separate from Her whole self – the Young One and the Old One – represented in the Triple Spiral dynamic.

The coming into being that both Winter Solstice and Early Spring/Imbolc celebrate, is an awesome thing. It takes courage and daring. It has taken courage and daring – always. In these times of change, it is perhaps particularly so. Our times require the melting down of so much that no longer works, that will not carry us through. These times require the re-shaping and speaking of new realities – an aboriginal magic of new connections, with what is already present within us, if we can but plumb it, open to it deep within. This is a great seasonal moment to get with the plot of Creativity, to align ourselves with our Native Wisdom …the Wisdom that in fact brings us all into being. We may respond to the gift of being by receiving it graciously – and thus become re-sponsible. Though we may feel inadequate, we are not – and we need to begin.

(c) Glenys Livingstone 2023

* Photo by Glenys Livingstone: image of Michelle Claire White as Brigid in MoonCourt 2014, used with her permission.