Other Hangouts

Tuesday 12 May 2009

Symbolism of Bride/Brigit/Brigid

Hmmm I have been asked by a number of people what is the symbolism behind my pictures of the Goddess / Saint. The Goddess of the hearth, forge and fertility (childbirth), and a scholar and poet. She has been associated also with water and wells, water being a life source and having healing properites. She is also said to be the 'Fire' goddess, and a triple aspect Goddess in her forms as maiden, mother and crone. So much to cram in I wondered, how could I account for all those aspects? It was more simple than I first anticipated, thanks to three little insects. Well the Dragonflies are of the air and water.......Air as an element has long been associated with intellect so that linked nicely with her scholary and poetical attributes and they need clean water to breed in so that draws us to her association with water and healing. Dragonflies also undergo three stages of metamorphosis, I made comparisons with this and that of the three aspects of the Goddess as maiden, mother and crone. The butterflies are also symbolic of transformation and rebirth, both spiritually and physically. Some thought the butterfly and the transformations it went through were symbolic of the souls journey. The goddess has also said to have owned an orchard in the 'otherworld' and bees travelled there to collect magical nectar. Bees also are a sign of fertility and herald the coming spring and summer. The Goddesses festival day is Imbolc or Candlemas during Spring and is celebrated around 1st - 2nd Feb. Oh and I fogot, the colour theme, warm and sunny or the colour of fire, and the metal work on her brow and in the one picture (a torc) highlight her metalwork skills!

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