Brigit, with all her guises (goddess, saint, a sacred Celtic blend of the two).
Brigit, with all her spellings (maybe she’s Brigid, or Bridget, or Bríd?).
Brigit, with all her power (fire, healing, hospitality, poetry, beer, smithcraft… and that’s just the short list).
With all her names, faces, and skills she has spoken to the soul of the individual and the collective for millennia.
Throughout my life, Brigid has been my soul’s guide. The first time I heard her name, I felt like I had found a companion, but it was only when I sat down with Kate Chadbourne for the first episode of my new podcast, KnotWork Storytelling that I fully connected with the idea, “Brigid is a friend.”
In Episode 1 of KnotWork Storytelling, Conspiring with Brigit, Kate tells two stories of Ireland’s matron goddess and saint.
A Story of Friendship: When Brigit and Mary were BFFs
Now, everyone knows that Mary and Jesus lived in Ireland for a time, right?
A cozy cottage with Brigit in the midst of a long Irish winter sounds like the perfect place to recover from childbirth. Brigit, after all, is the saint one calls upon for all matters of fertility, pregnancy, and birth.
At the start of February, when it was time for Mary to return to mass, to be “churched” after Jesus’s arrival, Mary didn’t want to be the center of attention. Brigit, always a mother of invention, had a solution.
Listen to the entire episode to hear the story of Brigit’s “flaming headdress” and how a grateful Mary decided that Brigit’s Day (February 1) would always be celebrated before her own feast on Candlemas (February 2).
A Story of Resourcefulness and Kindness: When Brigit Saves a Fox and Outfoxes a King
A woodcutter killed a fox in defense of his chickens. Unfortunately, that fox was a favorite of the king. The king was heartbroken and threatened the woodcutter with death.
Brigit, in her goddess form, riding in her great chariot, hears the laments of the woodcutter’s daughters and offers her aid. This is a tale of power, both the foolish and the compassionate kind.
Is Brigid a Goddess or a Saint?
Brigid, of course, is both.
Irish and Scottish folklore are rich with tales of Brigid. Our greatest source for her stories, including what we know of Brigid as a goddess, are the weird, wild, and wonderful stories recorded by the Church in various volumes called the “Lives of Saint Brigit.”
These stories offer us the entire tapestry of Brigit’s traditions: Brigit as goddess, as saint, who we know through hagiography, and through the oral tradition.
As Kate says, “If it sparks you, it belongs to you…. Stories are deeper than bloodlines.”
What is KnotWork Storytelling?
On this new podcast, we’re on a mission to untangle our myths and reweave our stories.
In each KnotWork Storytelling episode, you’ll hear a story from mythology, folklore, or history. Then, my guest and I will explore why these ideas and characters still resonate today.
I’m your host, Marisa Goudy. I created this show because I’m so passionate about Irish folklore, Celtic mythology, and heroines’ tales from around the world.
We'll explore sacred stories and traditions from around the world, particularly Ireland and the region known as "the Celtic fringe." Join us as we wander through these ancient storylines as we set out on a quest to learn from the past, better understand the present, and craft a sustainable future.
Every episode reminds us that ancient stories are medicine for our ancient maladies.
