Imbolc altar space for Brigit, 2020
Photo by Daniela Simina
February 1st is only days ahead. It is the day when, for many years now, I do acknowledge Brigit and that shift in energy, that little nudging that speaks of spring being somewhere around the corner. Fairy Gods and Powers related to fairies hold the center stage in my practice, but Brigit has also been a companion for some time. Today I found myself pondering over the question: how does Brigit and Na Daoine Maithe fit together in my fairy-focused prcatice? Is Brigit, the Irish goddess, connected to fairies the way fairies are understood in Ireland?
If we look at the the body of lore surrounding Brigit, the immediate answer would be no. There is no mention in the lore of Brigit being connected to fairies. She does not appear to be a liminal goddess that takes on the role of fairy queen, as does Áine for example.
However, in the original corpus of material [1] Brigit identity as one of the Tuath Dé Danann [2] is clearly stated. Also, looking up the origin of fairies in Ireland, we find out that the Tuatha De Dannan become fairies themselves after the Milesian conquest.
Aside from being part of the Tuath Dé Danann who went to live into the fairy mounds and became the Aos Sí [3] Brigit is also the daughter of An Dagda, who is known as the king of fairies in Ireland [4]. And speaking of family ties, Finnbheara, one of the Tuatha Dé Danann who is now mostly known as a fairy king, is a son of the Dagda too.
As daughter of a fairy king, sister of another fairy king, and a member of the tuath that became the Fair Folk or fairies in Ireland, doesn’t Brigit herself have a place among fairies then? I want to say that she could be considered one of Na Daoine Maithe based on her genealogy. But again, no text mentions Brigit as a fairy, or as a liminal power holding roles as both goddess and fairy queen. And I can’t stop wondering why? Could it be that Brigit has the saint aspect so strongly connected to her and maybe, just maybe, for the church and many people the saint and fairy are mutually exclusive?
Probably I am not the only one who tries to reconcile a fairy-based spiritual path with inclusion of deities or beings who are not traditionally associated with fairies, at least not explicitely. In my case, this deity is Brigit. I bring up for discussion my own case study here not because it is the most interesting, but because it is the one that I can understand best and because I feel at ease revealing as much detail as I need to without infringing on anyone else’s privacy.
I have been in a relationship with Brigit for a few years She has been one of my spiritual guides, and actually, she is the one who opened the door for me to meet An Dagda. It is because of her that I ended up writting poetry (something I never thiought I woud be able to do), and teaching Reiki (not something I had considered teaching).
But my own path is centered on fairies.
I am questioning whether I reached a fork in the road: one branch bearing a sign that reads “Brigit”, and the other a sign reading “Fairies”. An image comes to my mind, that of two roads running parallel to each other: the “Fairy” road and the “Brigit” road. Walking both while having one foot on each becomes painfully difficult because in so doing the much-desired cohesiveness in my practice shatters. This doesn’t feel right. The more i sit with it, the more itt feels like an either-or type of situation. Neraly a decade ago I had the experience of a goddess who, after years of partnership, let go of me. I considered the possibility that now, after few years of Brigit’s mentorship which include two years in her service as flame keeper, she’d feel that our journey together has reached conclusion. Maybe.
From my experience with fairies, I gather that they sometimes demand exclusivity. Sometimes they expect people to find ways around, and sustain long-term partnesrships with other beings, deities or not. In my case, I was never offered the clearly this option of a duality, this and that. I’m not saying that they don’t offer it to other people, it is just not the type of agreement they made with me, and whenever I forget, the reminders are ususlly harsh.
Which leaves me wondering, how do I reconcile my relationship with Brigit and walking the wild Fairy Path I’m on? I don’t have a clear answer. Some musings, but nothing more. As the daughter of An Dagda, as one of the Tuatha De Danann and therefore one of the Aos Sí, I could connect Brigit to the Fair Folk implicitly even if the lore does not make such connection explicitly. I’m aware that, like all things related to fairies and Irish mythology, this situation is as clear as mud.
I shall go on from here, and prepare to acknowledge Brigit on February 1st while also hnoring the Fairy Queens that I personally associate with this time of the year. It is a subtle nuance that I am fully aware not everyone will connect with nor agree upon. While lighting up the candle and putting out offerings for Brigit I'll ask for more clarity and guidance. I’ll be sensing, feeling my way through, and be open to follow whatever course my relationship with Brigit is going to take.
Until next time,
Happy Imbolc, and bright Fairy blessings,
Daniela
Happy Imbolc, and bright Fairy blessings,
Daniela
[1] Cath Maige Tuired https://celt.ucc.ie/published/T300011.html
[2] A mythical race of people with extraordinary powers and levels of knowledge who inhabited Ireland before the Milesian invasion. The Milesians, or Gaels, are considered the ancestors of the Irish people.
[3]https://www.connollycove.com/tuatha-de-danann/
[4] The Dream of Oengus, http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/oengus.html
