The name in any way means �power� and �fiery arrow of fire�.
Brigit was probably originally a sun goddess due to a tale of her birth, it was said that when this goddess was born at sunrise a tore of flames burst from her forehead and stretched to the sky�s. That touching the sun, and showing her true flame from within.
In another tale she was the aspect of Danu, and she had 3 different aspects to her, sisters they called them, one being the sister of poetry, and inspiration which invented the ogham alphabet. One of the others in charge healing and midwifery and the third in charge of the hearth, fire, smithies and other crafts.
As the goddess of inspiration, she charges poetry, creativity, prophecy and arts. She was even deemed the goddess of language, for the fact she created the Odham alphabet. Also in many tales she is the goddess of smith craft, as with other crafters in and out of the household. The goddess of physical, and emotional and spiritual healing, she was also in charge of crops and livestock.
The Christian tale of Brigit, (how she became a saint) stated she was a midwife for the Virgin Mary, and was always called upon by women in labor. They say she was baptized by St. Patric and she became a nun and later the abbess who founded the Abbey at Kildare (451-524). The Christian tale also said she was the power to appoint bishops of her area, a strange request, she made sure all appointed bishops were crafty in smithing. She had always kept a shrine at Kildare Ireland. with an perpetual flame tended by 19 virgin priestesses called the daughters of the flame. No male was ever aloud to tend to the flame, nor were the daughters aloud to comunicate with any men.
In the Irish tale of Brigit, The number 19 was the Celtic great year. The number of years it takes for the new moon coincide with the sun�s winter solstice.
The Irish claim that she brought �whistling� to the world which she invented one night when she wanted to call her friends. She also invented the �keening� the mournful song of the bereaved Irishwoman, the night one of her sons was killed.
In Britain, she was known as the blessed ladies of Britain, the three mothers. The name Brigantia for the goddess arises from that of the ancient people that bore her name. her name is still echoed in the rivers of Briant in Anglesey, and Brent in Middlesex. They saw her as the power of the rushing waters and they thrusting hills of the countryside, opposed to the personification of the triple goddess.
