Aibheag

Celtic

She was the ancient fire Goddess of County Donnegal in Ireland. The well that She was worshipped at was said to be an effective cure for toothaches. All a petitioner had to do was leave a small white stone to represent the tooth.

Ain

Celtic

She is the mythical reason for the high status of women in ancient Ireland. When She and her sister Iaine married their two brothers the men invented war so that each could claim as large a share of the island as possible.

The rights of women both single and married were spelled out carefully as a result of this conflict. These were the ancient Brehon laws. These laws were critical in establishing women's property rights and freedoms. Later occupation by the Normans meant the end of the Brehon system.

Anu

Celtic

An ancestral Goddess of Ireland, She is a source of abundance. In Western Ireland there are "the paps of Anu", which are two breast shaped mountains. She is associated with the symbol of the Cat.

Bebhionn

Celtic

A large and very beautiful supernatural woman, She came for Maiden's Land, or the Isle of Woman. This island was off the West Coast of Ireland. She is seen as an underworld Goddess as well as a patron of pleasure. She knew all of the powers of healing and traveled surrounded by beautiful birds.

One legend says that she left her magickal Island to live on the isle of Mann. She married the king but soon fled and headed home rather than endure the king's brutality. The king pursued and killed her.

Blathnat

Celtic

Her name means little flower. She was the daughter of Midir, the high king of the Irish Fairies. She traveled in a magick cauldron pulled by cows.

Brigid

Celtic

Brigid (pronounced breed) was the great Triple Goddess of the Irish Celts. She was also worshipped in Scotland, England, and Celtic France as Brigantia, Bride, and Brigandu.

So devoted were the Irish to Her that the Christians 'converted' Her along with Her followers. They called her Briget a daughter of a Druid who was baptized by Saint Patrick himself. Briget took religious vows and was canonized by Her adopted church after her death.

The ancient Brigid in her Three forms is the Goddess of healing and medicine, the Goddess of blacksmithing, and the Goddess of poetry and inspiration. She carried a famous cauldron from which her poetry and inspiration were drawn. In keeping with this the Christian Saint Briget was invoked as a healer an muse.

Unlike other Triple Goddesses the there aspects of Brigid were identical and not aging. The three aspects were unified under the symbol of Fire. Her name means bright flame or bright one. She has a sacred shrine at Kildare. She is invoked there as Goddess or Saint, Her attendants are priestesses or nuns.

The Irish say that the Goddess Brigid brought humanity an number of useful things. She invented whistling one night to summon Her friends. When Her beloved son was killed she invented keening the mournful song of the bereaved Irish woman. This draws Her close to the ancient Mother Goddesses of the Mediterian.

Ritual, a good source of conservation, preserved Brigid's name and symbols for over 1000 years. Some legends suggest that She dates back prior to the Celts. Possibly as an ancient seasonal Goddess of the pre-Celtic inhabitants of Ireland and Scotland.

In stones that may date back as far as 2000-3000 years ago Brigid became a surrogate for the Spring-Summer Goddess. This Goddess ruled over the land alternately with the Fall-Winter Hag.

Stones used in ancient monuments such as Stonehenge and Avebury are called Bride stones. This suggests that She could have been a neolithic deity of the area.

Inghean Bhuidhe

Celtic

She was the sister of Latiaran. Her name means yellow haired girl. In ancient Ireland She was honoured on May sixth, which was considered the first day of summer. Until recent times that day was celebrated in Her honor with rituals around a sacred well.

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