Temple Of Brigid

My name’s Silver and I’ll be sharing my insights and rituals centered around the lovely goddess Brigid here. Brigid is traditionally honored in Ireland, Scotland, and parts of Wales. Over time, her many names spread and now she’s beloved and worshipped worldwide, both as a pagan goddess and a Saint. She is mostly known as the goddess of healing, creativity, fire, and poetry. However, she also has associations with the season of spring, domestic animals, wells and a whole list of other things.

I believe her energy offers guidance, inspiration, and healing to all who call upon her.

The Temple of Brigid blog is meant to be a place of warmth, invitation and learning about Brigid—(likely to also become a bit of a personal echo chamber at times as well lol)

The Spring Equinox is here, the days are getting longer, and there’s a shift in the air. Even though the change might feel a little different where I am, there’s still that sense of renewal and new beginnings all around. After months of quiet, it’s the perfect time to reflect, reset, and honor the season.

This year, I chose to spend the day being creative—making music, scrapbooking, and, of course, doing some spring cleaning as I meditated with Brigid, focusing on transformation and welcoming in the new energy of the season.

One of the highlights of my day was taking a walk around my neighborhood to get some Polaroid shots for my scrapbook and coming across one of my favorite flowers, Gardenias in full bloom. It wasn’t about big rituals, but more about connecting with the season in small, personal ways that felt meaningful.

If you aren’t sure how to celebrate, here are a few ways you can invite the fresh energies of this season into your life:

✨ Get Creative – Whether it’s making music, drawing, writing, or whatever sort of crafting you’re into, tap into your creative flow. Spring is a time of renewal, and creativity is a perfect way to channel that fresh energy.

✨ Take a Walk and Connect with Nature – Go outside and really pay attention to what’s blooming, growing, and changing around you. A simple walk, like the one I took around my neighborhood, can help you feel more connected to the season. Bring a camera or Polaroid to capture what catches your eye!

✨ Spring Clean – It’s not just about your home, but about clearing out the old and making space for new opportunities. Whether you’re organizing your space or your mind, it’s a great way to invite in positive, fresh energy.

✨ Meditate or Reflect – Spend some quiet time reflecting on what you want to invite into your life this season. Meditate on the themes of transformation and growth, like I did with Brigid. It doesn’t need to be complicated—just a few moments of stillness can help you connect with the new possibilities ahead.

✨ Create an Offering – Whether it's flowers, a piece of art, or even a simple prayer to the land you reside in itself, make a small offering to honor the season and the energy of renewal it brings. It’s a way to celebrate and show gratitude for the fresh start.

Merry Imbolc! I hope everyone’s day has gone well, I must apologize for being late on this.. I had originally planned to write a post yesterday all about Imbolc, but life had other plans and I wasn’t able to get it together in time. Since today still holds meaning for me, I’m excited to share how I celebrated, touch on the traditions of this sacred holiday, and hopefully inspire you to create your own way of honoring it.

What Does Imbolc Mean?

The word Imbolc comes from the Old Irish term “i mbolc,” meaning "in the belly," referring to the ewes beginning to lactate in preparation for lambing. This marks the beginning of the growing season, symbolizing fertility, new life, and the first stirrings of spring.

Imbolc is a cross-quarter day, sitting halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. While the exact date of Imbolc’s celebration is debated, it’s typically observed on February 1st or 2nd in modern times. Traditionally, it’s closely tied to Brigid, the goddess of hearth, fertility, poetry, and healing.

Imbolc is also known as St. Brigid’s Day in Christian traditions, as the goddess Brigid was merged with the saint, honoring both the earthly and divine aspects of her. Another name for Imbolc is Candlemas, marking the purification of the Virgin Mary and the presentation of Jesus at the Temple. Like Imbolc, Candlemas emphasizes the blessing of candles, symbolizing the return of light and the end of the darkest days.

Imbolc Traditions and Symbols

(Above is the rosary I created for Brigid this year)

Imbolc is a holiday rich with symbolism and tradition. The key theme is the return of light, both literally and metaphorically, as the days begin to lengthen. Some of the common traditions and symbols include:

- Brigid’s Cross: A woven cross, traditionally made from rushes, to protect the home and bring blessings for the coming year.

- Brat Bhride: A cloth or shawl that’s placed outside over night and collected before dawn for Brigid’s blessing. It’s said that the goddess blesses the cloth with her healing and protective energy.

- Lighting Candles: Candles represent the growing light of the sun, honoring Brigid’s flame and the increase in daylight hours.

- Food and Offerings: Dairy and honey, often symbolic of abundance and fertility, are offered in honor of Brigid’s nurturing qualities.

Symbols of Imbolc also include:

- The snowdrop flower, one of the first flowers to bloom, signaling new beginnings.

- Fire, symbolizing Brigid’s eternal flame, a reminder of the returning light and divine inspiration.

- Milk and dairy offerings, representing fertility, nourishment, and the earth’s abundant potential.

Simple Ways To Celebrate Imbolc

1. Light Candles: Honor the return of light and the growing days by lighting candles.

2. Create a Brigids Cross or Brat Bhride: Craft a cross or cloth for Brigids blessings of protection and healing.

3. Spring Clean: Clear out clutter to make space for new growth.

4. Plant Seeds or Start a Garden: Begin planting or preparing for the upcoming season.

5. Offer Food: Make an offering of honey, dairy, or bread to Brigid.

6. Meditate: Spend some time reflecting on the seasons energy and setting intentions for what you want to manifest.

7. Do Some Spellwork: This is a great time to do spells regarding new beginnings, protection or blessings. Especially through candle magic.

8. Honor the Elements: Create an offering for each element— earth, air, fire, and water. Place stones for earth, light candles for fire, offer incense for air, and pour water as a symbol of purification and flow.

9. Create a Vision Board or Manifestation List: Set your intentions for the season ahead by creating a vision board or writing a list of things you’d like to manifest. This is a great way to channel Imbolc’s energy of new beginnings.

My Personal Connection to Imbolc and Brigid

Spring is my favorite season, and Imbolc, as a celebration of the coming spring, resonates deeply with me. There’s something about the anticipation of transitioning from winter that really excites me each year—it’s a time of liminality, a space between seasons where I feel a heightened sense of spiritual connection. You can’t imagine how thrilled I was when I learned that there’s a holiday that celebrates what always felt like a second Christmas for me anyway.

The dawn has always been a spiritually significant time for me as well. As a child—and even til now—I was always drawn to the stillness of early morning.. that quiet moment when the world feels full of potential (brb, getting a huge wave of nostalgia thinking about this). This sense of new beginnings is at the heart of Imbolc—a celebration of the first stirrings of life and the promise of what’s to come. Brigid has become my muse—she embodies so many of the qualities I admire: creativity, healing, wisdom, and strength. She inspires me every day to live with intention and to embrace the journey of growth.

I owe a lot to her and am deeply grateful for her guidance. She’s been a constant source of inspiration, and Imbolc is a beautiful time to honor her and reflect on the ways she influences my life.

How I Celebrated Imbolc

This year, my celebration began with meditation at dawn and it was beautiful. The clouds were pink and orange until it eventually faded away. I used this time to connect with Brigid, the land around me and set my intentions for the season ahead.

I later made a honey cake with blackberries as an offering to Brigid, honoring her as a goddess of fertility and abundance. You saw the photo of my altar space at the beginning of this post, where I placed the cake along with other symbols of the season, including crystals, my Brat Bhríde from last night, and a small rock I painted with a snowdrop to represent new life.

Lastly, I felt called to create a Brigid’s Rosary inspired by Lunea Weatherstone’s *Tending Brigid’s Flame* as well by Brigid herself. On my altar, I placed a Brigid’s Cross, a symbol of protection, as well as 19 small stones to honor the 19 nuns who tended Brigid’s flame at her temple in Kildare. I ended my evening by attending my local arts festival, which felt like a reflection of Brigid’s creative energy. I was very lucky it landed on the day it did this year! It was a lovely time.

Learn More About Brigid and Imbolc

If you’re curious to learn more about Brigid and the deeper meaning of Imbolc, I recommend checking out these great resources:

- Irish Pagan School’s Imbolc Cheat Sheet – A wonderful guide for how to celebrate Imbolc. They are an excellent resource for learning about Irish pagan in general as well!

- Brigid’s Forge – A beautiful site where you can explore Brigid’s teachings, rituals, and her role in modern Pagan practices. This site works closely with Irish Pagan School and is led by Orlagh Costello, a priestess of Brigid herself.

Honey Cake Recipe

This is the Welsh Honey Cake recipe I used today if anyone is interested in making it yourself.

Final Thoughts

Brigid has been a deeply meaningful source of wisdom and inspiration in my life. I’ve found that calling on her for guidance often brings clarity during moments of uncertainty. While tarot and other forms of divination aren’t traditionally part of her veneration (and certainly aren’t necessary to incorporate into your own practice), personally, I feel that it’s an accessible and fun way of communication—and one of the first forms of divination I learned. But of course, how you choose to work with Brigid—or any deity—is entirely up to you, and I respect that each path is unique.

Today, I’m sharing a simple three-card tarot reading ritual I use to connect with Brigid and receive guidance for the day ahead. Instead of following the traditional past, present, future format, I read all three cards together as a cohesive message, allowing them to offer clear, unified insight into what I should focus on today.

What You’ll Need:

A Tarot or Oracle deck (or any deck that resonates with you)

A quiet, comfortable space

A candle (to honor Brigid’s sacred flame) or a small offering (optional)

The Ritual:

1. Set Your Intention:

Before I draw the cards, I take a deep breath, center myself, and set an intention. For today’s reading, I asked, “What do I need to hear to help me move through this day with clarity and peace?” (Feel free to adapt this question or ask for whatever message Brigid wants to share.)

2. Light a Candle for Brigid (Optional):

I light a candle to invite Brigid’s presence into the space and honor one of her sacred symbols.

(If you don’t have a candle, any small offering like a flower or chocolate works as well. Ultimately, it’s the thought that counts so don’t worry too much and use whatever you have on hand!)

3. Shuffle the Cards:

I shuffle the deck, keeping my mind open and receptive. There’s no need to ask the "perfect" question—just trust that whatever message Brigid wants to share will come through clearly.

4. Draw Three Cards:

I draw three cards and arrange them in a row. This isn’t about predicting the future, but rather about receiving guidance for the day ahead. You can arrange them however feels right for you.

5. Interpret the Cards:

Here’s what I drew today:

King of Cups: This card speaks to emotional balance and wisdom. It reminds me to stay calm and composed, especially if unexpected situations arise. Brigid’s healing energy encourages me to respond with compassion and emotional maturity today.

Justice: Justice is about balance, fairness, and personal integrity. It asks me to reflect on my actions and make sure my choices align with my true values. Brigid’s reminding me that everything will unfold as it should when we act with clarity and honesty, trusting the process.

Nine of Pentacles: The Nine of Pentacles symbolizes self-sufficiency, independence, and enjoying the fruits of one's labor. It encourages me to celebrate my accomplishments and recognize the stability I’ve built. Brigid’s creative energy inspires me to take pride in the work I’ve done, knowing that I’ve created a secure and comfortable environment for myself. It’s a reminder to relish the rewards that come from personal effort and to honor the abundance that surrounds me.

Reflections:

This reading really resonates with me today. I tend to struggle with anxiety (here lately even more so), which often leads to overthinking and getting stuck in “what if” scenarios. Especially when uncertainty creeps in, it’s easy to spiral. But as I reflect on the cards, I see the message from Brigid clearly: if I stay mindful of my thoughts and focus on what truly matters—my family, my goals, and the bigger picture overall—I can navigate the day with more calm. The King of Cups encourages emotional balance, Justice reminds me to stay grounded in my core values, and the Nine of Pentacles feels like a quiet nudge to trust in the stability I’ve worked hard to create. It’s a reminder to slow down, appreciate how far I’ve come, and enjoy the security and peace I've built for myself. Even if bumps arise, I know if I stay grounded and true to my purpose, I can handle whatever comes my way.

Thanking Brigid and Closing the Ritual:

After reflecting on the cards, I take a moment to thank Brigid for her presence and guidance, saying, “Thank you, Brigid, for guiding me today. May your wisdom continue to light my way.” Sometimes when I’ve lit a candle, I either sit and meditate with her rather than close out the session immediately or I’ll simply allow the candle burn out on its own. If I have to leave, I extinguish it safely but express gratitude for the light she’s shared. (Remember: NEVER leave a flame unattended!)

(Even without a candle, closing the ritual with gratitude helps reinforce your connection with Brigid and invites her energy to stay with you throughout the day.)

Closing Thoughts: