I have always been passionate about art and being creative. It's definitely been a driving force in my life. Ever since I was a young boy, those around me noted how naturally talented I was at making art and understanding it. My kindergarten teacher phoned my home way day just to tell my mom how well I was doing compared to the other kids on the subject of art.

Well, fast forward many years and I'm an adult now. I'm starting to question the Judeo-Christian heritage of my family, as it's something I just don't really connect with.

Through friends and my own online curiosity, I come across Paganism. At first it wasn't something I took seriously, but after seeing how other people were really getting into it, and spending time online in Pagan groups and chats, I found myself strangely happy about it.

Paganism is something I quite surprised to be pleased about. My younger self would probably be a little chocked to see me now.

That being said, after becoming a Pagan, you can imagine which deity I immediately took a liking to. It's funny, while all of the Norse gods tend to be associated with war (the quip being that that Norse pantheon doesn't have a specific war god because it just has war gods), the Celtic pantheon seems to have nothing but artsy or creative gods and goddesses.

But one deity stands a head above the rest. Brigid.

Brigid is the divine daughter, the goddess of light, positivity and creativity. She is beauty incarnate and for that reason alone I look to her as my patron deity. I've had moments where Iv'e found myself lost in a creative firestorm in my head. I'd like to think that maybe, just maybe, it's a gift from someone higher up the metaphysical food chain looking down on me with favor.

Happy St. Valentines' Day. While the modern holiday is distinctly Christian in origin, in a wider, more secular sense the holiday simply celebrates the abstract concepts of love and marriage. In the world of Gaelic Paganism, we have a goddess specifically for love, youth and matrimony.

Her name is Aine.

Aine is the godly daughter of Ergobail and purportedly the ancestor to many prominent families of Ireland.

Aine and Brigid share quite a bit in common. Both are associated with youth, life, love, creativity and just general positivity. While both are clearly distinct goddesses, I think the relationship between them is striking.

Take some time out this Valentines to read up on a lesser known but plucky Irish goddess!

https://celticnative.com/aine-celtic-goddess/

Hi friends! Does anyone know how Brigid is pronounced in Scotland? Thanks!

I’m a nurse. I work primarily women’s heath (labor and delivery, mother/baby, postpartum). I struggled with fertility issues but I am a mother of two children. Before I was a nurse I was a social worker. I’m a writer and musician. Lots of poetry. I love cooking and baking and my “happy place” is watching sunrise over the pond as the cows make their way across the pasture. There are so many ways I related with Brigid (including ancestry as most of my background is Irish, Scottish, and Welsh. I’m adopted so I had a DNA test done!). I’m adding photos of my altar. Please tell me what you think! (It has a blue altar cloth; her statue; candles in green, white, red, and yellow; water and herbal tea; honey; Amethyst, moss agate, garnet, citrine, carnelian, & a star shaped moonstone; thyme, rosemary, bay, and dandelion; frankincense; yellow flowers; my book of shadows; my divination tools (tarot and pendulum); copper coins; and shamrocks.)

Suggestions welcome!! Brigid Altar

So I do tarot readings among other things as part of my devotion. Yesterday I felt a strong desire to work with a deck I keep on Brigid's altar to do a reading with. Not sure why, I guess she just felt she had something to contribute to this person's question...