Inspiring Scottish Women, Saints and Goddesses
A talk given at the Seattle Scottish Highland Games Speakers Series 2018
Welcome everyone! Welcome to a celebration of intense Scottish women,
impassioned Scottish Saints and fierce Scottish goddesses.
I love speaking about them – they are truly amazing role models.
But why should you be interested in these fiery, intense, impassioned women? I believe it’s because their stories may inspire you to embrace the strength found in yourself to make a positive difference in our world…. just like they did.
As an intro of myself- I am a minister at Interfaith Community Sanctuary in Ballard where we honor all the paths that lead to the Divine and one of my areas of interest is the Divine Feminine face of Creator as She shows herself all over the world- now and in ages past, so this of course includes Celtic Goddesses and Saints.
Also, I am blessed to have Scottish heritage on both sides of my family- from different clans that were in the colonies as early as 1652 when Henry Mitchell and Pricilla Jarrett Mitchell, who were from Orkney Island, came at 18 years of age to the Virginia colony.
On the other side of my family is Clan Anderson and today, I am wearing the Anderson Tartan in the form of an Arisaidt. The arisaidt was worn by Scottish women and was usefully for many reasons- to keep warm, to sleep, to get out of the rain or sun, to hold a child, to gather vegetables to feed the family or to conceal a weapon for protection!
Looking around this tent, I would bet that most of us have at least some roots in Celtic Lands as Celtic lands were vast-and knowing about how our ancestors lived and what they valued can give us a different perspective for our life now. To give you some information about Celtic life and to start our journey- I want to tell you a little about this time of year and the Celtic spiritual path.
This time of year, in the Celtic religion is called Lughnasadh which is on August 1. Lughnasadh …. was and is a celebration to give thanks to Earth for her abundance and beauty. So, if you are having a great time here at the games, it might just be…. that you are connecting to the spirit of past Celtic celebrations. Why is that, you ask?
Well, let me tell you, I Say! ….by sharing my first story about strong Celtic women. This woman’s name is Tailtiu and she is the force in back of Lughnasadh even if the celebration is named after the Celtic Sun God, Lugh. So Tailtiu was the last Queen of Fir Bolg, and to save her people, she single-handedly cleared huge fields for agricultural use….and gave her life in the doing of it.
On Tailtiu’s deathbed, she asked her clan, her family, to hold celebrations……like the one you are at today…. to honor the Earth and Earth’s abundance. She prophesied that if celebrations were held…there would always be happiness and gratitude and connection to each other and the earth. So what do you think? Do you think her prophecy was correct?
The Celtic Spiritual Path was practiced for 1000s of years and was part of everyday life. The Celtic spiritual path was deeply tied to the earth, deeply tied to the cycles of the year, and deeply tied to the cycles of our bodies. Also, Celtic spirituality acknowledged that the spiritual world lives inside and outside of us, and that we are all are intimately related to everything that exists.
The Celtic women and Goddesses I will speak about were a part of that spiritual path. They were revered for their strength, intelligence, protection, healing, and many other reasons. In times past, the ancient Celts felt the source of life in themselves, in the Gods and Goddesses, in plants and animals- was feminine.
And because…. they saw the relationship between the goddesses and women- they respected women in their clans. Women lead families, they owned and kept their possessions after they married, they held political power, they trained warriors, they led those men into battle, they worked as druids, healers, and leaders.
In the land of the Celts…. sometimes when a woman led a spectacular life…she was elevated to the status of a Goddess after she died ……similar to how the Catholic Church elevates a person to the status of a saint.
So, was Tailtiu a mortal Celtic queen or a Celtic goddess? Or both? Was it myth or History? Who knows? Stories about goddesses were spoken history, spoken myths and spoken legends- so perhaps the line between a goddess and a female historical figure gets blurred. And of course, this is the case with Saints as well.
But whether intense mortal woman, impassioned Scottish Saint or fierce Scottish Goddess, or all three… their pluck and intelligence have inspired people for millennium.
So, as I speak about these Goddesses, Saints and women, see which ones spark your interest and after I speak, please come on up to the centers of fire, water or herbs and connect with them and ask questions. So…off we go on our journey!
The first Goddess I will speak about today is a goddess of inspiration, knowledge and transformation and her name is Ceridwen. She is associated with cauldrons and cauldrons throughout Celtic mythology are associated with inspiration, transformation, wisdom and female spirituality.
The defining story of Ceridwin is this: It is said that Ceridwin lived on an island, in the middle of a lake with her husband, a beautiful daughter, and a hideously ugly son. To compensate her son for his unfortunate appearance, Cerridwen brewed a formula, which would make her son the most brilliant and inspired of men- it would grant him the gift of Awen. Awen, very simply, is the spark and energy of creativity and wisdom found in the Universe that in other spiritual traditions is known by other names.
A mixture of herbs simmered in her cauldron of inspiration for a year and a day. A young boy named Gwion stirred this potion which was made from six herbs also for inspiration and knowledge, the first 3 drops of which gave wisdom and inspiration…. but the rest of it -was fatally poisonous.
So, the last day, while Gwion was stirring the cauldron,
3 drops of scalding, simmering liquid bubbled up and spattered his hand- just three drops. Remember- 3 drops gave inspiration. In pain, Gwion, did as we all would do .....he sucked his burned hand, and, suddenly, he could hear everything in the world, and understood all the secrets of the past and future including how angry Ceridwen would be when she found he had acquired the inspiration meant for her son.
So Gwion ran away in fear. But Cerridwen pursued him with anger. With Gwion’s new knowledge and power from the potion,
he changed into a hare, but Cerridwen chased him as a greyhound.
he jumped into the river and changed into a fish, but she pursued him as an otter;
he became a bird and flew away, but she flew after him faster as a hawk.
And finally, he changed into a kernel of corn, but Cerridwen, changed into a hen and victoriously ate him.
But this is not the end of the story. The potion was not destroyed- it was just in another form of Gwion- a kernel of corn, which was now inside of Ceridwen. Ops…. Ceridwen ……in your anger what have you done! She had consumed the kernel of corn……taken in a seed…. you know…..a seed….and the seed was within her body.
When Ceridwen resumed her human form, she found she was pregnant with a child growing in her womb from the kernel seed the seed of Gwion. She was so angry! He not only survived but he was inside of her…. growing in her womb. She was so angry that she resolved to kill him when he was born.
But, when he was born, he was so beautiful that she could not do it. So, she placed him inside a bag and threw him into the ocean. The child did not die but was rescued by a Welsh prince and he grew into the greatest Druid bard ever born- Taliesin.
During the chase, Ceridwen forced Gwion …to acquire new wisdom and skill, to stay alive. And when she devoured him as a kernel of corn, his death as Gwion and rebirth as Taliesin and transformed him into a new and greater identity- the legendary Bard and poet, Taliesin. This is a familiar theme of death and rebirth via a female body.
Cerridwen teaches us to be inspired and to use creativity and transformation to survive.
She says, “Use your wisdom - Grow or die.”
She can fill us with inspiration and creativity and help us draw upon the wisdom of the universe ….to survive….to inspire….
to Be what we came here to Be…. in whatever form that takes.
She is a transformational goddess and so is our next Divine being, Bridget.
You might wonder why I always include Bridget because she has been a beloved Celtic Triple Goddess for thousands of years. She is one of the most powerful spiritual figures in Celtic Lands and transcended territories, providing unity between warring tribes. She was the one thing that could be agreed upon, no matter how different they were in traditions or locations.
She is known by many names in many lands including Bridget, Brigid, Brigit, Breed, Britannia and in Scot Gaelic she is Bride, Bridie, and Breeshja.
Bridget’s main titles are Goddess of Healing, Inspiration and Smithcraft but she is so much more. The areas in which she helped people are large and varied which shows you how revered she was.
Some of those include creative inspiration- like Cerridwin, New Beginnings and Birth, Healing using water, Poetry, divination, prophecy, purification by fire, and anything connected to Fire and the home. She is one of the main Goddess of Druidry, and she is a Protectoress of the people and the land.
You see, she was like their North Star.
To give you an idea how she came into the world, I’ll tell you the story of birth that is proclaimed by water and ignited with fire.
A long time ago, at the first crack of a pink dawn,
near the waters of the magic well,
The goddess Bridget slipped into the world
and into the hands of 9 sisters who swayed and crooned
in a great circle around her.
The waters of the magic well gurgled its joy.
Then suddenly, up rose a column of fire out of Bridget’s head that burned to the heavens connecting heaven to earth, the above to the below.
She then reached up her hands and
broke away a flaming plume of fire from and dropped it to the ground where it leaped and danced.
Then Bridget built a hearth around the dancing fire, stone by stone uniting above with below, the inner and the outer. The nine sisters hummed and crooned and the waters of the magic well started to tremble!
From this fire, Bridget reached both her hands in and drew out a leaping tongue of flame and swallowed it, and felt it burn straight to her heart.
There stood the goddess,
fire crowning her head,
fire leaping from her heart,
and fire dancing from her hands.
The Goddess Bridget was born!
Obviously…. Bridget is connected to Fire! Her Flame is associated with both the inner fires of inspiration in poetry, art, and music as well as the outer fires of the hearth and forge.
Her inner fire can be seen as the energy of creative consciousness and transformation.
In Her Fire, the ancient mystery of Alchemy is found.
Fire is about transformation,
Alchemy is about our transformation.
Bridget is about transformation-
Transformation thru sitting in the fire with
your true authentic self.
Bridget is teaching us, that sometimes we need to feel the fire, to react to the fire, to be changed and charged by the fire. … into a lioness, into a warrior, into the strength needed to put one foot in front of the other to walk our path of life.
Fire is Light that burns brightly in us and in the dark to show the way. Sometimes if we get too close to the flames, yes, we’ll get burned --but the courage that it takes to jump into the fire of life, transforms us into something new and stronger.
Also, Bridget is connected with water- especially water that rises up from the earth, which is seen as a source of wisdom and healing. Here is a story about Bridget, healing and her sacred well.
One day, Bridget was sitting at her sacred well and 2 lepers appeared and asked to be healed. "Bathe yourself in my well," said Bridget to the first man. He went to the well and every place, that Bridget 's waters touched, he turned whole.
"Now bathe your friend," said Bridget to the first man.
So, the healed man turned and looked at his friend, but he was repulsed and backed away. "I cannot touch him now,” he said. So, the goddess said to him, “Then you are not healed.” and gave the man back his leprosy. "Return to me with compassion and there you will find your healing. "She then dipped her own cloak into the sacred water and placed it around the second man’s shoulders and he was healed.
So, here was not only the element of healing in the form of sacred water, but also her wisdom, compassion and the mind set… to not put up with selfishness.
Bridget is also the Bringer of Light after many long months of dark winter, which is celebrated Feb 1 at Imbolc. A thousand or more years ago, it was a battle to survive the winter, so when Bridget brings back the sun, the light, it is no small thing. It is survival. It is life and the people knew it. She brought them hope and new beginnings.
The goddess Bridget has been worshipped for 1000s of years. But around the 5th century, there was a mortal woman named Bridget-- or a woman renamed as Bridget- who lead a life of service to others. After the death of this woman, she was venerated and called Saint Bridget.
The evolution from the Goddess…. to the saint…. linked Celtic traditions and Christian traditions with Bridget acting as the bridge.
Both the Goddess and the Saint have the same name,
Both the Goddess and the Saint have the same feast day,
Both the Goddess and the Saint have the same legends and customs.
Some suggest that the woman named Bridget took on the goddess Bridget’s name and attributes to gather followers to Christianity. Who Knows? What we do know is that, chronologically, Bridget was definitely a Goddess before a Saint.
In the world today, there is place called St. Bridget’s Shrine in Kildare. Many believe that this location was taken over by Christians and before that time, was an ancient site that trained priestesses to honor the Goddess Bridget. So… at this St Bridget’s Shrine, there is a sacred flame that is kept burning 24/7 ….to honor which one? Is it to honor…The Woman? The Saint? The Goddess? Perhaps all 3. Perhaps the saint and goddess and the woman are all one – just showing Herself in a different form when the world needs a different form.
There is so much more to say about her Bridget’s strength- she is limitless……as we all are. But…… on to our next Goddess!
And our next is the goddess, Airmid. Airmid was about healing, standing up to power, believing in yourself and not backing down.
Airmid was the daughter of the God of Medicine, and the Chief Physician and Magician. She was a gifted healer who listened to the voices of nature and shared her knowledge with the world. She was a member of Tuatha de Danann, the most ancient race of deities and just as they did, she had great powers.
Airmid came from a family of healers- her brother a skilled surgeon and her father the chief god of medicine and magician. So, it is no surprise that the 3 built the Well of Slaine, known as the Well of Health. They transformed the well with their abilities so that the water became magical. The water not only restored life to warriors killed in battle; but actually returned them to perfect health so they could return to battle.
Another story told about Airmid, wisdom and doing what is right, even if someone powerful and you trust is telling you the opposite. In a fierce battle, one of her kings’ arms was severed. Her father, who was the God of Medicine, decided to replace it with an arm made of silver but Airmid knew this was a bad plan. So she took it upon herself to regenerate the King’s arm to perfect working order and have her brother, using his skills, reattached that arm to the King’s body.
The King was extremely grateful, and he was grateful because he knew that to the Tuatha de Danann he could not be king if his body was not completely whole. And Airmid by her powers of creation regenerated the king’s arm making him completely whole.
Airmid used her strength of will and her belief in herself to go against her father to do what she knew was right. She did not just give in to the powers that be when she knew she could save the king.
But Airmid is probably most remembered for the following story about wisdom, intelligence and sharing the healing ways of herbs. As with most stories of the Celtic people and goddesses, the story of this is bittersweet because while receiving a valuable gift, something precious was taken away.
One day, Airmid was told that her beloved brother had died. Some say, it was her jealous mean-spirited father who killed him, some say in battle.
In her grief she would frequently visit his grave. She would lay on the ground where her brother was buried and cry for days on end …… watering the ground with her tears.
One day, when she arrived at his grave, she was surprised to find healing herbs growing on the burial mound: 365 herbs- one for every joint and organ of the body and one for each day in the year. Watered by her tears of love and sorrow, all the healing herbs of the world had sprung up.
So Airmid began to gather up these herbs in her cloak and quite amazingly, the herbs began to speak to her,
whispering in her ear,
telling her their stories
singing their songs
so, she would know their purpose.
She was amazed that she could understand the language of the plants.
So Airmid separated and arranged the herbs on her cloak, according to the knowledge they shared.
But once again, her jealous father tried to stop her. He followed her to the grave and saw what she was doing. As the god of medicine, he was a jealous healer and did not want the knowledge to be shared with her or mortals. So, he raged onto the sacred ground and scattered all the herbs. But to his dismay, all the knowledge and healing Aar u mead learned from the herbs, she continued to share with all those who asked. And the plants continued to speak to her…. not to her father.
Airmid teaches us that wisdom and knowledge is to be shared. And to believe in ourselves and do what we believe is right, even if the darkness that opposes you is someone powerful. May Aar u mead’s principles lead you to help the world with your strengths and gifts, even in the face of adversity.
The next story is about an amazing woman named Triduana, and even though it is a small story it is worth a mention. She is an example of a woman elevated into a Goddess who is also canonized by the Catholic Church. Her story is this: Triduana was a beautiful and strong woman who was being harassed by a Pict King. But rather than submit to his advances, she ruined her beauty by plucking out her eyes and presenting them to the King. A drastic move, sure, but to the people it showed that she would not allow herself to be abused. Celts elevated her to the status of a Goddess for her strength and anything having to do with healing of eyes. And the Catholic Church canonization her for the same reasons. A woman, a goddess, and a saint. May Triduana’s strength inspire you to be strong in your life.
And lastly, I’d like to talk about a woman, a Saint, who was a great inspiration to the culture of Scotland during the 10th century, my 27th great grandmother,
St Margaret, Queen of Scots.
St Margaret, Queen of Scots has long fascinated historians as one of the most complex women in medieval history. We know so much about her because her personal confessor shared his writings ……so much for privacy….and also because many historians both in her lifetime and after wrote about her.
Margaret was the daughter of Prince Edward the Exile of England, and Agatha, who was of royal Hungarian blood. In 1057, Margaret and her family were recalled from Hungary to England because her father was the successor to the English throne.
But ....it was a ruthless political time within 3 weeks of arriving…. Margaret’s father was crowned king AND killed by poisoning- right in front of her! Just think…Game of Thrones and you’ll have it.
So after her father’s death there was a struggle for power, as there always was and it was dangerous to be in England so Margaret’s mother planned an escape to the continent, to save her children from either a life of being a political prisoner in a tower or an abbey somewhere…. or death.
So, at night, they boarded a ship and escaped, bound for the continent and Hungary… but as in all good stories. There was a raging storm…….that blew the ship off course…… and they shipwrecked along the northeastern coast of Scotland on a land they thought belonged to barbarians………The Scots!
And as in all good love stories...Malcolm, the King of Scots, my 27th great-grandfather, rescued them and offered the family sanctuary. Within a short period of time, the king fell in love with Margaret and asked for her hand in marriage.
As a woman, Margaret never wanted to marry- She was well educated and wanted to continue her studies and become a nun. But for the good of her family, England, and the Scottish people, she wed Malcolm.
Margaret knew that her rough and tumble husband needed some polishing to be considered part of the world’s power and being a part of the world’s power is what Malcolm and Margaret and their families wanted. So Margaret crafted Malcolm's transformation from a warlord barbarian…. to a worldly medieval king which brought the culture of Scotland into the world stage as well.
She was called the Pearl of Scotland. This was because Margaret fed orphans and the poor before she would eat. She washed the feet of the unfortunate to inspire compassion. She gave away her clothes to those in need, which encouraged other families to do the same. She stole from her husband’s gold to give to the poor as she traveled the country and….she used the royal money to pay ransoms for prisoners the Scots had captured so they could just go home. She worked long and hard and she earned the love and trust of the people of Scotland.
She built churches and monasteries, she brought Benedictines to the country, and she started a free ferry to St Andrew’s for the poor. She did and encouraged many acts of charity.
In 1093, her beloved husband, King Malcolm was killed in battle alongside one of their sons…. And within 3 days Queen Margaret also died. Her strength- which had led a country and a culture onto the world stage faded and she died and 150 years after her death, Queen Margaret was declared a Saint.
Why I’m speaking about her is …..because she showed the power of what one woman who believed she had a vision and a purpose could do. And I believe that by her example, she encourages us all to be strong to make a positive difference in our world.
So…. these women I have spoken of-
Mortal Women- Goddesses- Saints.
Sometimes the “reality” of who they were is blurred in history.
Remarkable Celtic women could be elevated to status of Goddess.
Remarkable Celtic women could be venerated to Sainthood.
And then there are women who were
Celtic Goddesses and also were Saints, enabling the transition
from one spiritual path to another.
But whether intense mortal woman, Impassioned Scottish Saint, fierce Scottish Goddess, or all 3…… their pluck and intelligence and strength can inspire us!
I believe that we all have that strength in us….
the goddess strength in us…. the saint strength in us –
to do GREAT works in our own time.
So, may you gather strength from the stories that precede you
and may you use your own strength now to share your gifts with the world to do great works …….and then may you inspire others.
I’m going to end with a Gaelic blessing and after the blessing, please come up to the centers of water, fire or herbs to connect with the goddesses and saints. They are waiting.
May the blessing of light be on you,
Light from within and light from without.
May the blessed sunlight shine on you
like a great peat fire,
so that stranger and friend
may come and be warmed by you.
And may the Light shine out of your two eyes,
like 2 candles in a window,
bidding the wanderer come in out of the storm.
And may the blessing of rain be on you and
may it wash your Spirit fair and clean,
leaving a shining pool where the blue of Heaven is reflected
and sometimes a star.
Blessings to you all and thank you for being here.