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Bridget / Bride / Brigantia / Brigando
Celtic (Irish / Scottish / English / Gaulish)

By far, the Irish Bridget is the most popular form of this goddess, probably because she is the most accessible. While other forms of the goddess are to be found in bits and pieces, Bridget survived relatively intact through Irish folklore and in her Christianized form of St. Bridget. She is strongly associated with the Maiden aspect because of her reoccurring themes of beginnings, creativity, inspiration, generation, and springtime. Historically, Bridget was frequently depicted as triplicate sisters governing healing, smithcraft, and poetry.

Goddess of Renewal - Her February festival of Imbolc celebrated the birthing and freshening of livestock. The word itself means "first milk". This holiday has been adopted in part into the Wiccan Wheel of the Year as a celebration of the first stirrings of life after winter. It is a time of planning and beginnings. Her connection is largely with livestock, not agriculture.

Goddess of Poetry - All manner of intellectual creativity is attributed to Bridget, but poetry is considered her particular interest. Some attribute the creation of the Ogham alphabet to her as well. As poets were divinely inspired, Bridget is a goddess of prophesy as well.

Goddess of Healing - Specifically herbalism and midwifery.

Goddess of Smithcrafting - Along with metalwork, Bridget was also associated with women's crafts such as weaving, dying and brewing. Today she may be associated with all forms of artistic creation.

Goddess of Fire and the Sun - The sun is usually in the realm of gods, not goddesses, especially in Wicca. Bridget, however, remains an exception. It is said that she was born at sunrise in the east, and that at the moment of her birth a light filled her home that reached all the way to the heavens. Imbolc - known, like the other Major Sabbats, as a fire festival - celebrates the growing strength of the sun and its generative powers upon the earth.
Her fire cult is reminiscent of that of Rome's Vestal Virgins:

The Goddess Brigit had always kept a shrine at Kildare, Ireland, with a perpetual flame tended by nineteen virgin priestesses called Daughters of the Flame. No male was ever allowed to come near it; nor did those women ever consort with men.¹

In honor of this ancient custom, some Wiccans still keep an eternal flame burning in their homes, usually a candle, often burning on the hearth mantle.

Goddess of Purification - Fire is an important purifying agent. Purification lets us begin things with a clean slate, and as winter eases up the land has been purified for the coming of Spring.

Goddess of Protection and War - When Bridget's son died in battle, Bridget took up armor and strode out onto the battlefield. Her mourning wail is credited as the origin of keening for the dead. The warrior Bridget is particularly a protector of children, frequently invoked for charms and spells relating to their safety and well-being. It's been suggested that the word "brigand" originally referred to her soldiers.²

Goddess of Sovereignty - Bridget's connection with Brigantia (or Britannia) is less historically certain than to Bride and Brigando. In the form of Brigantia, she is ruler of her lands and the bestower of authority.

In addition, Bridget is strongly associated with water, springs, and wells. Hundreds of wells throughout Ireland are dedicated to her and her saintly counterpart. Circling a well clockwise might inspire her to grant you a wish should you toss an offering into the water - generally a coin in today's times, although pins and cloth scraps from clothing are also traditional.³