Learning to ignite or create fire was one of the earliest of skills of developing civilizations. All indigenous peoples have stories of how it was discovered.

Fire brought warm, light and the ability to cook food, forge metal and transmute the other basic elements in a way that seemed magical. Ceremonies were often built around fire.

Fire also was equated with the sun. Sun gods and goddesses were honored and rituals were designed to praise the coming of the sun. Stonehenge and Newgrange are testimony to the importance of the sun to the Ancient Celts. The Tuatha De Danaan symbol representing fire was the spear. The image of a spear heated to red hot when going into battle conjured up power and passion as well.

All these images and meanings of fire were represented by Brighid, the ancient Celtic goddess of Fire, Flame and Light and the Sainted Brigit of Hearth, Forge, and Inspiration. My favorite image of her is the statue at her sacred well in Kildare where she is holding up a flaming torch. Both the notion of the three-fold flame and the image of the eternal flame are associated with her.

As days grow colder here in the Northern Hemisphere, our relationship to the sun and to fire is one of awareness of our dependence on them. The moon may bring light, but it is the sun that brings heat as well. Fire also refers to our passion for life; Fire in the Belly, Fire of Commitment and even a fiery temper, often attributed to red heads. Again as with the other elements, not all aspects of fire were positive. The extremes might be challenging or dangerous, but the Celts embraced those aspects as part of the vagaries of life and of the individual. Brigid and the other gods and goddesses were beloved for the full range of their attributes.

I invite you to light a candle and spend a few minutes bringing awareness of the element of Fire into your field. Allow all its aspects to speak to you. See, feel and hear what comes to you from the flame.