Although it is the heart of winter, after the Sun’s rebirth on winter solstice, we now begin to notice the return of the light. While only a few short weeks ago it was velvety black at five in the evening, there is now a golden glow on the western horizon that infuses hope into the most winter-weary soul. The cross-quarter festival that occurs during Aquarius season is Imbolc, also known as Candlemas or the feast of the waxing light. Sacred to the Celtic goddess Brigit, Imbolc is a time of inspiration and hope, a time to look to the future and contemplate what seeds one will plant. Aquarius is a fixed air sign, which means that it occurs in the heart of the season and resonates with the intellectual and objective element of air. Reflecting the natural world’s promise of awakening and the anticipation of the rebirth that will come with spring, the Aquarius archetype is forward looking and visionary. After the survival-oriented, conservative worldview of Capricorn, Aquarius is a wild card: a nonconformist rule breaker who speaks without filter and unabashedly celebrates its differences. The modern ruler of Aquarius is Uranus, known in astrology as the Great Awakener, and those with Aquarius prominent in their charts do tend to challenge the status quo and question assumptions, which often leads to a paradigm shift, aligning Aquarius with the archetypes of the Revolutionary and the Rebel.
Aquarius is connected to the collective, and although the sign is highly creative, her visions and revelatory flashes of insight are usually about the bigger picture in some way. And while she is innately concerned with community, Tribe, and group consciousness, Aquarius can be somewhat detached on a personal level. Her eye is on the wider, more holistic view of any given situation. This identification with the collective gives Aquarius a finger-on-the-pulse awareness, as she is gifted with the intuitive ability to read patterns and know which way the tides are turning. This gives way to Aquarius’s reputation for being progressive and futuristic: always on the forefront or cutting edge of a new social movement or direction. Because they are often amongst the first to pick up on subtle shifts in the collective unconscious, it is sometimes not until much later that they are recognized as the visionaries they are. Aquarius is often ahead of her time, and her radical ideas and brilliant originality sometimes lead to a reputation of being quirky or eccentric.
Aquarius marches to the beat of her own drum, a true individual who often finds herself at odds with the dominant culture. She is often more comfortable in subcultures that resonate with her ideals, many of which become absorbed into the overculture as society catches up in the years and decades that follow. The ideals of the hippie generation of the 1960s are prime examples of Aquarian ideals, and their time has now come. Ideologies and practices that were once considered far out and fringe have made their way into the mainstream—vegetarianism, yoga, religious freedom, preservation of the environment, animal rights, and human rights, to name just a few. Of course, there’s still a long way to go, and the far right might still not be entirely enthusiastic about all these Aquarian ideals, but progress has been made and can be built on. Certain laws have been changed. And, perhaps most importantly, there is arguably more shared conscious awareness in the collective than ever before.
The Aquarius Woman
Fiercely independent with a brilliant mind and always radically authentic, the Aquarian woman is the quintessential free spirit. She can be provocative and enjoys shocking people out of complacency with her controversial views on a wide range of subjects. She has a penchant to wake up and shake up the tried and true and get people thinking. She is a born instigator and a change maker, a Truth Teller who is as true to herself as she is idealistic. Inspired and inspiring, she has the gift of intuition and is blessed with illuminating flashes of uncommon insight. She is often seized with moments of inspiration, the “fire in the head” alluded to in the ancient Celtic poem, the “Song of Amergin.” 47 When she channels these brilliant insights into creative inspiration, her ideas bring hope and optimism that serves the greater good.
However, she is also known to be highly unpredictable, and while some find that unpredictability exciting, others can be put off by what they consider erratic. She does tend to have some inherent contradictions. On one hand, she seems to be friends with everyone, and cannot walk down the street without bumping into an acquaintance. On the other hand, only a very few ever get close enough to be allowed into her inner circle. She is always friendly and usually kind, yet there can be a slightly reserved, cool, and somewhat detached quality about the Aquarius woman. Although Aquarius is the sign of the Humanitarian, and she’s often found championing equality and upholding the rights of her fellow citizens, it does not follow that she is emotionally demonstrative. She can be distinctly uncomfortable around what she considers irrational displays of emotion. She prizes logic and rationality over maudlin sentimentality any day. Whether she is aware of her apparent contradictions doesn’t matter; she’s of the mind that what other people think of her is none of her business, and she is always unapologetically and wholly herself.
Aquarius accepts that in following her dreams, and her unique vision of the future, she is bound to encounter some resistance. Although she may ruffle some feathers as she pushes forward on her path, she has the conviction to walk alone if it means being true to her ideals. She senses that if she stays on a path with integrity and personal meaning, she’ll eventually find her true Tribe and be surrounded by like-minded individuals who share similar hopes, goals, and dreams. As an air sign, Aquarius is considered social, but unlike Gemini and Libra, she does not need constant stimulation or companionship—she enjoys her moments of solitude. At heart she is a bit of an intellectual and has a thirst to learn about everything from art history to archetypal psychology to astrology to Nietzsche. Aquarius is a diverse thinker, and what some might think of as offbeat or bizarre notions are often the seeds of ideas whose time has yet to come. While many Aquarians spend an inordinate amount of time in their head, they are rarely bored or lonely. However, most will jump at the chance to discuss their views on politics, science, or philosophy with equally intelligent and open-minded peers.
Aquarius women treat everyone with equal respect and actively resist racist, classist, and sexist ideologies. Many are activists in some way and work tirelessly to bring awareness to those causes that resonate with their strong sense of equality and fairness. She can be contemptuous of the status quo and defiant of structures that she sees are plainly antiquated and irrelevant in the new world she envisions. When she channels her vision constructively and works toward change in a balanced way, she can be an excellent social reformer, advocate, or environmentalist. A few Aquarian women have what some might consider unconventional, utopian ideas about community, and they embrace the concept of ecovillages, land trusts, spiritual or artists’ communities, and other types of cooperative, sustainable-living arrangements.
Although she is altruistic at heart, when the Aquarius woman is unbalanced and coming from her shadow, her idealism can turn into zealotry. Aquarius is a fixed sign, and she can fixate and obsess on her ideals to the point where, in her all-encompassing fervor, she stops hearing others’ perspectives. It is interesting to note that for all her Uranian libertarian ideals, the traditional ruler of Aquarius is Saturn. It may not be evident at first glance, but if you look closely, you’ll see some surprising examples of compartmentalized either-or thinking or a strong adherence to the “way things should be.” She is absolutely dedicated to her concepts of right and wrong and may succumb to the-end-justifies-the-means thinking to implement her vision. Ironically, she may not see that in her zeal to improve one area of society, she may begin to objectify anyone who is not part of her plan and doesn’t care if she crosses their boundaries or erodes their rights. And there are those Aquarius women who rebel just for the sake of stirring things up, the quintessential rebel without a cause. She may be blatantly defiant about rules, even when there’s no good reason to flout them—she does it just because she can. Although she values logic and rationality, when she is acting from her shadow, the fixed nature of Aquarius tends toward brooding resentment, which on occasion can erupt into explosive rage. She can also turn her brilliant originality into empty, bizarre, and eccentric theatrics for mere shock value. Her behavior and ideas may be erratic, or she may detach herself from society to the point where she becomes the archetypal Outcast. On a subconscious level, she may identify with what she perceives as the glamour of outsider status and do all she can to not belong, wearing it as a badge of defiance. If she has gone to this extreme, it is likely that she gets secondary gains from this identification. For example, she may use it as proof that no one understands her after all.
Of course, there are many Aquarius artists and performers who use their outsider status as part of their art or persona, which is a very different thing. Artists and performers are usually using the platform of their work to wake people up, make them think, or highlight the hypocrisy of social convention and privilege. Aquarius women are born creatives and, no matter their medium, do their best work when they utilize their ability to tune in to the collective and give voice to their insights and observations to make a statement that illuminates, informs, and creates change. Whether she is a painter, writer, or a spoken-word or hip-hop artist, Aquarius can be a creative genius and has the gift to tap into the group mind and inspire an expansion of consciousness in others. It is then that she is fulfilling her life’s task, and her need to instigate, push boundaries, and break paradigms not only has an impact on the collective but also feeds her at a soul level.
As might be expected, when it comes to love and relationships, the Aquarius woman needs a great deal of space and freedom. She is ultrasensitive to any hint of someone trying to control her in any way and will walk away with scarcely a backward glance. She may be slow to commit, but when she does, her partner needs to be a unique combination of open-minded, intelligent, and hopefully a bit quirky and should not curb her creativity or idealism. For the Aquarius woman, compatibility is usually based more on mental connection than physical attraction. She is intrigued by intelligence and attracted to the unconventional: the fascinating, eccentric suitor will beat out any competition for her attention, hands down. Some Aquarians choose partners with different cultural, spiritual, and socioeconomic backgrounds, especially if she grew up in a family that did not recognize that she herself was cut from a different cloth. Remember that Aquarius likes to challenge tradition and will often rebel against parental expectations, especially if those expectations are rooted in unquestioned assumptions. Although she is not usually romantic in a traditional sense, she needs someone who can be her best friend and share her political, intellectual, and creative visions. But once she does make a commitment, she is intensely loyal, a good listener, and a fun, supportive, and engaging companion, while her unpredictable nature keeps things from getting dull and routine. However, she has extremely high ideals, and if her partner doesn’t live up to them, she can be disappointed and angry and rarely forgets a perceived slip on their part. Some Aquarius women may explore alternative paths to relationships that don’t fit societal norms, and there are those who simply choose not to “do relationships” at all during phases in their life.
Aquarius women are just as fascinating sexually as they are in every other area of life. Because her biggest erogenous zone is her mind, she often has a unique take on sex. Sometimes that means she is drawn to the experimental, but other times it’s all just a thought experiment. Aquarius can be one of the most uninhibited signs, and some women embrace new sexual experiences with few holds barred. She may also define her sexual orientation in a variety of ways: heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, and anyplace in between. Some Aquarians reject the binary gender model, and others resist labeling their sexual orientation or identity altogether. On the other hand, there are those Aquarians for whom sex is not a main focus, and they may identify primarily as asexual, although they may use additional labels to define their orientation.
The Aquarius woman’s keen intelligence, authentic individuality, and friendly nature open a host of career possibilities. She’s not usually drawn to a traditional career, and many Aquarius women design their own career paths based on their personal interests and ideals. Because of her dislike for rules and authority, she often does well as an entrepreneur, although she’s also a valuable asset in any group setting or team environment. Whatever she does, she needs freedom to express her individuality and a certain ability to come and go as she likes. Freelance work can be especially suited to her for this reason.
Aquarius specializes in coming up with original ideas and would make a cutting-edge social media maven, creative director, copywriter, or graphic designer. Her brilliant imagination and creative genius would also make her a natural in any of the arts, especially if she can channel her ideals through her work. She can also be a cutting-edge, avant-garde trendsetter who inspires new direction in fashion and photography and would also shine as an innovative hairstylist or makeup artist. With her ability to tune in to the collective and shine the light on controversial subjects, she would make a thought-provoking author, blogger, commentator, or independent filmmaker. She may turn her high intelligence to any of the sciences and make an important breakthrough or discovery that creates change. The tech world is especially suited to Aquarius, and a career in web or software development, programming, or data science could catch her interest. Yet another direction for the Aquarius woman is in social justice and activism. Social work, counseling, education, environmental protection, nonprofit work, or a career in politics may call. She can also put her ideals to work in reforming everything from government policies to community structure. Her friendly disposition also makes her a natural in the hospitality industry or sales. On the other hand, Aquarius is often drawn to the unusual, and she can be most happy on a career path that not many tread. Astrology itself is under the domain of Aquarius, and I’ve met many Aquarian astrologers bringing their brilliant insight into the field. She may also resonate with various New Age modalities and create a career based on her specific interests.
Guiding Goddess Archetype: Brigit
Brigit is a multifaceted goddess whose stories trace a spiral path through several traditions. She is variously known as Brighid, Bride, Brigantia, Brigantu, and Ffraid and is a widely known central goddess of the Celtic lands whose name means “high one.” 48 Epithets for Brigit are “bright one” and “fiery arrow,” which highlight her connection with creative inspiration as well as embody a protective aspect. In The White Goddess, scholar Robert Graves states that not only was she cognate with poetic inspiration, but poets were under her protection: “In Cormac’s Glossary it was necessary to explain her as: ‘the goddess worshipped by the poets on account of the great and illustrious protection afforded them by her.’ It was in her honor that the ollave carried a golden branch with tinkling bells when he went abroad.” 49
Brigit is a triple goddess and in her three aspects is connected to healing, poetry, and smithcraft. She is the patron goddess of filidhact (Bardic lore and poetry), and as such, poets, storytellers, writers, and artists of all kinds petitioned her to ignite the fires of their imaginations and enchant their work while awakening their creativity with her divine inspiration. Brigit is also associated with midwifery, medicine, the hearth fire, and divination, and she presides over sacred wells and springs. She was the goddess of the forge and was loved and petitioned by artists and craftspeople. The forge is associated with transformation, of shaping metal through the elements of fire and water to become something new.
When Christianity came to Ireland, the people loved their goddess Brigit so much that she was transformed into a saint, Saint Brigid, and she is venerated to this day as one of the three main religious figures in Ireland. Through Christianity, she became known as the midwife to the Virgin Mary and subsequently the foster mother of Christ.50 Her main center of worship is in Kildare, in the province of Leinster. The name Kildare originated from Cill Dara, which means the “church of the oak tree.” It’s said that the site of her abbey at Kildare was overlaid on Druid sacred ground. One of the mysteries associated with Saint Brigid was her perpetual fire at her shrine at Kildare. This sacred fire was tended by nineteen sisters and never burned out nor left any trace of ash. The fire was said to be surrounded by a protective hedge and that no men were permitted to enter. However, if any man was foolish enough to attempt to enter the circle, he could expect divine vengeance.51 The fire was put out during the reformation because it was too Pagan but was relit in 1993, as many women have been drawn once again to the light of Brigit. To me, this suggests that not only is Brigit associated with inspiration, but she is inspiration, and her fire cannot ever truly be put out, as it dwells in the hearts of the people who experience her. Each year, pilgrims visit her shrine in the village of Kildare for ritual contemplation and to pay homage to Saint Brigid. Here they pray for healing, collect holy water from the spring, and tie small ribbons or pieces of cloth called clooties on the nearby wishing tree as offerings.
Brigit’s sacred day is Imbolc, the beginning of lambing season and the harbinger of spring. By February 2, the increasing sunlight has begun to warm the earth once again, and this time does indeed herald the return of the waxing light, along with the illumination and optimism that accompany the longer days. The rekindling of hope inherent at this time of year cannot be overstated. Without electricity or refrigeration, the ancients never knew how long their food supplies would last. Lactating ewes and cows were a welcome sign that spring was on its way.There are many folk customs that take place around Imbolc to honor Saint Brigit that suggest her ancient Pagan roots. In The Language of the Goddess, Dr. Marija Gimbutas describes some of Brigit’s enduring rituals, which echo her Pagan origins:
Special cakes were baked on her day, and dolls in her image were carried by girls in procession through the town. At each household they would stop while the householder made a present to Bride and paid homage to her, the gift could be a pebble shell, or flower. The mother of each household baked a special cake for her. Finally the girls ended up at one house where they locked all the doors and windows, setting the doll in the window where she might be seen. Then the dancing began which continued until dawn, when they formed a circle to sing the hymn “Beauteous Bride, Choice Foster-Mother of Christ.” 52
On Imbolc, Brigit is celebrated in her maiden aspect, and the dolls that Gimbutas mentions were usually made of corn sheaves. I made one such doll several years ago, and she still has pride of place on my altar every February. Women would also weave Brigit’s crosses, small crosses with four arms and a square center, typically made of rushes or corn sheaves. These were hung over doorways for protection around Imbolc.
Not only does Brigit’s sacred day occur in the middle of Aquarius season, but there are many other correlations that align this beloved Celtic goddess with the Aquarius archetype. Both are aligned with the sudden spark of creative inspiration, and they are each a catalyst of hope for the future. The glyph for Aquarius has been described as the waves of the water of consciousness but also as the lightning bolts of inspiration, which align with Brigit’s epithet “fiery arrow.”
As all creatives know, inspiration can be evasive when we most need it. It can be capricious and evanescent: you almost have it, and then it disappears. One thing for certain is that inspiration cannot be forced, only invited. We must make space for it, prepare the ground so the seeds can sprout. We must remember to fill our own well and tend our inner flame by feeding the fire with those things that nourish it.
A year ago my husband and I bought our dream house on a tiny island in the Salish Sea. It is the first time I’ve lived in the country, and we are blessed to have a well on our property that supplies all our water for our every need. Being a city girl, this was a revelation for me. Crystal clear, sweet water magically bubbles up out of the earth so I can take a bath, wash my clothes, and water my garden! During our first summer here, we heard tales of neighbors whose wells had run dry. At first, I was incredulous. I had no idea that a well could actually run dry. What do people do without water? I’ve learned a lot since then. During a drought, you need to be mindful about how much water you use. You just can’t keep pumping it up and expect your well not to run dry. But then, miraculously, the rain comes, the water table rises, and your well is refilled. I think in all of this there is a lesson. As with an actual well, we cannot expect that our own creative or spiritual wells will never run dry. We must learn to trust the cycles and know that if we are in a creative dry spell, the life-giving rain will return and we will once again be overflowing with creative inspiration. Brigit is a goddess who resonates through the elements of both fire and water. When fire and water are combined, they create steam. This is the steam that powers our creativity, the mist that rises when sunlight warms the dew on the ground, gifting us with startling and mysterious visions—if we only remain still enough to see.
Pathworking: Rekindle Your Flame, Refill Your Well
You’ve been feeling stuck for some time, and try as you might to bring up something new, something fresh, something inspired, it seems as if your well has run dry. For every seed of a thought you have, an inner voice whispers, “Someone’s already done it. Someone’s done it better. Why even bother trying?” And even worse, a comparative, self-pitying thought sneaks in: “Why am I not original and gifted and brave like …?”
You begin to walk up the winding green path that leads to the top of the hill, with these thoughts clattering uncomfortably in your head. It is an unseasonably warm February afternoon. Flashes of white snowdrops and deep purple crocus are peeking through the first of the new green growth, and you hear the gentle sound of sheep bleating in the distance. The path splits into two, and you pause for a moment as you decide which direction you’ll take. One path is well traveled and goes straight to the top, but the one on your right curves around the back of the hill. You choose the less trodden path and soon find yourself in a sun-dappled oak grove.
You walk for a time and come upon a crumbling stone wellhead. The wellhead is dressed in colorful flowers, and you count eighteen flickering votive candles tucked in amongst the greenery. There are nineteen candles altogether, but one is unlit. A gnarled old hawthorn tree stands to the left of the well, and clooties decorate its ancient limbs. You stand in silent contemplation for some time, spellbound by the beauty and mystery before you.
Suddenly, you realize you are no longer alone. A tall red-haired woman crowned with a garland of snowdrops emerges quietly from the shade of the oaks and stands beside you. She is barefoot and dressed in white and there is an incandescence about her that glows like a flame in the approaching twilight. Elegant Celtic knots and spirals delicately pattern her forearms. You realize this is the goddess Brigit at your side.
She turns to you. “There is yet one candle not lit. Will you light it?”
You walk to the wellhead and kneel before the altar of flowers and candles. You see offerings amongst the flowers, including a chalice of fresh milk, but you see nothing with which to light the nineteenth candle. You lean forward, entranced by the twinkling reflection of the candlelight on the dark surface of the well water. Your vision blurs, and the light becomes little pinpoints like stars in the night sky. The stars become a galaxy and then dance into spirals and symbols, swirling in images that rise and take shape and then dissolve and rise again into another. You lose track of time, allowing the visions to rise and transform one into the next.
From far away comes the voice of Brigit, clear and musical as a bell: “What is it you see?” Although at first you find it difficult to answer, you name aloud the things you can. In time, the visions clear, and once again you are looking at the reflection of simple candlelight flickering on the dark water. You realize Brigit is beside you.
“Will you light the nineteenth candle?” She touches three fingers to her luminous brow and transfers the gossamer light into your hand. Tentatively, you reach toward the unlit candle and pass your hand over its wick, and instantly a tiny flame is kindled into being. You sit back on your heels and gaze at the newborn flame. You are completely transfixed and lost for words. You turn to thank Brigit, but find yourself alone at the edge of the well. A waxing Moon has risen in the sky, and far off to the west you see a faint golden glow where the Sun has set, suffusing the deep blue of the fading twilight. Spring is just another turn of the Wheel away.
Ritual: The Wishing Tree
Two of my most treasured memories involve a wishing tree. The first was at a baby-naming ceremony when I lived in Glastonbury, England. It was summer solstice eve, and the golden early evening light guided our merry procession up the back of the Tor. Two by two, we climbed an old hawthorn and tied ribbons in the branches to make our personal wish for the baby’s future. Then we celebrated on blankets in the warm grass and ate bread and cheese washed down with elderflower wine and mead. Many years later, when my husband and I were handfasted in our backyard at Lughnasadh, we had our friends and family write wishes for us on organic paper and then tie them into the branches of our favorite apple tree with red silk ribbon. The seasons came and went, and the paper dissolved, becoming part of the nutrients for the tree, but the red ribbons survived the winter storms. Sometimes I would go out and gaze up at them, marveling at how each person had tied their ribbon on with their own personal signature: some were fancy bows, some simple knots. When we moved three years ago, it was one thing I knew I’d miss about our old home. Tying a ribbon or clootie in a tree has a similar function to the Tibetan prayer flag. Prayer flags fly in the wind, carrying their blessings out to all. Although clooties are usually of a more personal nature, the wind passes over them, carrying blessings, hopes for healing, and wishes out into the world of form.
Wishing trees have long been a symbolic marking of a rite of passage, making a wish, or asking for healing. Many sacred wells in the British Isles have a wishing tree or faery tree nearby, and hundreds if not thousands of sacred wells in Ireland are dedicated to the goddess Brigit. Your ritual can be simple or elaborate, and you can be alone or with loved ones. It can be on a tree on your property or a special tree in the woods. You can purchase ribbon from a fabric store or use shreds of an old garment that has special meaning for you.
Brigit’s Inspiration Incense
Invoke Brigit’s gift of inspiration any time you need to connect with her. Brigit’s Incense is especially helpful when doing creative work or studying. This incense is most potent when made while the Moon is in its phase of waxing to full.
You Will Need:
1 part each:
Dried blackberry leaves
Honey
Lavender
Dried rosemary
1 drop peppermint essential oil
1 pinch cinnamon
The incense can be used immediately or stored to be used later. Mix the ingredients and place the incense in a small sealable plastic bag. As always, experiment with making a very small batch at a time, and adjust to your preference.
The Wishing Tree
Brigit’s Inspiration Incense
Incense burner or heatproof container
Lighter or matches (be very careful if it’s dry or windy)
Charcoal for the incense
A length of ribbon or cloth long enough to tie onto a branch (natural fibers are best: cotton, silk, wool, etc.)
Tree: Choose a tree you are drawn to. Hawthorn and rowan are both associated with the Fae and have been used widely in ritual work with wishing trees, but you may use any tree that suits your purpose.
Offering for Brigit: Milk, cheese, honey, wool, Brigit corn dolly, Brigit’s cross, shell, flower, special stone. Preferably, only leave something biodegradable that will not harm the tree or any animals in any way (e.g., nothing plastic or toxic).
Ground and center in your preferred way. Light the incense and smudge yourself and any other participants. Pass your ribbon or cloth through the incense smoke and consecrate it to Brigit.
Take your ribbon and go to the tree you have chosen. Carry the ribbon and walk clockwise around the tree three times. Ask permission from the tree to tie your cloth to one of its branches. Place your palms on the tree’s trunk and listen for a message. It may be very subtle. Thank the spirit of tree and make your offering to the goddess Brigit. Close your eyes for a few moments, and make your wish or ask for a blessing. When you are ready, tie your ribbon onto a branch. Give thanks to the goddess and to the tree spirit. Visualize your intent growing with the tree and moving out into the world on the wind. Close the circle if you have cast one, and celebrate with food and libations.
Aquarius Correspondences
Astrological Dates: January 20 through February 18
Sabbat: Imbolc
Aquarius Goddess Archetypes: Brigit, Hebe, Adoma, Ara, Nut, Tanit, Lilith, Eve, Sophia, Athena, Tien-Mu
House: Eleventh
Element: Air
Mode: Fixed
Planets: Saturn (traditional), Uranus (modern)
Colors: Electric blue, violet
Crystals: Astrophyllite, cavansite, celestite, kunzite, petalite, phenakite, sugilite
Essential Oils: Peppermint, benzoin, lavender, cypress
Parts of the Body: Ankles, circulatory system
47. Augusta Gregory, Gods and Fighting Men (1905; repr., Floating Press, 2012), PDF e-book, 96–97.
48. Patricia Monaghan, Encyclopedia of Goddesses and Heroines (Novato, CA: New World Library, 2014), 181.
49. Graves, The White Goddess, 390.
50. Gimbutas, The Language of the Goddess, 110.
51. Giraldus Cambrensis, The Topography of Ireland, ed. Thomas Wright, trans. Thomas Forester (Cambridge, ON: In Parentheses, 2000), PDF e-book, 54.
52. Gimbutas, The Language of the Goddess, 110.