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Crois Bríde
Brigid's Cross

The Gods approve the depth and not the tumult of the soul. It is loveliness I seek, not lovely things.

           ~ Fiona Macleod, The Divine Adventure

Crois Bríde 
Creating a Brigid's Cross

Holy springs and holy wells abound in Ireland. Any place where water ushers forth from the earth in Ireland and in many indigenous and spiritual cultures, is a sacred place. Although the Irish goddess and the saint Brigid are often attributed as being the guardian of many of these emergent water places, other guardians are also revered and named at springs and wells.

 
Gifts, prayers, and offerings are brought to the sacred springs and wells all over Ireland. Some of the more conspicuous and popular sites are literally covered with offerings and prayers. One of the offerings brought to holy water places and to other sacred sites is known as a Brigid’s cross, or in Irish, Crois Bríde. A Brigid’s cross is an equal-armed cross made of rushes, most typically species such as Juncus effusus, Juncus canadensis, or other Juncus species. Rushes grow in disturbed, saturated places and are often found growing in the vicinity of springs and holy wells, as well as wet pastures, moorlands, lake edges, and blanket bogs.  


To learn more about the mythology braided into a Brigid's Cross, or the mythos and "why's" behind their creation, meaning, and the tradition of creating them, watch the 13-minute video filmed at Temple House in County Sligo that is posted at the beginning and end of this article.
 

How to Create a Brigid's Cross
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To create your Brigid's Cross, first go into the wilds and collect rushes from a wet place that has a special meaning to you.  Sing songs and offer prayers while collecting. Come into stillness and relationship with the place you are collecting the rush blades.

 

For each Brigid’s cross, collect a total number of rush blades that is divisible by four. Plus, you will need one extra. I suggest based on personal experience that you pick 17 at the very least (16 is divisible by 4 plus 1). The number of rushes that I use for our house door or for gifts to others at Ímbolc every year is either 21 or 25, as it creates a very full and hearty cross. Let's get started:

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1. Start by selecting the shortest of the rush blades that you have harvested. Place it in your least dominant hand pointing away from you. We will call this rush blade number 1 for ease of next steps. 

 

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2. Select another rush blade, fold it roughly in half with your dominant hand – favoring the thicker end. We will call this rush blade number 2. Where number 2 is folded in half, pull number 2 over number 1 so that the fold butts up against the blade of number 1 at approximately the center of number 1.

Number two will now be running to the right or east. Pinch the end of number 2 so that it stays in place.

3. Select rush blade number 3. Fold in half over number 2 so that number 3 is now running parallel to the upper half of number 1. Number 3 will now be running up, or north. Pinch the end of number 3 so that it stays in place. 

4. Select rush blade number 4. Fold in half over number 3 and number 1. Number 4 will now be running left, or west. Pinch the end of number 4 so that it stays in place.

5. Select rush blade number 5. Fold in half over number 4 and parallel to number 1. Number 5 will now be running down, or south. Pinch the end of number 5 so that it stays in place.

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6. Select rush blade number 6. Fold in half over number 5 and number 1. We are now back where we started in step three above. Rush blade number 6 will now be parallel and under number 2. Pinch the end of number 6 so that it stays in place.

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7. Select rush blade number 7. Fold in half over number 6 and number 2 so it runs parallel to number 1 and number 3. Number 7 will now be running up, or north. Pinch the end of number 7 so that it stays in place.

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8. Select rush blade number 8. Fold in half over number 7, 3, and 1, and thus parallel to number 4. Number 8 will now be running left, or west. Pinch the end of number 8 so that it stays in place.

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9. Select rush blade number 9. Fold in half over number 8 and 4 and parallel to number 1. Number 9 will now be running down, or south, and to the left of number 5 and 1 respectively. Pinch the end of number 9 so that it stays in place.

10. Select rush blade number 10. Fold in half over number 9, 5, and 1. We are again back where we started in step three above. Rush blade number 10 will now be parallel and under number 6 and 2 respectively. Pinch the end of number 10 so that it stays in place.

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11. Select rush blade number 11. Fold in half over number 10, 6, and 2 so it runs parallel to numbers 1, 3, and 7 respectively. Number 11 will now be running up, or north. Pinch the end of number 11 so that it stays in place.

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12. Select rush blade number 12. Fold in half over number 11, 7, 3, and 1, and thus parallel to number 4 and 8 respectively. Number 12 will now be running left, or west. Pinch the end of number 12 so that it stays in place.

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13. Select rush blade number 13. Fold in half over number 12, 8, and 4, and parallel to number 1. Number 13 will now be running down or south, and to the left of number 9, 5, and 1 respectively. Pinch the end of number 13 so that it stays in place.

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14. Select rush blade number 14. Fold in half over number 13, 9, 5, and 1. We are again back where we started in step three above. Rush blade number 14 will now be parallel and under number 10, 6, and 2 respectively. Pinch the end of number 14 so that it stays in place.

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15. Select rush blade number 15. Fold in half over number 14, 10, 6, and 2 so it runs parallel to numbers 1, 3, 7, and 11 respectively. Number 15 will now be running up, or north. Pinch the end of number 15 so that it stays in place.

16. Select rush blade number 16. Fold in half over number 15, 11, 7, 3, and 1, and thus parallel to number 4, 8, and 12 respectively. Number 16 will now be running left, or west. Pinch the end of number 16 so that it stays in place.

This pattern will continue around the center knotwork that is beginning to form until you have completed your circuit divisible by 4. I am going to close this Brigid cross example now with the last rush in my set divisible by 4.  

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17. In this case, the last rush blade is number 17.  Select rush number 17.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: This one will be inserted differently. As you fold in half over number 16, 12, 8, and 4, and parallel to number 1, you will need to feed the tip and base of the folded rush through the end fold of number 14 as it holds down number 13. This will help keep the entire cross locked together.

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18. Continuation of step 17...  Thread the tip and base of 17 through loop from number 14 as it closes over numbers 16, 12, 8, and 4. Number 17 will now be running down, or south, and to the left of numbers 13, 9, 5, and 1 respectively, while also being held in by the elbow or fold of number 14.

NOTE: Once this step has been completed, then the Brigid’s cross should be a self-contained unit – as in you will not have to pinch any blades to keep the whole thing held together. 

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19. Cut some of the longer ends of the rush blades off of the end of the Brigid cross arms to use for tying the arms of the cross secure.  Using your fingers or fingernails, crush the short pieces of rush blades you just cut in flatten the structure of the cells in the rush. This will allow the rush blade you are using to tie each arm in the next step (20) to more likely stay together.

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20. Tie a square knot or bowknot about at the length that you would want the arm of the cross to be. Tie it very tightly as the rushes will dry and shrink some.

 

NOTE: String, yarn, rubber bands, or other grasses can also be used to tie off the end of each arm of the cross.

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21. Repeat Steps 19 and 20 for all four arms.  Trim the leftover extensions of each arm to your aesthetic pleasure. 

 

NOTE: Optional decoration of the cross with flowers, ribbons, leaves, and other items.  Also, the cross is hung over the door, threshold, hearth, or holy spring as shown in the photo on the left.

Brigid’s crosses are hung over the inside of the main door or doors of a house to bless all who enter with health and good fortune, while also keep malevolent people and spirits out of the house. As an offering at a holy well or spring, it can play a similar role, but it is more about the intention behind the prayer or offering. 

Watch the video below to find out more

References:

 

Evans-Wentz, Walter, 1911. The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries, Henry Frowde, Oxford University Press, London. 1st ed.

 

Jackson, Peter Wyse, 2014. Ireland’s Generous Nature: The Past and Present Uses of Wild Plants in Ireland, Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

 

Macleod, Fiona, 1896. Washer of the Ford: And other Legendary Moralities (St Bride of the Isles - Sloinneadh Brighde Muime Chriosd), Stone & Kimball, Edinburgh, Patrick Geddes & Colleagues edition.

 

Macleod, Fiona, 1910. The Divine Adventure: Iona – Studies in Spiritual History, Duffield & Company, New York. 8th ed.

Minehan, Rita, 1999. Rekindling the Flame: A Pilgrimage in the Footsteps of Brigid of Kildare, Solas Bhridé Community, Kildare, Ireland.

 

O’Curry, Eugene, 1873. Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish, Williams and Norgate, London, England, UK. 1st ed.

 

Young, Ella and Maude Gonne, 1910. Celtic Wonder Tales, Maunsel & Company, Ltd., Dublin, Ireland. 1st ed.

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