The White Moon Goddess Gallery Presents

Airmid: Keeper of the Herbs of Healing
IRISH GODDESS OF HEALING

Level Two Project by OceanPhoenix
Adept in the Sisters of the Rising Moon School

© 2012.  All original material in this site is under copyright protection and is the intellectual property of the author.

Airmid
Image courtesy of http://www.sacredfamiliar.com/2011/08/happy-awakenings-at-imbolc-and-big-roar.html

Other Names: Airmed, Airmeith
Race: Tuatha Dé Danann

Who is Airmid?
Airmid is the Celtic Goddess of the Healing Arts. She was also a member of the Tuatha De Dannann, the most ancient race of deities in Ireland.  Goddess Airmid is revered as a master herbalist and magician. She rules over magic, healing, learning, Herbalism and the complexities of family relationships.

Culture:
Northern Europe
Celtic Realms
Ireland

Place Associated with Airmid:
Sláine the Well of Healing / Heapstown Cairn

Popular Myth:
According to legend, there was once a great and noble god, Nuada, who ruled the Tuatha De Danann. During battle, Nuada lost his arm and was forced to relinquish the throne as a result of the deformity, as it was said to rule one must be at all time whole.  Airmid’s father, Dian Cecht, fashioned a silver arm for Nuada so he could  return as ruler of the land. Dian Cecht’s son, Miach, believed that with his own skill as a surgeon and his sister Airmid’s aptitude for regeneration, an even better solution was possible. Together, they rebuilt Nuada’s arm of flesh.  Dian Cecht was furious when he found out.  He flew into a jealous rage and attacked his son. After a few attempts (as Miach was a skilled healer and could keep up with the wounds), Dian Cecht finally landed a blow to his son's head therefore preventing him to heal himself.

Deeply grieving, Airmid went to her brother’s grave and laid a cairn of stones around the burial plot. She went there everyday to grieve. Then, after a year, she noticed three hundred and sixty-five herbs grew on that spot - each one a cure for a specific part of the body.  She spread her cloak and began to gather up the herbs according to their properties. Dian Cecht learned of this, and again in a fit of rage, he overturned the cloak scattering the herbs to the wind and forever losing the gift that Miach had shared with humankind. Only Airmid has knowledge of the specific herbs in Her brother’s offering, and so in times of need, we may invoke Her spirit for guidance.

Another tale is about Sláine, the Well of Healing.  Airmid and her brothers helped build the Well of Sláine, also called the Well of Health. The Well became known as the Heapstown Cairn. The Well of Sláine was created to restore life to warriors killed during battle. The wounded warrior would be dipped into the well and life would return, making him fit for battle. During the second Battle of Moytura, the opposing side filled the well with stones in order to stop Tuatha De Dannann from healing their warriors. Legend has it that the site is still guarded by Dian Cecht and his sons.

 

Symbols:
Wells and Springs
Three Entwined Snakes
The Mortar and Pestle
mortar and pestle


Things That Are Sacred to Her:

Colors:
Green blue purple and brown

Time of Day:
Morning

Day & Moon Phases:
Monday during the Waxing Moon to promote healing, Waning Moon to diminish disease.

Stones:
Amber, Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Zircon, Jasper, Opal

Metal:
Silver

Animal:
Snake

Senses:
Touch and Sight

Incense:
Lemon, Verbena

Elements:
Earth and Water

Seasons:
Summer and Fall

Holiday:
Beltane

Herbs:

herb chart

Image courtesy of http://botanicalposters.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2


Lessons to Learn from Airmid:

With healing one must be patient.
Time heals all wounds.

How Prayer Was Used by Her People:

The  healing charm that Airmid and other healers recited remains in Celtic folk use even today. This is said to be the one She and Her brother chanted over Nuada's arm as they were healing him:

Bone to bone
Vein to vein
Balm to Balm

Sap to Sap
Skin to skin
Tissue to tissue

Blood to blood
Flesh to flesh
Sinew to sinew

Marrow to marrow
Pith to pith
Fat to fat

Membrane to membrane
Fiber to fiber
Moisture to moisture


airmid art

Original art by Ocean Phoenix  *The Herbal Spiral*

How She Is Worshiped in Today's World:

We celebrate Goddess Airmid by appreciating Nature and the gift of plant medicine.
Call on Her for general magick, learning herbalism, for inspiration in crafts or understanding family loyalty, and of course, healing.

 

mortar pestle

Original photo by OceanPhoenix


Irish Healing Waters Spell:

    1. Take equal parts of lavender, violet, and rosemary.
    2. Empower them and then boil them in a pot with about a quart of water over medium heat.
    3. When the water is richly colored and the herbs are scenting your kitchen, drain the water off into a jar. A plain coffee filter works great for this.
    4. Place the jar in sunlight for an entire day to absorb the radiant energies of the sun. *You can do this on a Wednesday to add the healing powers of Mercury to
      the spell.*
    5. Occasionally look at the jar and add your own energies to it.
    6. Just before sundown fetch the jar and hold it firmly between your hands just below your naval. Feel your desire to be well filling the jar and with your minds eye see it glowing brightly as the sun.
    7. Chant these words until you have filled the jar with as much energy as it will hold.

      By the herb and by the sun.
      Wellness and I are now as one,
      Strengthening energies now are merged,
      Baneful energies now be purged.

    Anoint spots where illness lurks or on your belly if you are unsure where the source of discomfort lies, or, pour the contents into your bath water.

    http://creatingthehive.com/group/Folklore/posts/80313/wee-bit-of-irish-lore
 

herbs

Image courtesy of http://herbsandnutritionalhealth.blogspot.com/

~The Codex of Airmid~

Goddess of Healing Herbs
Decrees
The Right of Gaia's Children to
Gather, Grow, and Use Nature's
Gift of Medicinal Plants.
— The Tuatha de Danann

http://www.cherylrose.com/icons/airmid/

Ritual to Bring Airmid's Healing to You:

THE RATTLE OF HEALTH

~Adapted by the ritual to Airmid by Michelle Skye~

Items needed:
Your favorite meditation music
two candles (I suggest green)
a rattle
a white sheet
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* make your Altar on a low table like a coffee or end table.

* Once you are set up, turn on your music making sure it loops or the whole CD is one song. Listen to the music for a little while relaxing your body and letting stress slip away from you.

* if you wish to cast a circle do so now and you may even want to call in Airmid herself into it.

* Take a few deep breaths and light your first candle.  this candle represents your ailment you no longer want. (i.e.: depression, cold, headache, etc.) Think about it, How long have you had it? the pain it has caused.  explore this. when you feel like you have explored it in depth, light the next candle. This is the healing candle This candle symbolizes  the healing you wish to be done.  What would your life be like with out this ailment?  who will it change you? Picture your  self with out it.

* With this in mind, pick up your rattle.  begin to shake it.  Shake it over the area you wish healed. head heart arm, where ever the ailment is.  Think of the positive  benefits it would have for your life and your family.  Picture this and let the energy build.  use Airmid's healing chant with the beat of the rattle:

Bone to bone
Vein to vein
Balm to Balm

Sap to Sap
Skin to skin
Tissue to tissue

Blood to blood
Flesh to flesh
Sinew to sinew

Marrow to marrow
Pith to pith
Fat to fat

Membrane to membrane
Fiber to fiber
Moisture to moisture

*When you are done, blow out the candle that represents your ailment.

* Wrap yourself in the whit sheet and lay down in the light of the healing candle that still burns.

* Breath in and out  deeply and visualize the white healing energy all around you and within you.  The white sheet represents the healing energy from the universe and the goddess.

*When you feel you are ready, sit up and blow out the healing candle.  Repeat this as needed until healed.

 My Prayer to Airmid:

~Adapted from the Invocation to Airmid by Michelle Skye~

Oh Airmid, Gentle and sweet, fierce and dark, You dove into the depths of your sorrow and found your power.  You gained yourself and healing for your sorrow.  Great giver Airmid, Help me honor my gifts so I may appreciate the life around me and the life within.  Grant me your light to help others that need your love and healing. Blessed be

Altar for Airmid:

"A home altar for Airmid should be covered with a cloth, symbolizing the cloak on which she laid out the healing herbs. It can be scattered with dried or fresh plants of all types. Flowers in vases, bunches of herbs, potted plants, wreaths of branches or piles of berries could all be placed on its surface. A bowl or cauldron of spring or rain water can symbolize her well of healing and regeneration. Incenses for her should be floral or earthy scents redolent of growth and verdant green, pine or fir resins, or the elegant sweetness of amber. If you use candles, they should be of beeswax to symbolize the fertilizing work of the bees and the curative powers of honey. If you feel a need for a blade on the altar, consider using a sickle for its close association with agricultural work, rather than an athame. Bronze, silver, stone or wood are preferable to iron, for the folklore tells us that the de Danann dislike iron. Your indoor temple can be decorated with bunches of drying herbs hanging from the ceiling, herbal wreaths on the walls, baskets of dried flowers, with indoor herb gardens in pots and under sunlamps, with bottles filled with your dried herbs, and mortars and pestles for their preparation."

http://cleticpagan.tribe.net/thread/0133ee6f-c433-4d6c-af2e-e9bb146f5abd

My Altar dedicated to Airmid:

airmid altar

Original art and Altar devoted to Airmid Irish Goddess of healing by OceanPhoenix 

 

airmid art

Original Art for Airmid by OceanPhoenix 

  

airmid

Image courtesy of http://booki.deviantart.com/art/Airmeith-194573242 by Booki

 

~Book Sources~

Auset, Priestess Brandi. The Goddess Guide: Exploring the Attributes and Correspondences of the divine Feminine. Woodbury Minnesota. Llewellyn publications. 2009.  Pages:23,122,125,138,162-163,186,196,199,201,204,217,224,242,245,253,266

Judika,Illes. The Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons,  Ghost, Gods, and  Goddesses. New York, NY. Harper Collins. 2009 First edition: Page: 143.

Skye, Michelle. Goddess Afoot!. Woodbury Minnesota. Llewellyn publications. 2008. pages: 107-125.

Skye, Michelle. Goddess Aloud!. Woodbury Minnesota. Llewellyn publications. 2010. pages: 141-148.

An Irish Book of Shadows: Tuatha De Danann by Katharine Clark

 

~Web Site Sources~

http://uniquecelticjewelry.com/celtic_goddess_airmid.html
http://www.sheeeire.com/Magic&Mythology/Gods&Goddess/Celtic/Goddess/Airmid/Page1.htm
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/goddess_weekly/61760/2
http://www.angelfire.com/journal/ofapoet/airmid.html
http://www.sheeeire.com/magic&mythology/gods&goddess/celtic/Goddess/Airmid/Page1.htm
http://www.gods-heros-myth.com/godpages/airmid.html
http://gwendrina.blogspot.com/2009/10/airmid.html
http://www.myguideireland.com/heapstown-cairn
http://8539-celticnorsediety.blogspot.com/2011/04/celtic-goddess-of-healing-airmid.html
http://reocities.com/BourbonStreet/4826/ritual1.html
http://celticmystic.com/CelticGodsAndGoddesses.htm
http://creatingthehive.com/group/Folklore/posts/80313/wee-bit-of-irish-lore
http://www.cherylrose.com/icons/airmid/

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