Celtic River, Spring, and Well Deities

There are many different deities that correspond with rivers, springs, wells, and other natural water sources. This can be seen throughout different cultures such as the Romans and the Celtic peoples. I personally find it very interesting to research the bodies of water local to me and see what deities and spirits are related to them. Whilst many of them are seen as personifications of those particular water sources, a fair few of them also have other associations that you can work with. You don't need to be near these specific bodies of water to work with these deities and spirits, although I will admit, location does help. So below are some of the most well-known deities of rivers, springs, and wells. For quite a few of these, there isn't too much information on them save for the few inscriptions and such which have been uncovered. However, there are some who I would like to focus on in a little bit more detail, either because we have more information on them or because I have worked with them in the past so can share my own experience. These deities we will go through at the end. 
There is a very prominent deity that I have not mentioned in this course, and that is Sulis, who is the Goddess of the healing springs in the city of Bath here in England. Now the reason she isn’t included here is because I have a whole course on Sulis! It is just a short one, but available on the website, so do check it out if you are looking for more information on this fascinating Goddess.
Now, let’s take a look at our first lot of deities.

Agrona: A Goddess of the river Ayr in Scotland. There is a bit of an interesting story to this name; it was a hypothetical reconstructed proto-celtic name for the River Ayr, and was then later also applied to the River Aeron in Scotland. This hypothetical claim first appeared in William J Watsons' 'Celtic Place Names of Scotland' which was written in 1926, who wrote that the River Ayr could be worked back to a hypothetical proto-celtic 'river Goddess of slaughter and carnage', and that deity was Agrona. To give you some social context, this was around the time that there was a push towards Scottish nationalism, and with this came attempts to use the River Ayr place name to claim the bard Tailsin's battle poems for Scotland. This theory by Watson strongly supports these claims, and it has also been used to support locating the ancient kingdom of Aeron in what is now Ayrshire.
Despite the absolutely hypothetical nature of this Goddess, Watson's derivation persists today, so I thought I would include her as I personally find it quite interesting!

Belisama: A UK deity most often associated with the river Ribble in the UK. Her associations are often listed as being that of lakes and rivers, fire, craft, war, bravery, force and light. Her name is often said to mean 'the very bright', from which we can see where the associations of fire and light come from. However, this has come under question, and an alternative theory put forward that her name actually means 'the strong', and through this we can see where the associations of war, bravery, and force could come from.
With the coming of the Romans Belisama too was combined with Minerva, and depictions of Minerva yet dedicated to Belisama have been found. Minerva was the Roman Goddess of war, victory, and the arts, so again we can see where Belisama may have taken on the attributes of war, bravery, and the arts - perhaps through this twinning rather than them being attributes of Belisama herself. Otherwise most of what we know about her is speculation, such as her being associated with the moon as well as light, and her consort being the God Belenus.

Boann: An Irish Goddess of the River Boyne and a member of the Tuatha de Danann. There are several tales which involve her, including the creation of the river Boyne. According to the Dindsencha, Boann had been forbidden by her husband to approach the magical Well of Segail. Deciding to challenge the power of the well, she walked around it widdershins, or counter-clockwise, which caused the waters of the well to surge violently upwards and rush out to the sea. Boann found herself swept up in the waters and was killed.

Clota: A matron Goddess of the River Clyde in Scotland. It is said that in Scotland a Goddess was characterised after the river associated with it; for example, the Goddess of the river Forth was known as the deaf or soundless one as the Forth is a pretty silent running river. Clota was known as 'the purifying one', because the river Clyde would carry mud and clay towards the sea when it would flood, in a sense 'cleaning' the land it passed through. Clota's name was found engraved on a crotalum, a type of musical instrument similar to castenents. It is said that the crotalum was used ritually to attract the Gods attention, and the word crotalum used to refer to a talkative person. Because of this inscription, the historian and archaeologist Jean-Jaques Hatt posited that Colta was associated with the gift of listening, providing a divine ear to those who needed to talk. Interestingly, one of the earlier names of the Clyde meant loud or heard from a distance.

Grannus: Known as a God who was associated with spas, especially healing thermal springs, fires and the sun. Often deities who were associated with thermal springs are also associated with fire or the sun, such as Sulis who is the Goddess of the thermal springs in Bath, UK. One of the most famous areas dedicated to Grannus was 'Aquae Granni', now Aachan in Germany. This town boasts its own thermal springs with temperatures between 45C and 75C. There are a few theories as to where Grannus gets his name from; this includes a possible connection with the Irish word for 'Sun', or the proto-celtic root 'granno' which means 'beard' or 'heat'. Grannus is another God which was then twinned with a Roman Deity, this time Apollo, and was called 'Apollo Grannus'. Apollo was associated with healing, the sun, and light amongst other things so we can see why he would have made a good twinning with Grannus.

Segeta: A Goddess who was associated with a temple located in La Riviere in France. The temple consisted of a number of rooms, baths, piping, and yards, all of which were surrounding a healing spring. Dedications to her were found engraved on disks with waves and fish, and images and models of body parts were found which are believed to have been used to ask Segata to heal ailments of those particular appendages.
We also have a tale from Saint Augustine, which can be found in his works ‘City of God’ in which he explains how it was decided that the responsibility of the land should not be given to any one God, and so it was divided, with Segata being put in charge of the shoots when they came above ground and began to form grain. In this sense, Segeta could also be considered a Goddess associated with grain, the harvest, growth and 

Sequana: Sequana was a Goddess of the river Seine, especially the springs at the source of the Seine, and was associated with the Gaulish Sequani tribe. The springs are called the Springs of Sequana', and are located in Burgundy, France. In the 1st or 2nd century a shrine was established to Sequana, and various offerings made to her have been found at this site. These include a large pot inscribed with her name and filled with models of human appendages made from bronze or silver. It is believed that these were made and then offered to Sequana to ask her to heal ailments of those particular body parts. Wooden and stone images of limbs, internal organs, heads, and complete bodies were also found in a similar vein, and it is thought from the items found that requests for a cure for eye diseases and respiratory illnesses were some of the most common. Other offerings include coins and jewellery.
Pilgrims were often depicted as carrying offerings to Sequana, and these offerings include money, fruit, or an animal such as a dog or a bird. There has also been a bronze statue found believed to be Sequana which shows a woman wearing a long gown and a diadem, standing on the prow of a boat which is shaped like the head of a duck. As such, ducks can also be associated with her.

Sionann : Irish Goddess of the river Shannon, which is the longest river in the British Isles. She has a very similar story to Boann; she visits the Well of Seagull despite being warned not to, and whilst there eats the salmon of wisdom that resides in the well. Although she becomes the wisest person in all of the land, the well bursts forth and drowns her. An interesting aside, The Shannon is said to be home to a river monster named Cata. This monster appears in the mediaeval 'Book of Lismore' and is described as being a large monster with a horse's mane, thick feet, nails of iron, gleaming eyes, and the tale of a whale. Cata was defeated by Senan, the patron saint of County Clare.

Sirona: A Goddess known from the sulphur springs of Alzey, in Germany. A stone bas-relief found here shows her wearing a long gown and carrying a libation bowl in her right hand and a sceptre in her left. There is also a dedication to her and Apollo, as this is another deity who was associated with Apollo. Notably, snakes and eggs have also been shown in depictions of her, which could point towards her being a symbol of fertility.

Now we have some other deities, who we don’t have a lot of information on but I wanted to include anyway:

Acionna: A water Goddess or Genus Loci (a Roman protective spirit) of the Orleanay region and the river Essonn in France
Ancasta: Goddess of the River Itchen in Southampton, England. She is known from a single inscription found in the local area
Condatis: A God of 'where the rivers meet', particularly that of the River Wear which runs through County Durham in the UK. He was a deity who was worshipped primarily in northern Britain, but there is also evidence of him being worshipped in Gaul. He was often associated with the Roman God Mars.
Dea Matrona: Goddess of the river Marne in Gaul, whose name means 'divine mother Goddess'.
Glanis and the Glanicea: Glanis was a God associated with the healing spring in the town of Glanum in the mountains in Southern France. There are cisterns at the spring where pilgrims could have bathed, and near one of them an altar dedicated to Glanum and the Glanicea set up (the Glanicea being a triad of mother Goddesses who were also associated with the springs)
Icovellauna: A Goddess worshipped in Gaul, her places of worship have been found in a temple in Northeast France. This temple was originally built over a spring with a spiral staircase leading down to the waters where worshippers would leave offerings. 
Nikus: A Romano - Celtic river God of whom we know nothing about save from one mention in a lead course tablet inscription. It is believed he could be linked to the river Hamble in the UK.
Verbeia: A Goddess worshipped in Roman Britain as the Goddess of the River Wharfe in Yorkshire, England. She is known from a single altar stone dedicated to her, although an image of what could be this Goddess was also found. It depicts her as having an overly large head, wearing a pleated robe, and holding two large snakes, one in each hand,

Finally, we have those deities for whom we have a bit more information, or I have worked with personally, and so I want to go into a bit more detail with:

Father Thames:

One of the most famous rivers in England is the river Thames which runs through 9 different counties in England, although it is only the second longest river in England. The Thames has a rich history; over 30 million years ago the Thames was actually a tributary of the river Rhine because Britain was not an island at this time. Over the centuries, castles and forts were built near the river, and it played a large part in trade and warfare. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the river would freeze over during the winter and Frost Fairs would be held with the selling of food, musicians, and fairground amusements amongst other things.
Father Thames was seen as the human manifestation and/or guardian of the Thames. Very little is known around any ancient worship of him, but he has grown in popularity in modern times. There are several statues and reliefs of Father Thames scattered around London, and he even has his own song - lyrics are below:

"There's some folks who always worry
And some folks who never care
But in this world of rush and hurry
It matters neither here nor there

Be steady and realistic
Don't hanker for gold or gems
Be carefree and optimistic
Like Old Father Thames

High in the hills, down in the dales
Happy and fancy free
Old Father Thames keeps rolling along
Down to the mighty sea

What does he know, what does he care
Nothing for you or me
Old Father Thames keeps rolling along
Down to the mighty sea

He never seems to worry
Doesn't care for fortune's fame
He never seems to hurry
But he gets there just the same

Kingdoms my come, kingdoms may go
Whatever the end may be
Old Father Thames keeps rolling along
Down to the mighty sea

The best way, a heaven blessed way
Just try to be always kind
It doesn't matter what the rest say
You're bound to leave them far behind

It's your job to do your duty
Be faithful to all your friends
For England and home and beauty
Like Old Father Thames

High in the hills, down in the dales
Happy and fancy free
Old Father Thames keeps rolling along
Down to the mighty sea

What does he know, what does he care
Nothing for you or me
Old Father Thames keeps rolling along
Down to the mighty sea

He never seems to worry
Doesn't care for fortune's fame
He never seems to hurry
But he gets there just the same

Kingdoms my come, kingdoms may go
Whatever the end may be
Old Father Thames keeps rolling along
Down to the mighty sea"

I work in London so the Thames is quite a big presence in my life, and I feel Father Thames’ energy quite strongly when walking the Thames path. He feels very protective over the city and the people in it; when you consider how the Thames has been used over the centuries, it has been a staple for trade and transport, and is an important part of the city's heritage. So as well as protection, I associated him with a general connection to the local land and the community, and in a sense ancestor work.
Here is a prayer of protection I use to Father Thames when I’m walking around London:

“As I walk the cobbled streets of the city,
Father Thames, I call to thee
Protect me, keep me safe from harm
As I will it, so mote it be

Shine your light upon darkened streets
And guide me on my journey
Protect me, keep me safe from harm,
As I will it, so mote it be

The people march forever on
And danger’s hard to see
So Father Thames protect me, keep me safe from harm
As I will it, so mote it be”

Nantosuelta:
Nantosuelta is Gaulish Goddess known as being a Goddess of Earth, Fire, and Water - it makes her a great deity to work with for those water witches who also feel a very strong connection with the other elements. She is a Goddess I spent several years working with before 'moving on' as it were, and developed a really strong relationship with her during this time, and learned a lot.
According to French local legend, in 1858 a girl had a vision of a 'Goddess type' in Lourdes, France, near a grotto in an area which was said to have been sacred to Nantosuelta and whose followers worshipped her there in ancient times. After this girl had her vision, the water suddenly took on incredible healing powers, and this was seen to be a sign that the Goddess was very much still present in the area she was once honoured. Hence, she is associated with the element of water and of healing.
Occasionally these depictions show her with Sucellus, believed to be the God of agriculture and wine and also her counterpart.
Scholars are not sure of the exact meaning of the name Nantosuelta; the two most commonly championed explanations are 'She of the winding river' (which again, shows her connection to the water element) and 'She of the sun-drenched valley'.
Again, there are two commonly associated interpretations of the meaning of 'the sun-drenched valley'. Some believe that it symbolises warmth, or 'plenty', or her association of fire (similar to the Goddess Sulis). However, it can also be read in the context of 'the sun-drenched valley' being the sun-drenched realms of the netherworld. This is also supported by the fact that Nantosuelta has also been shown to be depicted with a crow, prompting comparisons between her and the Goddess Morrigan and connotations of death, This may hint at her possibly being a psychopomp - a Deity or Spirit whose job it is to guide the souls of the recently deceased to the Underworld.
Several inscriptions and depictions of her have been discovered in France which give us some clues as to other aspects of her divinity. One of her most prominent associations is that of the home and harth. For example, she is often shown holding what looks like a long pole with a small house on top of it and a patara (a libation bowl), the contents of which she is pouring onto a cylindrical altar (which potentially hints at an association with blessings or abundance). Other depictions have also shown her holding a pot or a beehive, which again could show links to the hearth and home. As such, she is a great deity for kitchen witches who want to work more with the water element, and also a great one to incorporate into any magic concerning the home, and family.
The association of the home and the iconography associated with her (such as the bee) also connects her with nature, well-being, and prosperity.
From my unsubstantiated personal gnosis, I feel a very strong association with the hearth and home through her, abundance in general, nature, and moving through the veil to otherworlds (I always feel her much more strongly during the autumn months, often associated with the thinning of the veil). I often work with her to help cleanse and protect my house, house hunting, decorating and renovations, food magick, and in helping through the transformation from the summer months to the winter months.

Lavender Shortbread Recipe: 
To bring peace and harmony to all who eat it, which is just what most of us want under our own roofs! I personally love the taste of lavender, although I know others who don’t, but I definitely recommend you try it before you knock it.

You will need:
125g unsalted butter, softened (and some for greasing the baking tin)
55g of caster sugar (and extra to finish)
180g of plain flour (and extra to sprinkle on your work surface)
2 teaspoons of dried English lavender heads (note; French lavender just does not have the same taste!)
Rolling Pin
Bowl
Kitchen roll
Baking tin

You want to pre-heat the oven to 190C, or 170C if you have a fan, Gas Mark 5 for those of us with Gas ovens.
Take your dried lavender and place them on a piece of kitchen roll, spread out as much as you can, and then place another piece on top. Now take a rolling pin and roll it across the kitchen roll, effectively ‘crushing’ the dried lavender, to help release the taste.
Add the softened butter, sugar, and lavender to a bowl and mix until smooth. 
Add the flour and mix until it has the consistency of a fine paste. 
Sprinkle some flour onto your work surface and take your mixture from the bowl and place it on top of the flour (this will make sure the mixture doesn’t stick to the work surface). Using your rolling pin, roll it out until it is roughly half an inch thick.
Grease your baking tin with butter, then cut your shortbread into whatever shape you want, and place in the baking tray. Bake in the oven for roughly 15/20 minutes, or until golden brown, then place aside to cool before you dig in!

Sabrina:
The river Severn is the longest river in the UK. At 220 miles long, it travels from the Welsh mountains into England, and is home to a wealth of wildlife. In Welsh, the river is called Afon Hafren, and Hafren is the Welsh name of the Goddess who governs this important landmark. In Latin, her name translates to Sabrina.
Not much is known about the Goddess Sabrina, but there are a couple of stories involving her that we can draw upon to give us more of an insight into this Goddess.
The most well-known tale involving Sabrina is actually more centred around her father and his relationships. We know of it from Geoffrey of Monmouth's influential 'History of the Kings of Britain', written around 1136.
Her Grandfather was Brutus, the leader of a band of Trojan exiles from Italy. They had settled in England with Brutus as their King, and when he passed after 24 years of rule, his lands were divided between his sons. His youngest son (Albanact) took what is now Scotland, his middle son (Camber) took what is now Wales, and his oldest son (Locrinis) took what is now England. He later became known as King Locrin of Lergria, and is Sabrina's father.
King Locrin was engaged to Gwendolen, daughter of the King of Cornwell in what is seen as a marriage of diplomacy. However, King Locrin fell in love with another, and it was this love that would prove to be his, and Sabrina's, downfall.
During Locrin's reign, Britain was invaded by the Huns, led by their Chief Humber. Locrin led the fight against the Huns and beat Humber who was drowned in the river which is now named after him (the river Humber), and Humber's daughter was taken prisoner. It was love at first sight between Locrin and Humbers daughter, Estrildis, but Locrin had made his oath to Gwendolen and her father. The King of Cornwall threatened Locrin with a battleaxe and Lowcrine knew he had to keep his word and marry Gwendolen. But his love for Estrildis, never faded, and he kept her near the palace, continuing his affair with her even through his marriage to Gwendolen.
Locrin had two children; a son named Maddan with Gwendolen, and a daughter named Sabrina with Estrildis,. Eventually, Gwendolen's father died, and Locrin saw his chance; he divorced Gwendolen and instead lived with Estrildis,and his daughter Sabrina.
Filled with fury, Gwendolen raised a Cornish army against Locrin, and the King was eventually slain in battle. Gwendolen then took the throne of England for herself, and for their son Maddan. She decreed that Estrildis and Sabrina be thrown into the river, and the river named after Sabrina so that Locrin's infidelity would be remembered and bring shame to his name forever.

There is another tale from Welsh mythology which involves Sabrina. Three sisters met to discuss the best way to get to the sea as they greatly desired to meet the waters; these sisters were Severn (Sabrina), Wye, and Rhidol. Rhidol took the shortest and most direct route and reached the sea near Aberystwyth. The second daughter Wye became so distracted with the beauty of the countryside that she wandered for miles before eventually reaching the sea. Sabrina however flew through the Welsh mountains and glided through the valleys before surging into the sea. Out of all of the sisters she became beautiful and peaceful, and yet was often feared for being too powerful.

The poet Milton writes of Sabrina in 'Comus', in which Sabrina rescues a lady because she is 'pure of heart':

"There is a gentle Nymph not farr from hence,
That with moist curb sways the smooth Severn stream,
Sabrina is her name, a Virgin pure
Whilom she was the daughter of Locrine,
That had the Scepter from his Father Brute.
The guiltless damsell flying the mad pursuit
Of her enraged stepdam Guendolen,
Commended her innocence to the flood
That stay'd her flight with his cross-flowing course,
The water Nymphs that in the bottom plaid,
Held up their pearled wrists and took her in,
......
And underwent a quick immortal change
Made Goddess of the River; she still retains
Her maid'n gentlenes, and oft at Eeve
Visits the herds along twilight meadows
......
The clasping charm, and thaw the numming spell,
If she be right invok't in warbled Song.
For maid'nhood she loves, and will be swift
To aid a Virgin, such as was her self
In hard besetting need, this will I try
And adde the power of some adjuring verse."

I have found that Sabrina is a great deity to work with when you need to practise compassion, forgiveness, and unconditional love, no matter what you're going through. 'Sweet Sabrina' is a name which suits this Goddess, so call on her when you need to ground, balance, and to help appreciate and celebrate everything you have in your life and walk your path with love and compassion in your heart for all, even those who may have wronged you.

Lip Balm Recipe For Sabrina:

Lip balm is not something I have ever thought of using as an offering, but it felt right with Sabrina. She represents compassion, sweetness, forgiveness, and unconditional love. As well as keeping these feelings in our heart, I also think it is important that we speak them - so lip balm felt like a great way of honouring Sabrina and what she stands for!

To make this lip balm, you will need:
A heatproof glass bowl and a saucepan that the bowl will fit on top of. We are going to be using the double boiler method of heating our ingredients, so if you haven’t worked with it before then give it a Google!
Water
An oil base; I tend to use olive oil which can be brought in most supermarkets
A selection of flowers; I highly recommend going for a walk and calling to Sabrina to guide you to what she wants you to include; I ended up going for some daisies, dandelions, and yarrow. Remember, you are putting this on your skin so make sure you are choosing plants or flowers which are non-toxic, and to wash them thoroughly. If you aren’t 100% sure as to what a particular plant or flower is, or whether it is safe, then best to leave it well alone!
Beeswax pellets or bricks (I personally find pellets much easier to use)
An essential oil of your choice, something that evokes sweetness such as orange or grapefruit
A container to keep your salve in (I recommend avoiding anything plastic)

First, we need to infuse the flowers into the oil. There are two ways of doing this. If you have the time and the patience, you can add them to a glass jar and pour the oil over the top, then leave to sit in a warm or sunny place for about four weeks. If, like me, patience isn’t your virtue, then you can use the double boiler method. Simply put the flowers in your bowl and pour in the oil; ideally you want the oil to just about cover your flowers, but whether you can achieve this depends on how much salve you want to make and how many flowers you have!
Again, depending on the amount you are using, you will want to leave this for between twenty minutes and an hour for the flowers to really infuse into the oil using this double boiler method.
Whichever method you are going for, when it is complete, you need to strain the oil using a strainer or cheesecloth to remove the flowers from the mixture so only the oil remains. If you are doing this straight after the double boiler method then be careful because the bowl will be hot!
Once you have strained your mixture, pour the oil back into the bowl, ready to use the double boiler method to actually create your salve. As a general guidance, I would say use 8oz of oil to 1oz of beeswax. I tend to make quite small batches, so I tend to calculate everything down and then use a digital scale to measure everything out - especially with smaller amounts, a digital scale is much more convenient!
Add the beeswax to the bowl with the oil, and stir until the wax has melted and it is fully mixed in - this process really doesn’t take long.
Next, you need to work quickly before the wax melts, to pour it into your chosen container. I tend to use small balm pots I brought online, so pour the mixture into a small jug, and then use this to pour the wax into the pots. Again, remember, everything will be hot! Once you have poured it into your container, add in a few drops of your essential oil, and leave it to set. Voila! All done.

Coventina:
Coventina was a Romano-British Goddess of wells and springs. There are several references to her, including near the Carrawburgh spring along Hadrian’s wall in England. However, again she is a deity that little is actually known about.
Votive candles and other dedications were found in a walled area of the spring, which is now referred to as Coventina’s spring. These include 13,487 coins, a head of a male statue, a relief depicting three water nymphs, two slabs dedicated to the Goddess Coventina, ten altars to Coventina and Minerva, and two clay incense burners.
At least ten inscriptions to her were also found at Carrawburgh, and here is an example of one;

"To the Goddess Coventina,
Titus D[unclear] Cosconianus, Prefectus of the First Cohort of Batavians,
Freely and deservedly (dedicated this stone)"

She is often depicted as a water spirit, partially clothed and reclining on the water or atop of water lilies.
In 391 AD the Emperor Theodosius 1st demanded that all shrines to the old deities were to be destroyed, but there is evidence that worshippers tried to protect her shrine by surrounding it with stones and rock.
The main attributes associated with Coventina are abundance, prophecy, the cycles of life, birth, and renewal, and purification, new beginnings, inspiration, innocence, integrity, and honesty. However, it is difficult to know whether this is information born from historical fact, or the writers own personal experience with the Goddess. Some associate her with healing, and again whilst there is little historical evidence for this connection, wells and springs were often revered for their healing powers. 
Now, one of my favourite types of workings are ritual baths. But, unfortunately, my house only has a shower, so I’ve taken to making salt scrubs to use in the shower instead. With Coventina being associated with purification and renewal, I thought I would create a salt scrub recipe dedicated to Coventina, and that will be our practical exercise for this deity.
It’s really very simple. All you will need is some sea salt - or, you can use sugar if you have sensitive skin, but I prefer sea salt because it comes from the sea - some dried rosemary, dried marjoram, dried sage, and dried rose petals. You will also need a little bit of oil to bind the mixture - you can choose an essential oil such as rose, rosemary, or lavender, or just use olive oil. 
Place all of these in a bowl and mix it all in together in a clockwise direction. As you do, focus on Coventina and her properties of purification and renewal, and feel that energy being poured into your bath salts. When you feel ready, you can chant:

“Hail to Coventina,
Goddess of the waters,
Of purification and renewal
Please bless these salts with you power
Cleanse my body and spirit
And rejuvenate my mind and soul
Coventina I ask of you
Imbue these salts with your energy
So mote it be”

Now store them somewhere safe - I always go for glass containers - and when you use them, envision Coventina washing away any negativity and revitalising your being. You may also wish to recite the chant again as you do so.

Brigid:
Brigid is one of the most well  known of the Tuathe de Danann, and there is an abundance of information  on her available, so in this article I will just be providing a basic  overview as despite her popularity, she is not a deity I work with anywhere near as much as some other people I know! With  her various attributes, she can sometimes appear contradictory, as you will  soon come to see.
There are several tales involving Brigid in Irish mythology and one  such tale is a creation myth of sorts - the creation of the Tuathe de Danann. It tells us how a large  tree grew from dark soil, which grew  tall and strong. Danu, "the divine waters from heaven", nurtured this  tree, and it became a sacred oak. Through the care of Danu, the  tree continued to thrive, and eventually produced two acorns. The first  one to drop was male, and turned into the God The Dagda (known as the  father of the Tuathe de Danann). The second that fell was female, and  this was the great Goddess Brigid.
Another 'birth' story  tells how she  was born with the sunrise and elevated into the sky with  rays of light radiating from her head. She was nourished as a baby on  the milk of a sacred cow. 
Brigid has many different associations. One of those associations is that of  fire, as she is considered a 'fire' Goddess. She is often incorporated  into Imbolc festivals; making Brigid's crosses is a popular activity, as is pouring out milk onto the ground as a libation to Brigid.  One ancient tradition involves driving cattle between two bonfires as  they are put out to pasture, believing that this would keep them  protected. She is said to own 'the king of  boars', as well as the king of sheep, and two oxen, furthering her position as a Goddess of cattle and  domesticated animals.
She was also seen as a Goddess of the hearth. The  hearth was very important back in ancient times, and was tended to with care. As such, she represents the home, family, fertility, and  childbirth.
Another aspect of  Brigid is that of healing and wisdom. It was said that one of her  strengths was always knowing what was needed at any given time.
She  is also known as the Goddess of arts and trades, especially smithing  and forging (another fire-based activity). Described as being able to  imbue people with 'the fire of inspiration', she is also seen as a  patron of poets, writers, artists, and is considered a protector of  history and learning.
With these three aspects, Brigid is often considered a triple Goddess, although  these three attributes differ depending on the account; there is Brigid of the hearth, Brigid the smith, and Brigid of the arts. There is also  Brigid of healing, Brigid the smith, and Brigid of poets/the arts.  However, there is no consensus as to whether these refer to three  'separate' entities, all called Brigid , or whether these are three  representations of the one deity.
Brigid was also strongly associated with the element of water (contrary to the  fact she has so many fiery attributes). She ruled over both rivers and  wells, which are commonly known as being places of healing in Celtic  mythology. In Ireland there still exists Brigid's well in Kildare, where  the waters are said to heal any illness or wound. Although now dedicated  to St Brigid, many still visit  to honour the Goddess. In fact, the Brigid cross mentioned above is often  made of rush, which can be found by rivers, or grass.
It  is also said that Brigid invented keening, which is now a traditional  form of lamenting the dead. Whilst in battle, despite  winning, her father Dagda was wounded and died later at their home. Her  son was also slain in battle, and when Brigid rushed to the  battle field to mourn her son, a loud lament left her lips. This was the  first time sorrow had been felt in Ireland, and became known as  keening.
When the Christian church  came they realised that Brigid was such a beloved Goddess that simply denouncing her would not work in their favour.  Instead they introduced Saint Brigid, and many of the  tales once told about the Goddess were now attributed to Saint Brigid.  In fact, there is evidence to argue that Saint Brigid was in fact a real  woman, the daughter of a Druid King and a Christian woman.

Making a St Brigid 's Cross:
The St Brigid cross was made to protect the home against negativity, hunger, disease, and even fire. Traditionally made from rushes, you can use soft twigs, straw, or any other material which will bend. I personally head down to my local pond where a lot of reeds grow and use them. I was going to attempt to show you how to make one, but I found this great tutorial online which is much better at explaining it than I probably would be! So below is the link; give it a click and learn how to make your own.

Danu:
Danu is known as the mother of the Gods and Goddesses of the Tuathe de Danann. In fact, the name 'Tuathe de Danann' is reputed to translate to 'the peoples of the Goddess Danu', or, 'the tribe of the Gods of Danu'. However, for a Goddess with such high status, there is very little concrete information out there about her. Some scholars have speculated that she is related to the Irish Goddess Anu, who is also referred to as the mother of the Gods of Ireland (if they are not in fact the same deity). She has also been likened to the Welsh Don, again a mother Goddess; again it has been hypothesised that she became a combination of both of these deities, to become known as Danu. Some believe that Danu never existed at all.
Whilst there is little directly related to the Goddess Danu from ancient Irish tales, a few stories have remained. One such tale is the creation myth we went through in the Brigid section.
As such, Danu is not just a mother Goddess but 'the' mother Goddess. She represents life, fertility and nurturing. It is said that she bestowed knowledge and wisdom on the Tuathe de Danann and taught them skills such as poetry and the arts.
Another tale tells how war broke out in ancient Ireland between the people's living there; those who lost then fled Ireland. However, in the midst of their exile, Danu found them and united them, teaching them the skills they would need to survive.
They returned to Ireland, hidden under a mist said to be the loving and protective embrace of Danu herself. Under Danu, the newly formed Tuatha De Danann won, and were able to settle in Ireland. 
This emphasises Danu's role as a Goddess of rulers, but also alludes to her strength as a warrior and teacher. She can bring inspiration to those who need it in their lives.
As a Goddess of rulers, she would give gifts to those who were noble born. As those noble born would draw their power from Danu, so would their subjects draw power from them, as the Too-ah de dan-an drew power from Danu herself.
It is also theorised that perhaps she represented the Danube River. Rivers, wells, and springs feature heavily in Celtic lore, believing that they had the power to heal. There are reports that the name Danu' could translate as 'flowing one', emphasising this connection to water. This provides a strong association with the element of water, and the wind, as well as the land.
It has also been thought that Danu is also closely associated with The Morrigan, and that they could even be the same Goddess. This is a slightly confusing one to unravel, but is an interesting research topic if you have the time!
Symbols of Danu include holy stones (stones with holes in), the moon, keys, crowns, horses, and more general symbolic associations with water and the earth. Colours associated with her are green, black, blue and silver, and as a mother Goddess she is associated with the full moon.
With Danu being a Goddess of wisdom and knowledge, here is a ritual to make a ‘key of knowledge and wisdom’ encapsulating Danu’s energy. For this, you will need a key - any sort of key - a bowl, and some water. This is best performed on the full moon.

Start your working however you usually would - meditation, circle casting, etc.
Hold the key in your hand and chant:

“Great Danu, Mother Goddess, Lady of the Rivers
Bringer of wisdom and knowledge
Here under the light of your full moon I ask of you,
Please bless this key with your secrets
That it may possess and unlock the answers I seek”

Place the key in the bowl. Take the water and pour it over the key as you say:

“Goddess Danu,
Wisdom and knowledge through you”

Until the water is covering the key.
Now using your finger, stir the water clockwise and repeat:

“Great Danu, Mother Goddess, Lady of the Rivers
Bringer of wisdom and knowledge
Here under the light of your full moon I ask of you,
Please bless this key with your secrets
That it may possess and unlock the answers I seek”

For as many times as you feel comfortable.
Now leave the bowl of water and key in the moonlight overnight, to imbue with Danu’s power.