The
Well
One
of the most cherished fairy-tale symbols in our popular imagination
is that of the wishing well. Deep, dark, silent, and magical, it is
able to grant your most secret desires in exchange for the smallest
sacrifice of a coin or two. This combination of magic and mystery is
particularly fascinating, and indicates the reason why wells are venerated
in myths and folk tales as the homes of friendly spirits and great powers.
Water
generally symbolizes the abundance of all possibilities, the source
of all creation. When water comes from an unseen underground source,
as with a well or spring, it takes on an air of mystery as a hidden
source of life. Thus, wells take on the symbolism of the feminine principal--the
womb of the Great Mother--and become places where all wishes and dreams
can become reality. As magical places, wells were believed to be the
dwellings of nymphs, sprites, and fairies who could tell futures and
grant wishes. They were also sacred to various deities, although in
Roman, Greek, Germanic, and Celtic cultures wells were almost exclusively
associated with goddess triads who simultaneously gave aid in fertility,
marriage, and childbearing.
Wells
held very deep significance for the Celts (the early people of Britain,
Ireland, Wales, and much of Europe) especially, who believed that wells
provided access to the Otherworld, and therefore access to the gods.
They thought that wells were formed by deities who could impart knowledge,
healing, or inspiration in return for a symbolic sacrifice. Sacrificial
wells have yielded bronze vessels, ornaments, jewelry, coins, weapons,
and evidence of animal sacrifices. It has been suggested by certain
scholars that the artifacts found in the Thames River--skulls, swords,
shields, etc.--reflect that the British Celts venerated the river in
a way similar to the Hindu worship of the Ganges River in India.
Despite
the various magical beings and powers wells were believed to contain,
among the Celts one goddess was credited for granting her benevolence
at such sites more than any other. She is Brighid (or Brigit, Bride,
or Brigitana, depending on the language of the group of Celts worshiping
her), the goddess of inspiration, healing, and smithcraft. In Her aspect
as the patron of healing, herbalism, and midwifery, Brighid was appealed
to in innumerable places in Britain and Ireland where water springs
from the earth. Some springs and wells were worshiped for having powers
to cure infertility, others were sought for their powers to heal specific
parts of the body. In Celtic myth, there is even a well that will bring
the dead back to life.
Wells
were significant to other, later groups of people as well. In Hebrew
symbolism, a well signifies the Torah, the Jewish book of scripture.
In Christianity, the well symbolizes purification, the fountain of creation,
and the source of the land of Paradise. Indeed, many wells continue
to be visited for spiritual healing in the Christian era, even though
the guardianship of their powers has been passed on to saints. However,
the wells' pagan history is never far away, since many of these saints
for which they have been re-named are really Christianized deities and
spirits. In fact, the two most common names for wells in Britain and
Ireland are Bride Well and St. Anne's Well, remembering Brighid and
Anu, the Celtic Great Mother of the gods.
The
next time you pass a well and feel the almost irresistible urge to toss
in a coin and make a wish, remember two things. First, you are repeating
a little ritual that has been done for thousands of years. And second,
your wish must remain a secret between you and the spirit of the well
for it to come true. Such a gesture may be a wonderful way to bring
you closer to the spirit of the Goddess Who Lives in the Well.
Sources may include:
Becker, Udo, ed. The Continuum Encyclopedia of Symbols. Continuum,
NY 1994
Beiderman, Hans, trans. James Hulbert. The Dictionary of Symbolism:
Cultural Icons and the Meanings Behind Them. Facts on File, NY 1992
Bruce-Mitford, Miranda., The Illustrated Book of Signs and Symbols:
Thousands of Signs and Symbols from Around the World.
DK Publishing, NY 1996
Gibson, Claire. Goddess Symbols: Universal
Signs of the Divine Female. Barnes & Noble, NY 1998
-----------------. Signs & Symbols:
An Illustrated Guide to Their Meaning and Origins. Barnes &
Noble, NY 1996
1997-2001 by Regina M. Raab
This page created: 21 February 2000
This page last updated: 18 February 2001
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