I was asked a while back in the Brigid’s Forge Facebook group about how Brigid influences my life as an engineer. And how my relationship with Brigid affects my engineering career. I was sure I had already covered this, but apparently not!! (Although, I did mention it briefly here anyway)
Why engineering and Brigid
Well, I view Brigid the Smith as linked with engineering because I view smithcraft as the ancestor of modern engineering. Brigid embodies the archetype of the skilled artisan, particularly in the context of metalwork and forging. To me, she symbolizes the transformative power of fire and the mastery of shaping raw materials into refined creations.
Engineering, at its core, involves the application of scientific principles to design, build, and innovate. I mean, if you go really deep down, engineering is problem solving. Brigid’s association with the smithy aligns with the fundamental principles of engineering. She represents the fusion of knowledge, skill, and creativity required to forge useful and enduring structures. And, usually, those structures solve a problem. Even if that problem is how to make something look good.
Engineers take ideas and turn them into reality, using science, math and imagination. Engineers are masters of problem-solving and creative design.
Engineers Ireland, What is Engineering
Brigid, ethics and engineering
For a long time, the notion of “ethics” and engineering didn’t really enter my worldview. I was just another human being doing a job after all. The idea that my job should hold ethical value didn’t hit home at all. At least until I started working for a defense company. Now, the bit I worked for was making flares and signal stuff rather than the real aggressively explosive stuff. But yet, that whole ethos that it was ok to end someone’s life and that it could be almost just part of the job ran all the way through the company.
I found it difficult, the casual way that violence was expected and warranted. To be clear, not in the office, but more, just as a part of life. Brigid doesn’t necessarily abhor violence. Just look at some of the saint’s stories for that! But she doesn’t endorse it either as the sole means of… well anything. Particularly not problem solving (which is the core of being an engineer!).
So, even as a maintenance engineer, working on making sure there was water, air, electricity and other vital necessities coming to the various buildings, I found things uncomfortable in that environment.
I realised afterwards that it just didn’t fit with my ethics and as my relationship with Brigid deepened, I need to find a role that matched my work with her.
Day job as spiritual practice
I moved into pharma. Now, I know in the US Big Pharma is problematic and hurts all sorts of folks. And, honestly, I get it. But at the same time, they do provide life-giving, -saving, drugs to a lot of people. And frankly, the cost of meds and the way they are prescribed in the US – has a lot to do with the system over there.
For me, working as a Brigid-following engineer in a pharma company was a no brainer. I was able to connect in with both Brigid the Healer and Brigid the Smith. I was problem solving for a purpose. In this first pharma place I worked, we would frequently be sending doses directly to the customer cos there were only about 1000 world wide. And it was one of the lower, non-own-brand products out there.
As a Brigid follower and an engineer, tackling my daily spiritual practice as my day job fed my love of efficiency. Don’t get me wrong. I love writing this blog, teaching etc. But it’s the engineering that keeps food on the table and a roof over my head.
Just coming into work every day isn’t enough though. Going through the motions isn’t what gets Brigid enthusiastic about a person. She cares too much about getting shit down and frankly, dealing with an irate production manager isn’t her strong point. (I’d love to see it though!)
What really pushed my into the daily spiritual practice space was supporting and mentoring other people around me. Mostly, I look for women engineers to help. I can’t help feeling that as someone who worked in a forge, Brigid knows what it’s like to be the only woman in the room. This happens, even today, far too often in engineering.
What does my daily spiritual practice look like?
Well, ye all know my basic approach of that few seconds before I get into the car in the morning. But I also work at including Brigid in my daily work life. I’ll speak to her during the day. I’ll ask her for help or advice before a difficult meeting. I’ll often head off for a 5min meditation in the middle of some difficult work.
I also make time every week to meet up or chat to people I’m supporting or mentoring. Even if it’s just a quick message over teams, it’s worth something. There are many people out there doing Brigid’s work in engineering, but don’t realise it. The people who go visit the schools to encourage young girls (and boys) to keep going with science and engineering subjects. The ones who go out of their way to support colleagues in need.
The colleagues who take the time to spend energy on others and assist them in their careers.
When I finally get an excel sheet working properly, I think of Brigid. If I manage to persuade a manager to give me downtime to complete a job, I think of Brigid. When that problem finally becomes unstuck, I think of Brigid.
Where does this leave Brigid-following engineers?
Well, obviously, I don’t espouse the One True Way mode of teaching. I’m far more about the “build what suits you” thing. And it’s why I’m running a monthly long course in January for Building a Daily Practice with Brigid. And ok, it’s not focused on engineers, but it is about efficiently and effectively building a practice that suits you. Your life, your resources, your energy.
Because, since Brigid is an engineer, she is high on the practicality in my experience. She doesn’t want broken tools, she wants useful, working tools. And that means, whatever we’re agreeing to, whatever we’re working on for her, it needs to fit.
That’s not to say she won’t turn your life upside down on occasion – cos she will – but more than it’s more that process of melting down, tempering and rebuilding rather than just ripping you to shreds for the sake of it!
