In Celtic mythology, Airmid (also spelled Airmed or Airmeith) is a goddess associated with healing, herbalism, and the natural world. She is depicted as a divine figure with deep knowledge of plants and their medicinal properties.
Airmid is best known for her role in the story of the Tuatha Dé Danann, a group of mythical beings in Irish mythology. According to legend, Airmid is the daughter of Dian Cecht, the god of healing, and the sister of Miach. Together with her brother, Airmid plays a central role in one of the most famous Celtic myths involving healing.
In the myth, Dian Cecht becomes jealous of his son Miach's superior healing abilities and kills him out of envy. Airmid, grief-stricken by her brother's death, discovers 365 healing herbs growing from Miach's grave, each with its own unique medicinal properties. As she tries to gather and classify the herbs, Dian Cecht disrupts her efforts out of fear of being overshadowed by his children. Despite his interference, Airmid manages to organize the herbs into clusters based on their healing properties.
The story of Airmid highlights her role as a healer and a guardian of herbal knowledge. She is revered as a symbol of wisdom, compassion, and the interconnectedness of nature and healing. Airmid's story underscores the importance of herbalism in Celtic culture and reflects the deep respect and reverence ancient Celts had for the healing powers of plants.