Welcome to My Nemeton

And Happy Winter Solstice!

I’m so excited to tell you about this I can barely contain myself!

This post is dedicated to my readers who love Magic. Who love Nature. Aren’t they one and the same?

It is quite remarkable to me that yesterday was the day I finally got around to decorating my nemeton. The day before the Winter Solstice.

“What’s a nemeton?” you ask. Even Grammarly doesn’t recognize it.

It’s a Celtic word meaning “holy grove.”

I’ll let Tom Cowan explain from his book “Yearning for the Wind: Celtic Reflections on Nature and the Soul”:

“I stepped out into a large grassy, tree-rimmed clearing that would have sent a Druid’s heart into spasms of ecstasy. Here was a glorious, open, almost perfectly circular, sun-drenched, autumn-leafed breezy New York State nemeton.

A nemeton! The antique Roman-Celtic word for one of the holiest places in Celtic spirituality. In the old Gaelic language, nemeton meant ‘sacred clearing.’ The Latin word nemus meant ‘sacred woods.’ In Greek tenemos was land dedicated to a deity. In Welsh and Breton the root word nem means ‘heaven.’ In Old Irish nemed meant ‘sanctuary,’ and fidnemed, a forest shrine or sacred grove.” —Tom Cowan

It is a sacred circle of trees with a clearing in the center.

A few months ago, while walking in the woods behind my house, I noticed that a favorite tree, a beautiful, sturdy Birch, was one of several trees forming a circle. Right at the end of the path where I enter the woods before reaching a stone wall.

I stopped in my tracks and heard the word “nemeton.” And I couldn’t stop smiling.

Immediately, I started making plans. How could I make this a special place? Maybe I’ll hang some flags or twinkle lights. A bench would be nice.

Typical of my process, nothing happens overnight with me. But, every time I went for a walk, I would stop and think about how I could honor the space.

How I could sit and play my flute.

Beat my drum and go on shamanic journeys to the Lower World.

Or, just sit quietly, listening to the sounds around me.

I reached out to my friend, Asia Suler, knowing that if anyone would understand my excitement, it would be Asia. She knows what a nemeton is. And, like myself, has Celtic roots.

Asia responded with enthusiasm, telling me that the Druids used to gather in the nemeton to call upon their ancestors. I’m paraphrasing here because, unfortunately, I can’t find Asia’s email. She was much more eloquent.

My father’s ancestry was Scottish and Irish, and yet I can’t ever remember him speaking about it. I didn’t know either of my grandparents or really any relatives from his side of the family.

In 2014 I started having dreams of Scotland out of the blue. I couldn’t understand why.

In May 2015, I made my first trip to Scotland. I would return twice (along with time spent in Ireland) in the course of three years.

Each time I returned, I was homesick for Scotland. And, then, Ireland, to be honest.

They were some of the most magical times I’ve spent in my entire life.

And so it’s not so odd that I would think of a nemeton in the woods out back.

I think it’s in my blood.

Last month when I was sick with a bad cold, I thought to search online for an outdoor bench I could put in the nemeton. Well, up popped a bear bench! Of course, it did. :)

And, without a second thought, I hit “purchase,” laughing hysterically at myself and blaming my impulsiveness on my delirium. Really though, it was just a cold!

When it arrived (much smaller than pictured, but heavy enough), I loaded him onto my sled and pulled him to his new home.

Meet Hawkeye

He has startled me more than a few times already when I catch sight of him out of the corner of my eye!

A few weeks passed by, during which I was thinking about what else to do in the nemeton. I wanted to hang some flags and thought about making some myself when an email arrived in my Inbox from United Plant Savers, an absolutely wonderful organization that helps protect and grow endangered and at-risk plants.

They were sharing holiday gift ideas, and low and behold, there were the most beautiful cloth prints of various plants.

Problem solved!

Aren’t they beautiful? I’ve already ordered another set to hang around the nemeton.

And so it’s only fitting that this all came together right before the Winter Solstice, a purely Celtic tradition.

“In Scotland, before the arrival of Christianity, on the solstice, Celtic (Druidic) priests would cut the mistletoe that grew on the oak tree and give it as a blessing. Oaks were seen as sacred and the winter fruit of the mistletoe was a symbol of life in the dark winter months.

It was also the Druidic priests who maintained the tradition of the yule log. The ancient Celtic people believed that the sun stood still for twelve days in the middle of winter and during this time a log was lit, using the remains of the previous year’s fire. It was believed it would conquer the darkness, banish evil spirits and bring luck for the coming year.” — True Highlands

I don’t remember where I read this but have it written in a journal somewhere that the origin of the word “God/god” was Druidic and means “The sound of the wind in the trees (specifically the Oak tree, which they revered).”

I certainly can’t say this is true, but being the Tree lover that I am, I just think it’s so lovely.

There’s one final piece of the nemeton puzzle. Although the bear bench is precious and sturdy enough, it’s very small and not so comfortable to sit on. Last week some friends of mine stopped over who had loaned me an outdoor bench months ago when I had visitors and thought we’d be having a bonfire.

I asked them if they could fit it in their car to take home, and they told me to keep it! The minute they left, I hauled it into the woods.

My nemeton is complete. I thought about twinkle lights, but I don’t really want anything battery-operated messing with the energy. And so, I think the flags will do.

If you come my way, I might just take you into the sacred grove. But only if you believe in Magic.

I hope you’re having a peaceful Winter Solstice and wish you a wonderful holiday weekend.

Much Love,
Barbara