Nemetona

Hail to my Lady of the twilight, of stillness and sanctuary, who calls and welcomes me into her cool embrace, offering shelter, comfort, stillness and the freedom to simply be.  You of the sacred grove, of the temple, of a quiet room, of calm in chaos.  I honour you with all that I am.

Little is known of Nemetona, a goddess whose veneration was once widespread around the area of Trier, Germany by the people known as the Nemetes.  An altar to her was also found at Bath, England.  She may have been known to the Gaulish people, as at her altar in Bath states, the maker of which had completed his vow (he or she being of the Treveri tribe).  The word Nemeton is translated, for the most part, into “sacred groves”.  There are many place names in France that contain this word, and even one in Spain. Three place names can be traced to this word in Britain as well, though they are now known as Willoughby, North Tawton and near Strathclyde. 

To me, she is the goddess of sanctuary, of sacred spaces.  She can be found in the quiet of a small shrine in the backyard, or in a wooded glade deep within the heart of the forest. She can equally be found in a back bedroom, away from the household noise, and indeed, in the office loos – when you need to get away from everything and everyone and know that you won’t be disturbed there!

She is a liminal creature, who is at her most powerful at dawn and at dusk.  She holds the space, usually a circle, when in ritual or simply sitting out.  She is that which lies between – she is both of this world and another.  The blackbird if often her messenger, singing to her in the still softness of dusk.  She is both peaceful and powerful, slight of built yet shining with a deep strength that can hold at bay that which you seek respite from.  She has long, shining black hair that falls straight as shadow along her back, her skin a luminous white. She appears young and lithe, with black eyes that hold the wisdom of thousands of years.

I have created an altar to her in my back garden, which I also use to honour the land wights and household spirits.  Every Monday I make an offering to them, for the peace that I know and love so dearly.  I feel Her when I step through the front door and the quiet house is greeting me, when I enter my altar room, when I breathe the calm evening air. I do not know what I would do without her.  Within her space I can create poetry, I can write, I can dance and sing with wild abandon.  For all that she is, I honour her with all that I am.