Nemeton Gardening

'A nemeton is a sacred place, a holy site which nourishes and replenishes the soul, offering both refuge and renewal through communion with nature and the divine...it is an experience of attentiveness, present-centredness, and overall communion with our life and the world in a fully engaged manner. . .'

~ Frank MacEwen Owen

Nemeton is an ancient European word meaning sacred grove or sanctuary, for me it creates images of soft grass to walk barefooted on, lined with moss covered stones leading to a quite seating area nestled between trees and sweetly smelling plants, listening to the sound of water flowing and the birds visiting the feeder - an indulgent and secret place to linger as long as possible. For others it may be a more open space so they can entertain, or practice yoga in, having just the outer perimeter of their garden filled with culinary and medicinal herbs, bamboo tipis of runner beans, seasonal plants balanced between the trees and evergreen shrubs, a hidden nook to rest and contemplate, or a water feature to listen to while we reflect on the day. So many options and ways to bring what is important to you and how you find your peace, if the days are too busy to find time to be outside then maybe a night garden is a better option, filled with white plants to reflect the moonlight. How would your personalized Nemeton garden look and what elements would be important for you to include, what would you want to do there?

Todays date marks the ancient celebration of Imbolc, a shift of the seasons, halfway between winter and spring. The earth is beginning to wake up from the cold winter, bulbs are appearing and buds are forming, rivers run faster and the tree sap begins to flow again, a time of renewal and new beginnings. This is also a good time to set your intentions for the year and to plan out your garden, not just the structure, but also what you will grow, what do you want to be able to eat from your garden, how do you want it to make you feel, which herbs would be useful to help support your health and wellness? Begin your list of garden wellness ideas now and add to it as you find more inspiration, then let's see how it can all be incorporated into your outside space:)