Arnemetia- She of the Sacred Grove.

I love this time of year; where everything is vibrant and colourful. Beltane season, every year, seems to almost appear as if by magick. I watch closely for the signs- the budding flowers, the bees buzzing, the grass growing. One day, it just seems to explode and the colour everywhere I look seems like I’ve just taken a filter off and can see it for its truth. I would normally honour Aphrodite at this time of year (her epithet of the Gardens really calls me as blooms take over my garden) and I’ve felt a connection with Flora, the roman Goddess of flowers (and a nickname given to me as a young girl) but as a Priestess of Brigantia, my heart holds a special place for Arnemetia.

Not much is known about Arnemetia; her shrine is found at Aquae Arnemetiae- today known as Buxton- and she presides over water and her sacred grove. On the wheel of the year I have worked with, she is the Goddess of Beltane. As so little is known of her, my interpretations and experiences of her are mine and have therefore made my journey with her feel much more personal and intimate.

She of the Sacred Grove.

Arnemetia’s name translates as “she who dwells in the sacred grove” so naturally one of the first things that I worked with was the idea of a grove. I have a small grove on a nature reserve near where I live, so this quickly became a place I associated with this Goddess. Whenever I walked through this grove, or spent time within it, I noticed how much quieter it was inside. Whether that be from it not being walked as much with it being off of the main path within the nature reserve, or from the natural sound barrier several trees can offer, it didn’t matter. It was a place that was quieter, softer and sacred. Even walking was quieter- the ground is covered with moss and is soft underfoot. It was great when I needed to hear nature to be able to hear my muse and continue to write. The second thing I noticed within this space, in the height of the Beltane season (just at the precipice of turning into Summer) was how green everything was. Even the air itself, with sunlight filtered through the leaves of the trees, seemed green. The moss across the floor, the ivy climbing tree trunks, everything had a green hue to it. Green quickly became one of the most prominent colours I associated with this Goddess.

She of the Waters.

As her shrine is in modern day Buxton- only one of two roman bath city locations (the other being in Bath) she has a strong connection with water. Personally, I find her connection strongest with fresh water- be that a river, a pond or a lake. Perhaps taken from her link with groves, but there none the less. By association, she is also associated with healing and cleansing. Water is my go to element- usually the ocean- but I’ve expanded more recently; flowing rivers, trickling becks, still lakes, my own pond. Each holds a different energy and I continue to work with these energies with Arnemetia. Some days I need the gentleness of a lake. Other days, my pond, teeming with life. Occasionally, a fast flowing river is needed to allow my thoughts to be carried and inspiration to come rushing in.

I journeyed with Arnemetia for a year; perhaps even longer. She taught me several things, but one of the most prominent lessons was one of inner-reflection. My connection with the divine is an internal one; I am Her and She is me. It’s her gaze I see reflected in the water as I look at my own reflection. I knew this, at surface level, but I never truly understood this on a deep level until I worked with Arnemetia.

This year has been a lesson of inner marriage- how to blend the parts of me together that make me who I am. It’s a lesson of balance and boundaries that I’m still experiencing, even as I write this, at the tipping point of Summer.

Below I have listed a few associations I have for Arnemetia; again these are based on personal observations and my interactions with Her and Her energies. It is by no means a complete list and is something that I will expand on in future years as I spiral with her, again and again. If you find yourself drawn to work with Her, take what resonates with you and explore her energies to see what else comes up for you!

Associations of Arnemetia I have after a personal journey with her include:

Fresh water- be that river, lake, pond.

A sacred grove and the softness that it offers from the outside world; a natural, sacred space.

The colours of green, blue, earthy brown.

The energies of healing, cleansing, nurturing, sensuality.

Other associations include; the rose, ladybirds