Paulina

Heel graag gedaan <3

Correspondences:

🌊 Animals: Dogs, seals, any sea animals, seagulls 🌊 Crystals/Rocks: Grey moonstone, aquamarine, moonstone, shells, sand dollars, sea urchins, clear quartz 🌊 Flowers/Plants: Seaweed, wheat, apples, apple blossoms, coastal flowers 🌊 Food/Drink: Apples, breads, grapes, pears, fish, salt, fish sauce, wine, fresh water 🌊 Colours: Greys, blues, beiges, whites, golds, bronzes, golden browns, sea greens 🌊 Moon Phases: All, especially full and blue moon 🌊 Festivals: Buddingh ties Nehalennia to a Zeeland's festival called Hanneliesjesdag. A day where the youth of Zeeland would go out and revel. This was celebrated on the first Monday of May, and the first Thursday of November. I personally celebrate Nehalennia at the Autumn Equinox, as well as on the 14th of April, when she resurfaced. 🌊 Magics: Abundance, success in business, protection in travel, sea witchery, mermaid magic, selkie magic, knot magic, when needing guidance, to connect to the land and sea where I come from. Tranquillity and serenity, but also tempest. 🌊 Nature: the sea, apples, wheat, storms, waves, the scent of salt on the breeze 🌊 Other: cornucopia, basket with harvest, front of a ship, canopy shaped like a shell, pereline, anchor, ship’s wheel, Selkies, mermaids, lighthouses, stars for navigation, knots, navigational tools, maps, ships, bow and arrow, Avalon or other magical isles (of the dead) across the sea

How to honour:

🌾 Light a candle, like a lighthouse 🌾 Practice sea witchery or knot magic 🌾 Go to the sea and walk the shore 🌾 Travel by ship 🌾 Tend a garden and harvest 🌾 Go apple picking 🌾 Bake bread or something with apples, pears, or grapes 🌾 Make an offering stone 🌾 Donate to sea or ocean preservation causes 🌾 Pick up litter at the beach 🌾 Go to an aquarium 🌾 Listen to ocean soundscapes 🌾 Walk, feed, or pet a dog

Other Info:

⛵ Nehalennia is the only one to wear her distinct pereline, or short shoulder cloak. No other Goddess has been found who wears it. The significance is not known, perhaps it was a local way of dress. ⛵ There is a rebuild temple in Zeeland on Colijnsplaat. A square roman building painted an earthy orange inside and out. Inside are several historical pieces displayed, as well as a large stone statue that often has offerings in front of it. In "het Archeon", an open air historical re-enactment museum, there is also a small shrine to her, as well as another replica of her temple where they hold daily rituals in her honour. ⛵ The Dutch paganfolk band Heidevolk has a song called Nehalennia, as does the band Twigs and Twine. ⛵ She is the most well known local Goddess of the Netherlands, and many things are named after her: from archaeological magazines to viaducts. ⛵ In 2019 the Dutch contestant of Miss Universe wore a blue dress completely made of trash fished out of the sea. It was called Nehalennia and made in honour of the Goddess.

Prayers:

Deae Nehalennia (in Dutch) In de kolkende golven hoor ik Haar stem. Nehalennia Haar wind speelt door mijn lokken, Haar zilte zegening raakt mijn lippen. Deae Nehalennia. Zij die de storm trotseerd, en sterker er uit voorvloeit Zij die de weg laat zien en onze reis bewaakt Zij wiens woede schepen ten onder doet gaan Zij wiens tedere omhelzing rust en vreugde brengt Vrouwe Nehalennia, Kracht van de Noordzee Hoor mij aan! Want ik ben Uw dochter, Uw gezoute water stroomt door mijn aderen Uw storm raast door mijn lijf Uw kracht en diepte heb ik geërfd Moeder Nehalennia Hart van de Noordzee Wees met mij!

Deae Nehalennia (in English) In the churning waves I hear Her voice. Nehalennia Her wind plays with my locks, Her silten blessing touches my lips. Deae Nehalennia. She who faces the storm and flows from it, stronger She who shows us the way and guards our journey She whose rage causes ships to perish She whose tender embrace brings us peace and joy Lady Nehalennia, Power of the North Sea Hear me! For I am your daughter Your salted water flows through my veins Your storm rages through my body Your strength and dept I inherited Mother Nehalennia Heart of the North Sea Be with me!

Nehalennia chant Stuurvrouw, Oogstmoeder, Vrouwe van de Zee. Ik drijf if uw golven, Draag mij met u mee

Steerswoman, Harvestmom, Lady of the Sea, I float in your waves, Lady, carry me

(to the tune of Horned One, Lover, Son)

Aspects

On the votive stones found dedicated to Nehalennia some symbols are repeated again and again. Through those, we are able to get a pretty clear image of the aspects that belong to Nehalennia.

the Sea and Water

It is no coincidence that her temples were at the coast, near the mouth of the river Rhine. She was the Goddess who protected voyage over Sea and possible over the river. On her votive stones Nehalennia often stands with one foot on the bow of a ship, holds a rudder, or there is a shipping wheel leaning against her throne. From this we know she was a Goddess of protection over sea. Traversing the sea has always been dangerous: the sea can be calm or tempestuous. Navigation was difficult, and the closer you came to shore, the more dangerous it became. Having a patroness guide and protect you would have been very important. But the sea is not the only water Nehalennia ruled over. In 2021 new findings were presented by Jasper de Bruin for the Museum of Antiquities, Leiden. Nehalennia's temple was probably a place where cargo was changed from small ships that could traverse the river, to big ships that could traverse the sea. Evidence was also found of four big water wells in the "garden" of the temple. Which is thought to be where the ships would load up on clean drinking-water for their journey.

Abundance and Harvest

On many of her stones Nehalennia is holding a basket or cornucopia filled with fruits, especially apples, and breads or grains on her lap or in her hands. There are also votive stones where there are apples displayed on top, as if it is an offering that is left there for her. On the sides some stones have wheat, trees of life, or vine ranks, all symbols of abundance and harvest. On one stone there is even a hunter holding a bow, showing that she was believed to provide for her people in many ways.

Commerce and Trade

By far most of the votive stones found have been offerings from traders who went overseas to wend their wares. It brings up the question if she even was a Goddess of the sea at all, and not one specifically of trade over sea. On the stones the traders would start their offering with Deae Nehalleniae, followed by their name, where they are from, and what they were trading. It always ends with V.S.L.M. from vōtum solvit libēns meritō (“has fulfilled his vow freely as merited”). Because the traders stated their own trade, as well as where they came from, we know quite a lot of the devotees of Nehalennia. Trades mentioned are those of salt, fish sauce, earthenware, terra-cotta statuettes, and wine. There are also stones offered of those who were seafarers by trade, moving cargo from one place to another.

Protection and Loyalty

On many of her votive stones, there is a dog patiently waiting at the Goddess' feet. In many cultures, dogs are used for protection and as patient guardians. They are loyal to their family, and will fight off threats when needed. The presence of a dog on many stones can mean that the devotees saw Nehalennia as a loyal protector. Something reflected as well in the shorthand V.S.L.M.: "as merited", so something she has proven to them, probably over and over again.

Psychopomp

But, that is not the only reason for the dog to be her loyal companion. In some of the tribes in her territory, the dog was seen as a guide to the underworld/Otherworld. The dog would take the souls of those departed, and bring them to their final resting place. There is also the bow of the ship, on which Nehalennia often rests her foot. This we often see on other votive stones of Gods connected with death and dying. This all points to Nehalennia also serving as a psychopomp: one who guides the souls of the deceased to the afterlife. There are more myths connecting travel over water to the journey of the soul after death. Ynys Afallach, or the Isle of Avalon is a mystical island shrouded in mist (also one of Nehalennia's attributes) where the dead are brought to rest. There are more islands scattered through European folklore like this, including one off of the coast of Zeeland. Legend has it that once a year the local fisherman were contacted by a mysterious figure to sail their boats in the dead of night. As they reached the boats it would lie so deep in the water, as if carrying a great burden. Once their destination, often an island, was reached, they would hear a voice call out the names of the dead. And the boat would rise and rise as if one by one the souls would depart the boat.

Motherhood

As a Goddess of abundance, harvest, and protection, the step to a Mothergoddess is a short one. However from Nehalennia there is also more evidence that she was seen as a mother. In the same area as where she was revered, a group of Goddesses called the Matronae, or "mothers" were also honoured. Most often depicted on votive stones in groups of three. On two stones with Matronae the Goddess Nehalennia has also been identified. One by name, and the other by her iconic pereline and dog.

Guiding light

As stated before travel by sea was dangerous. Navigation was essential and often happened by stars, the guiding lights in the sky. But that was not the only light important to seafarers; without a lighthouse to show where the shore is, and what is a safe place to land, the journey is that much more dangerous. The same for lanterns on the ships themselves, to make them visible in the dead of night. To other ships, and to those on shore waiting for their arrival. To me, those guiding lights are part of Nehalennia's guidance and protection.

Titles:

Stuurvrouw (Steerswoman), Vrouwe van de Noordzee (Lady of the North Sea), Wildmother

Meaning name Nehalennia

We're not really sure what the name Nehalennia means. She was honoured in an area that covers Roman, Briton, and Germanic tribes and peoples, so even her origin is unknown. Several theories of meaning are:

"recently caught" or "recently salted" - from "Net hael inne". (Huygens)

"new market" - from "ne halle" (Claude de Saumaise)

"new moon" - from "Nea Selene" (Olivier Vredius)

"Neel brings in" - from "Neel (personal name) hael inne" (Jacobus Lydius)

"to give food", "to provide" - from "Naera-Laena" (Laurens Pieter van de Spiegel)

"Goddess of the sea" - from "Neach Lenn" "exalted sea" (Marquis Du Chasteler)

"Virgin of sorrow/sadness" - from "Neh al Léan" (Eloi Johanneau)

"night, friendly moon-Goddess" - from "Neha-Lennia" (D. Buddingh)

"spinning Goddess" - from "Nera" or "Nere" meaning spinning (Grimm)

"pouring, gifting" - from "Neihen" or "Neehan" (H. Kern)

"Lady/Mother who envelopes/enrobes" - from "Neha Lenn" (H. Hardenberg)

"mist/fog" - from Proto Indo-European (PIE) *nebʰ- (wikipedia)

"spirits of the dead" - from Greek "nekués" and the PIE "nek-e/o" "to bring death" (wikipedia)

"leader", "steerswoman", or "She who leads a ship safely over sea" (Gijsseling) This interpretation is considered most likely, new information and spellings literally surfaced, helping Gijsseling come to this conclusion.

The Surfacing of Nehalennia

In 1647 in Domburg, Zeeland, the remains of a temple were found. Inside it, they discovered votive stones dedicated to a local Goddess: Nehalennia. Back then there wasn't really a historical society, and preserving the cultus of a pagan Goddess was not a priority. Some of the stones were moved to a church, where they were displayed underneath the stairs, with a leaky roof. Other stones were used as lawn ornaments for a rich proprietor. After a lightning strike the church burnt down, and the stones were lost. Many of the stones who had been on the lawn were irrevocably damaged.

But Nehalennia was not ready to be forgotten. On the 14th of April 1970 fisherman K.J. Bout found some strange stones in his fishing nets. He could have tossed them back, but instead he realized the value of these stones. He contacted the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden who sent a representative. While waiting, Bout fished up more stones, and part of what looked like a temple. Bout made his ship available for several diving trips, and over 240 votive stones surfaced.

Many of the stones depict a woman, sitting on a throne, or standing with one foot on the bow of a ship. She wears a very distinct pereline (a short shoulder cape), and holds a basket filled with apples, pears, and breads. Standing next to her sits her loyal dog companion. Most of the stones also hold an inscription, thanking Deae Nehalleniae for safe travel over sea. From the inscriptions we also learn that many of the people who made an offering were traders, hailing from Italy, Cologne, Brittain, Trier, and southern France. Through this magnificent find, we have learned a lot more about our "local" Goddess Nehalennia.

Fern's Nehalennia Deepdive: Part 1: Names and intro Part 2: Aspects Part 3: Correspondences, how to honour, and prayer

Nehalennia Moodboard Nehalennia statue Nehalennia's sigil and "garden" Prayer a Day: Nehalennia Nehalennia Prayer Nehalennia Candle Shrine Spell Shell Offerings NatGeo article Stardew Valley Shrines Cozy Grove Shrines

Devotional sideblog: Gleaming Grove Nehalennia tag

Sources:

Hope you're having a lovely day!

hey friend! i actually answered this for another friend the other day. one sec.....

"finding something new to obsess over always gets me back into it, or watching some witchy media that i like (think AHS coven or the craft). re-reading the first BoS i made. tidying up altar spaces. some self care after a slump. reviewing the things that got me into witchcraft and magic in the first place. even just lighting a candle and meditating for a few minutes.

it takes more effort than i would like to admit. but it always brings me back to my roots."