Exploring Spirit of Place ('Genius loci') in Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands through research and art.

What is ‘Spirit of Place’?

Spirit of Place ‘Genius Loci’…

The prevailing character or atmosphere of a place.

The presiding Deity or spirit of a specific location.

Who worships Genius Loci?

The pre-Roman, Celtic Tribes of Britain are known to have attributed Deities to locations such as rivers, springs and landmasses. When the Romans brought their own Gods to Britain, they were often paired with existing Deities which were peculiar to their location. Roman records are where much of our knowledge of these localised, earlier deities comes from. A very clear example of this being in Bath where local Goddess of the thermal springs ‘Sulis’ was paired with Roman Goddess Minerva, and was worshipped as ‘Sulis Minerva‘.

Fast forward to present day and local deities are still honoured by neo-Pagans, and are of great interest to local historians. They’re also a fascinating subject matter for people who feel a deep connection to the place they live.

What benefit does contemporary Genius Loci identification & worship have for environmental issues?

Irrespective of the belief of whether these Deities exist, personification of a beloved local landmark is very appealing to people. I’ve seen first hand, while exhibiting my work in Nottinghamshire, the fascination people have when discovering the river they cross most days had a Goddess ascribed to it.

I’m of the strong belief that personification makes it easier for us to connect to a location. Encourages interest, a desire to learn about, engage with and protect an area of nature.

Are we even more likely to campaign for authorities to remove sewage from the River Trent when we also see the river as a sacred Goddess figure? (or at least know that our ancestors did!). I think it’s a fascinating idea that deserves exploration!

Genius Loci of the East Midlands

Trisantona

I have already alluded to the Goddess of the River Trent. I live in South Nottinghamshire and the Trent is at the heart of our landscape. A powerful, dangerous and enchanting river, with vast flood-planes and tidal squalls. When the Trent is high, everyone’s talking about her with awe and concern. Swim in her and you’re asking for trouble.

Trisantona was the name given to the River Trent by the Corieltauvi Tribe who inhabited Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lilncolnshire and part of South Yorkshire. The name was recorded by Roman historian Tacitus between 115 – 117 AD.

The meaning of the name has created much debate. One interpretation is : “Tri” meaning through, across, and “santon”, thought to mean “trespasser” a term used for rivers liable to floods. It’s also believed it may have been a term used for important trade & travel routes.

A blue watercolour and gold in painting of Trisantona by artist Charlotte Thomson-Morley. The image is symmetrical with the Goddess figure central, surrounded by reeds and fish, with wavy lines representing the river below her. — *Trisantona depicted by Charlotte Thomson-Morley using watercolour and gold ink.*

Trisantona - a photograph showing a framed lino print of the Goddess Trisantona by artist Charlotte Thomson-Morley. It is shown alongside lace versions of the same image created as a collaborative project between Charlotte and Nottingham lace textile artist J. C Middlebrook — *Trisantona depicted by Charlotte Thomson-Morley using watercolour and gold ink.*

There is another theory that has captured the imagination of many. This interprets Trisantona as deriving from the Welsh ‘Chwant’ meaning’ Desire’. Trisantona becomes ‘She of Great Desire’ or ‘She who is Beloved’. This interpretation of the name ‘Trisantona’ implies that the Trent (like the English rivers Dee ‘goddess’ or Brent ‘she who is exalted’) was regarded as a Deity.

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust unveiled a contemporary statue of Trisantona as a triple-Goddess ‘Thrice Blessed’. by sculptors Miranda Wakeman and Geraint Lloyd at Croxall Lakes. She sits at the confluence of three rivers, the Trent, Tame and Mease. An important religious ceremonal complex was discovered to have existed in this location between about 3,000 BCE and 1,500-1,000 BCE.

Creating a new monument to an ancient Goddess feels important in an age where we’re loosing our connection to the land around us. Even if her image and specifics of her origins and worship can only ever really be reconstructed out of snippets of archaeological knowledge and theory.

Arnemetia & Rigonomentis – Sacred Groves

“Grove”

noun: a small wood or other group of trees.

Buxton in Derbyshire is home to it’s own Goddess, Arnemetia. She is associated with the warm water springs at Buxton, which in Roman times was known as the settlement of Aquae Arnemetiae meaning ‘Waters of Arnemetia’.

The name ‘Arnemetia’ derives from ‘nemeto’, referring to consecrated religious spaces, primarily outdoors, and originated from the Celtic tribes of the area. Arnemetia meant ‘beside the sacred grove’.

‘Nemeto’ is also the roots in a god found in Lincolnshire, ‘Mars Rigonemetis’ – King, Lord or Protector of the sacred grove, another local deity paired with the Roman God of war….a fierce guardian of a local sacred space perhaps?

If we cast a wider net we find the more widely known Goddess Nemetona, who represented the sacred grove itself. She is also found paired with Mars in historic records.

The ‘sacred grove’ was an important concept indeed, and still seems very relevant today, especially in Nottinghamshire where Sherwood Forest and the Major Oak form part of our County identity.

A framed painting called 'Protector of the Sacred Grove' by Charlotte Thomson Morley. It shows a fat female figure, reminiscent of the Venus of Willendorf, surrounded by leaves in the manner of The Green Man. She is my interpretation of a nature guardian spirit of place. — *‘Protector of the Sacred Grove’ – My interpretation of a nature guardian ‘spirit of place’.*

Maid Marian and Robin Hood as evolving ‘Spirits of Place’ for Nottinghamshire and beyond.

In Nottingham the legends of Robin Hood and Maid Marian are part of our cultural landscape. Regardless of the links to history and strong and logical claims from other counties, the popular myth remains firmly associated with Nottingham and forms part of our local pride and identity as a city (and county) of rebels and outlaws.

The figures of Robin and Marian are rooted firmly Sherwood Forest, which brings me back to our discussion of ‘Spirit of Place’. In this case ‘Spirit of Place’ as ‘Egregore’, a thought-form created by a group of people and in this case, linked to a very specific place. (Perhaps all ‘Spirits of Place’ are essentially this?) The Robin Hood legend has the power to morph with our societies collective needs over time, he becomes an environmentalist, a protector of the people. Marian becomes a feminist icon, a powerful figure in her own right.

Egregore

A concept in Western esotericism of a non-physical entity or thoughtform that arises from the collective thoughts and emotions of a distinct group of people.

In my research into local deities, I find the link to pre-Roman ‘sacred grove’ genius loci and our continued fascination with Sherwood Forest and Robin Hood a really interesting concept.

Is this idea of a the sanctity of forests and protective, deity-like figures, something that has deep roots in our collective unconsciousness?

In our modern minds, is there a more legendary ‘Sacred Grove’ and ‘Protector’ than Sherwood Forest and Robin Hood?

A magazine cover illustrated by Charlotte Thomson-Morley for Nottingham culture newspaper Left Lion. It shows Maid Marian as a Spring nature goddess of the forest, in shades of green, surrounded by spring-flora and fauna. — *Left Lion (Nottingham’s culture newspaper) cover illustrated by Charlotte Thomson-Morley. It shows Maid Marian as a Spring nature Goddess surrounded by seasonal flora and fauna.*

Conclusion

I will continue to explore the idea of ‘Spirit of Place’ through my art and creative workshops. I believe it has huge potential when setting the intention to encourage nature connection, environmental awareness, connection to local heritage, historic sites and landscapes.

If we need to create more human ‘protectors of the sacred grove’ then we must start viewing nature as sacred.

Exploring Spirit of Place (‘Genius loci’) in Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands through research and art.