Inspirational | Pilgrim's Perch

Looking for the Light

November whirls in with wind, rain and a shortening of the days. A new lockdown has placed certain restrictions on us and that is hard for many of us. The season of remembrance has come and nearly gone – All Saints, All Souls, Remembrance Sunday.

Poppies against skycaps — Poppies for Remembrance

It has been hard, being denied the opportunity to remember and give thanks for all those who have given so much in the past. With the waning of the year and with less freedom our thoughts turn more introspective. We recall, we remember, we give thanks for all those who have been dear to us, who have influenced our lives and who have enabled us to continue living in this beautiful, peaceful country. We have our share of problems – but we have so much to value, too, and for which to be thankful.

Thomas Hardy wrote in The Return of the Native:

‘When the curfew is sounded throughout Nature a spontaneous Promethean rebelliousness rises up in us to light a fire against the darkness and chaos.’

Light is so important at this time of the year. The Hindu festival of lights, Diwali, involves the lighting of clay lamps to ward off darkness and to signify the triumph of good over evil. Muslims have just celebrated the birth of the prophet Muhammad and the Jewish people celebrate the First Day of Hanukkah shortly – another celebration that involves the lighting of lamps. Through all these traditions runs the theme of light – light that shines in darkness and drives away bad things. War is remembered, but in a way that makes people yearn for an end to all wars. In 2000 a millennium prayer was formulated that might be used by people of all backgrounds and which is still so valid today:

‘Let there be respect for the earth, peace for its people, love in our lives, delight in the good, forgiveness for past wrong, and from now on, a new start.’

For Love of Lavender…

When a seasonal heatwave seems to last an uncomfortably long time (especially when we’re not used to it!) it can be difficult to find relief from relentless sun, unusual temperatures and high humidity.

Cue the traditional but exotic lavender plant (of which there are many varieties.) A favourite in many countries lavender is native to the Mediterranean and wasn’t grown in England until the 16th century. Beloved of the ancient Greeks it was known as Nardus after the Syrian city Naarda, close to the banks of the Euphrates. Legend has it that this was the herb St Mark referred to as ‘spikenard’ in the Bible, used for producing aromatic oils for anointing and embalming. Whatever its origins and history lavender is now a delightful staple of English gardens.

Lavender bush in tranquil corner of garden — Lavender – historic, soothing and fragrant

In his book RHS Companion to Scented Plants the garden specialist Stephen Lacey writes, ‘Lavenders have one of the most pleasant and nostalgic of herb scents, and on a hot summer’s day it can infuse the air and transport you to dry hillsides of southern Europe.’

Lavender on Mediterranean hillside — …dry hillsides of southern Europe; perfect for growing lavender

The sight of its grey-green foliage and the stunning hues of its flowers – purple, white, deep blue and pale mauve – create a sense of well-being and calm, whether it is used as formal hedges and edging, or as a specimen plant in a tranquil corner of the garden.

Small lavender bush — Small lavender in shady tranquil corner of garden

And then, there’s the perfume…

Long known for its exquisite scent lavender has been used medicinally, cosmetically and in cooking. Lavender water is one of those traditional remedies that no home would dream of being without. Dabbed on the forehead it can bring relief from headaches and stress; it promotes a feeling of calm, tranquility and well-being. Lavender tea has a calming effect and a few drops of lavender oil added to a night-time bath or onto a pillow helps promote relaxation and sleep.

Soothing lavender promotes relaxation — Gentle soothing lavender

In days past, young girls in needlework classes would often find that one of their early projects would be sewing a simple lavender sachet and filling it with dried lavender flowers from their gardens. This simple skill has become an art form; ‘children of any age’ now design interesting and imaginative lavender bags, or blend pot pourri for scenting rooms, drawers and cupboards – an ancient craft far more subtle and evocative than many artificial proprietary sprays and air-fresheners.

Delightful lavender scents rooms, drawers and cupboards beautifully — Delightful for scenting rooms, drawers and cupboards

Lavender-scented sugar used to be made by pounding lavender flowers with three times their weight of sugar. Cooking with lavender fell out of favour for a while but it now enjoys renewed popularity and recipes for cakes, biscuits, desserts – even roasts such as lamb – are now widely available.

Lavender flowers add intriguing nuances to cookery — Lavender – increasingly used in cookery

So next time you’re feeling the heat rub a sprig of lavender between your fingers and enjoy the instant cooling balm and relief it brings. Not for nothing did the street sellers of London cry:

Here’s your sweet Lavender, sixteen sprigs a penny,
Which you’ll find, my ladies, will smell sweet as any.

Child enjoying scent of lavender sprig — ‘will smell sweet as any…’

Tunnel of Trees

For many children on long car journeys the cry is often, ‘Are we nearly there yet?’ As a child my cry was always, ‘Will we be going through a tunnel of trees?’

I always found travelling a long stretch of road flanked by trees in full leaf enormously exciting – and if the canopy comprised interlinked leafy branches, creating a dark, slightly mysterious tunnel suggesting unfolding adventures then so much the better. This has continued into adult life and still I love to walk along a path that is overhung with a leafy roof, the cool green light filtering through and making ever-shifting patterns on the path as sunlight dances through the twigs.

There might be long straight tunnels with regular perfectly-formed tunnel walls of aged tree trunk, bark beautifully patterned, stretching to a pinpoint light at the end of the tunnel. Or it might be a curvy path – giving no idea of length or how far the darkness might last before coming out into the light. Tantalising in its uncertainty but with a continuing sense of mystery. The tunnels might be natural, or planted deliberately, festooned with flowers or foliage cascading over the path.

A gate leads you to a path through the trees — Gated pathway through trees

These tunnels might suggest ancient human routes, sunken paths formed over the years and worn away and downwards from the stepping of countless feet.

It might be a formal avenue, a word from the French avenir, meaning ‘to reach, or to arrive,’ or it may be a natural holloway – from the Anglo-Saxon words hola weg, meaning a ‘harrowed path’, or ‘sunken road’. These ancient tracks would probably have started as ancient drove roads for moving cattle to different pastures or to market. Some will have grown as pilgrim paths, followed by the faithful in their journeys to sacred shrines and places of worship.

Sunken path through trees — A sunken path will have a history of its own…

In his book The Wild Places Robert MacFarlane writes ‘These holloways are humbling, for they are landmarks that speak of habit rather than suddenness. Trodden by innumerable feet, cut by innumerable wheels, they are records of journeys to market, to worship, to sea.’ Each has its own story to tell; as we walk along them we continue that story as we create our own pilgrimage tale of experience.

Mysterious path winding steeply upwards — A mysterious winding path leading up through woodland

We need to enjoy tunnels of trees wherever we can find them. Some have lasted years and speak of history; others will be more transient as they are changed or adapted to whims of landscape and garden designers. But they can instil in us a sense of wonder, peace and enchantment. The plaintive cry, ‘are we nearly there yet?’ will become more of a spellbound whisper ‘let me linger a little longer.’

Boy running through trees — Enjoy the tunnels of trees and let the path carry you onwards…