A Tale of Spikenard: From the Himalayas to the Heart of Connemara
A Discovery in Ireland: The Land of Saints, Scholars, & Scent
In the wild and windswept landscapes of Connemara, where the mountains meet the sea and the mist hangs low over the damp peat heather strewn bogs, there lies a deep connection to the old ways. This part of Ireland, rich in tradition and steeped in history, has long been a place where the veil between the worlds is thin—a place where life, death, and the spirit world are intertwined. The Irish invented Halloween after all…
It was here, in a small village nestled between the Twelve Bens and the Atlantic Ocean, that I first encountered the ancient essence of spikenard while visiting a friend. Known for its grounding and calming properties, spikenard has been used throughout history to aid the soul in its journey from this life to the next. Its connection to the sacred and the spiritual resonates deeply with the traditions of Ireland, where death is not just an ending but a profound passage, marked by sacred rituals that have endured through the ages.
The Ancient Roots of Spikenard: A Connection to the ‘Beyond’
Spikenard’s history is rich with stories of its use in spiritual and religious contexts. In ancient times, it was considered an incredibly sacred oil. It was used in rituals to anoint the body in order to prepare the soul for its journey into the afterlife. The Bible recounts how Mary of Bethany used spikenard to anoint Jesus feet, a gesture that symbolised both devotion and the preparation for death. Similarly, in the Quran, spikenard is mentioned as a precious substance, used to honour and connect with the divine.
This deep connection to the sacred makes spikenard a natural fit for the traditions of Connemara, where the old ways still hold sway. In Ireland, death is not a private affair. When someone passes, their body is laid out in the home or a morgue, a place where anyone from the community can come to pay their respects. The keeners, women who wail and sing laments for the dead, help the mourners to let go and grieve and is believed to assist the soul in its passage, a tradition that echoes the ancient use of spikenard in preparing the dead for their passage while at the same time grounding the mourners.
Ireland: Where Life and Death Are Celebrated Together
In Connemara, the funeral is a communal event, in a way it could be seen the measure of a person’s life not just by their deeds but by the number of people who come to see them off. The body is not hidden away; it is displayed for all to see, to touch, to mourn. This openness in death is a testament to the belief that the soul is still with us, that death is just a part of the journey, not the end.
In this context, the use of spikenard takes on a profound meaning. Its grounding, earthy scent serves as a balm for the grieving, a reminder that while the soul moves on, those left behind must stay grounded, connected to the earth, and to each other. The scent of spikenard mingles with the peat smoke and the salt air, creating an atmosphere that is both deeply comforting and spiritually resonant.
The Keeners and the Anointing: An Ancient Tradition in a Modern World
Though much has changed in the world, in Connemara, the old ways persist. The keeners still sing their laments, their voices rising and falling like the waves against the cliffs. The body is still anointed, sometimes with oils like spikenard, to honor the dead and prepare them for their journey. This ritual, though ancient, feels timeless—a link between the living and the dead, between the past and the present.
Spikenard, with its rich, complex aroma, becomes more than just a fragrance in this setting. It is a tool, a way to connect with the past, to honor the traditions of the land, and to help the living find peace as they grieve. It is a reminder that in Connemara, as in the rest of Ireland, death is not to be feared but to be embraced as part of the cycle of life.
