Blue Meadow - Boundary 3: Meli (Alsa)

This boundary is a specific instance of overwhelm that needs a lot of extra help - anger.

These Greek nymphs will help me remember that I am safe even if others are angry, and that my feelings of anger are not some unseen monster coming out of nowhere and taking over - I do have ways to keep some control. They will help me to keep talking and to work through whatever is making the angry feelings go out of control.

These nymphs are the ones I talk to whenever I'm at my Mom's farm, they live in the fields and trees where we take the goats.

This boundary works in a similar fashion as the other ones:

1. Artemis is struggling because the dogs are getting out of control - anger is a huge trigger for me, and causes immediate withdrawal, avoidance, and despair.

2. Persephone notices, hopefully before the dogs sink in the mud and she pulls Artemis down to the underworld. 

Persephone chooses which boundary is needed - in this case, it is Meli / anger. Artemis calls her dogs over - love, the twins strength and courage, fear who needs reassuring, then anger and remorse who need the boundary the most.

Meli is a bee nymph, or a Melissae. They were strongly associated with Demeter, Persephone and Artemis.

The Melissae: Bee Priestesses of Ancient Greece | Bee Inspired Goods



3. Fee-la is the Athena part of the boundary - the one who guards my mouth and helps me to communicate. She is the wise mind, the one who helps with strategy, logic, and talking things through.

Fee-la is a Napaiai nymph, guardian of the valley I live in with my Mom. Fylax (pronounced Feelax) means keeper, look out, tender, watchdog.

Napaiai, who are nymphs of valleys, are Oreads (mountain nymphs) who find solace in the serene valleys that lie nestled between majestic mountains. With grace and poise, these nymphs watch over the flow of rivers, the gentle whispers of breezes, and the diverse array of flora and fauna that thrive in these fertile landscapes.

Napaiai embody the serenity and rejuvenating energy that emanates from these cherished valleys. This serenity gives Fee-la the state of mind to deal with angry people. The picture above is full of the feelings that my valley gives me when I am out among the fields and trees. It is a hanging valley in one of the highest towns in Canada, and we are at the top of the valley. I can see from one side to the other, and the whole valley unfolds before me.

4. Pim holds the boundary.

Pim is the protector of the High Pasture and all who graze them, especially the sheep and goats. My pastures are super, super steep and we are the highest farm in the valley. Pim is an Epimelide nymph. Commonly referred to as the highland pasture nymphs, they were usually seen protecting the sheep flocks from any dangers. Epimelides also protected fruit trees, and my valley is full of old orchards. Pim is white-haired (epimelides have white hair, the color of blossoms) and lives in the plum tree in the middle of our field.

As followers of Artemis, epimelides are especially suited to put up boundaries for the dogs. Pim 'wraps my heart' to keep anger out so that it doesn't harm me, as well as keeping my angry words and actions inside so that they don't hurt anyone else. I visualize the dogs in my fields, with fences - they are safe from sinking into the marsh of the yellow meadow.

Epimeliades | Guardians of Orchards: Mystic Nymphs of Greek Lore

5. Grandmother tree is my Demeter, she counsels integrity, and to not be impulsive.

 She is a Hamadryad, a nymph of oak and poplar trees, who finds solace in the sacred groves near rivers and forests. They possess wisdom and grace, guarding and nourishing the tree that they live in. Legend has it that each Hamadryad is born bonded to a specific tree, and their lives are intricately tied to the well-being of that tree. They possess a unique ability to communicate with their trees and protect them fiercely.

My Grandmother tree is an aspen tree, a type of poplar tree. Old and gnarled, each year she shows less and less life. But around her stands her children, younger aspen trees in a perfect circle, and they share a root system that can live for hundreds of years. This is the sacred grove that grows in my field. 

Are Aspen Trees Connected by Their Roots? - ScienceInsights

I think of my own mom when I talk to Grandmother tree. Each day I say "I am honored to be in the circle around you, as you teach us about the wheel of the seasons, the circle of life and the connections between all things. I ask for your patience as I learn from your wisdom and experience." My mom has taught many people about what she has learned over the years - about plants, animals, people and more.

She is 82 now, old and gnarled, each year she shows the effects of age more and more, but she is outside on her farm every minute she can spare. The quote below reminds me so much of her:

6. Alsa is my Hestia, she calms and grounds me.

Alsa is an Aleside nymph, and tender of my sacred grove.

Alseids are nymphs in Greek mythology associated with valleys and groves. According to ancient Greek beliefs, Alseids guarded and protected groves. They have a deep connection with plants, with each nymph intertwining with a specific plant and choosing it as their symbol. Despite their adoration for flowers and plants in general, Alseids can also be linked to water sources that inspire them. They provide a calming and soothing effect on humans, creating conditions for a pleasant rest. They share similarities with Dryads, being nymphs of the forests and connected to trees. However, it’s essential to remember that Alseids don’t use trees, shrubs, and flowers as their dwelling but associate with them as symbols.

Her sacred grove, in my fields, is my new favorite place - so beautiful, so peaceful, that it fills my soul with contentment.

Alseids: Nymphs of Sacred Groves in Greek Mythology

7. Isira is my Hera, the Queen who demands that 'I am worthy' and that others are worthy of kindness and respect too.

Isira (sanskrit for brightness ((the sparkles of sunlight on water)) and sacredness), is a Pegaiai, who are known as the Naiad nymphs of springs. They are the living spirits of freshwater springs. They live close to people, sustaining and protecting the springs that households, herds, gardens, and fields depend on. Each Pegaia lives in and is bound to one specific spring. They cannot leave their spring so their lives are dependent on weather, natural events, and humans - if the spring runs dry, the nymph fades and dies with it.

Isira is the nymph in my sacred spring. Despite the construction of a subdivision behind our farm, and the diversion of the water we used to drink, a small stream continues to grace our fields. 

Pegaeae: Greek Spring Nymphs of Healing Waters

8. The Anthousai are all the little ways to talk to others, to respect them.

The Anthousi are nymphs specifically associated with flowers, symbolizing the life force of Spring and the delicate balance of the ecosystem - if their flowers die, they die. They nurture and protect their flowers, influencing the magical and healing properties of the plants, and guiding the pollinators like bees and butterflies to ensure the health of their meadows.

The picture here is of the root children from a children's book of the same name (one of my favorites!) Each child looks after one flower - for this boundary, each flower represents ways to interact with the people around me.

Read more about nymphs at the link below:

https://olympioi.com/demigods/nymphs