Musings
Sacred Places
What makes a place sacred? I truly believe that when a place is visited over and over again with reverence, and when people walk the same paths to visit special sites, where the spirits of the land are recognized and offerings are made, then that place becomes more and more sacred over time. There is an energy that resides there, of a place that has had healing… and of a place that is seen and known in the way of being enchanted. When that occurs, then that place is able to even more greatly bring healing energy to all who visit.
This is part of the idea of pilgrimages. People have been going on pilgrimages since the most ancient of times. It is a direct path to spiritual connection.
The above video is from a couple of days ago after a fresh round of snowfall at the Sanctuary.
May we all come back to our roots of a world full of enchantment.
Peace and Blessings,
Jean
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Written by : Jean Cavanaugh
Jean Cavanaugh is the founder and steward of Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary, established in 2019 as a living, learning community devoted to reconnecting people with the wisdom of nature, the sacred order of creation, and the presence of Christ within all life. Her work brings together spiritual formation, ecological stewardship, ancestral wisdom, and hands-on community practice.
Through years of practical work on the land, study of the Mysteries, and the healing of her own severe health challenges through natural methods, Jean has come to recognize God’s hand at work throughout creation. Her teachings, rooted in the Mystery School tradition and Christian gnosis, explore how the patterns of heaven, earth, and the human body reveal the way back to divine presence, peace, and inner strength.
Jean leads with honesty, integrity, and a deeply welcoming spirit, inviting others to let go of inherited assumptions and rediscover truth through lived experience and embodied understanding. She works with all ages—from preschoolers to elders—offering programs and celebrations that emphasize direct engagement with nature, music, story, homesteading skills, and in-person community.
She and her family live at the 21-acre Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary, where daily life reflects a commitment to simplicity, beauty, and harmony with the land. The sanctuary includes gardens, woodland trails, a seasonal creek, gathering circles, and spaces designed to nourish both people and wildlife. Jean is especially passionate about creating environments that are grounding, beautiful, and spiritually restorative.
Through her writing and teaching, Jean encourages others to know themselves, know creation, and recognize Christ as the living truth present within and around us—always inviting a return to love, beauty, and the sacred order of life.
