Flora, Holistic Health, Musings
The Power of Belief
What I teach and write about here may seem eclectic, but there is a central theme running through all of it. The way we can treat the land, our homes, our bodies, and each other in a generative way… all of our well-being stems from understanding the deeper mysteries of the realm we live in. The beliefs we hold (along with the ability to discern truth) are more powerful than anything else. When this is filtered through our hearts with love being the first priority, we become aligned with God.

Cedar smoke bundles we made at our last meetup
A couple of years ago I could barely hold a pencil to write, let alone dig a garden bed. Mainstream medicine told me there was nothing I could do about it.

Weeding and digging a garden bed in the hoophouse

Happy Toad

Freshly dug garden bed by Jean in the hoophouse
Do you want to know the biggest component in my healing journey? Belief.
I had migraines that lasted for days on end, allergies, osteoporosis, arthritis, and a neurological disease that made it difficult for me to walk. I had trouble sleeping, and what some would label as anxiety and depression. I was quickly losing the ability to keep up with the active lifestyle I had been used to, and spent a lot of time unable to get out of bed. I broke nine bones in one foot, and two in the other after falling a couple of times.
I used to put my faith in outside authorities to a large degree. Most of us do, without even realizing it. The programming runs extremely deep.
But I knew about the ability for ecosystems to heal themselves when allowed to re-wild. I had been practicing permaculture for many years. Stopping toxic inputs, allowing biological diversity, and trusting in the healing power of nature and God creates amazing results very quickly on a piece of land. It can do the same in a person. I am living proof of this. So now, I have plenty of energy and pretty much none of those issues. Though I had “irreversible” bone deterioration, I am able to use my hands normally with no problems. This Saturday will be 59th birthday and I am feeling better than I have in years!

Pears

Apples

Iris, Currant Bush, and Comfrey

Comfrey and Oregano

Black Raspberries

Peaches

Plums

Tarragon

Onions

Aronia Berries

Strawberry

Wild Arugula

Strawberries and “Hens and Chicks”. plant

Currant Berries

Serviceberries (June Berries)

Kale in the hoophouse

Our cat named Smokey

Garlic Chives

Tomato Plant

Peony about to blossom

Our cat, Charlie

Lovage Herb

Horseradish flowering

Fleabane

Hawthorne tree planted last year

Lady’s Mantle Plant

Lemon Balm
The coming meetup on the Element of Air is going to be powerful. If you are ready to level up, you will not want to miss it. You are directly connected to that which causes the sun to shine and the seasons to turn. If you are ready to open your mind to a different reality, I welcome you.
The pictures in this post were mostly all taken today. I hope you enjoyed them!
Here’s to your rising!
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.
