Musings
Family Mystery School: More Scheduling Options
Hi everyone!
I am adding another option for those who are not able to make the Tuesday meetup times. So I will be doing two sessions of the same lesson, once on Tuesdays and once on Saturdays to accommodate various schedules.
The next one will be on: Saturday, September 6th at 11 a.m. (Please bring a picnic lunch to enjoy together at the sanctuary.) Kindly RSVP by Thursday, Sept. 4th if you would like to attend. There is a $25 suggested donation per person.
These are lessons that all ages can enjoy! For the upcoming meetup we will be making corn dollies, so I would like to share a little of the esoteric meaning behind corn (or wheat dollies) as an example of this.
In European tradition, this figure embodies the corn spirit that is honored and then destroyed in order for the crops to be renewed. You can find some specifics about these traditions at the following links. I recommend checking them out as they are very interesting.
Corn Dollies and Kern Corn Dollies and Corn Mothers The Corn Dolly Origins and How To
This tradition very much corresponds to the alchemical concept of transformation, in which death is transformed into life. Death and rebirth is a main theme of the mysteries. Within the tradition of honoring the spirit of the grain (corn = “kern” = kernal = grain), people were honoring the natural cycle that God gave us to remind us of the value of the cycle of death and rebirth. In order to have a spiritual rebirth, we must die to that which is not serving us. This concept and reminder is everywhere within nature and within the cycles of time, which is one of the ways we know that all of creation is by design.
It’s interesting how the doll is also in the basic form of a cross. Just as Jesus’ (the sun’s) death on the cross of the 4 seasons represents our own spiritual death and rebirth, so too the corn (grain) must die in order to be reborn, and is represented in the cross shape of a human.
We even find that the path the sun takes through the sky over the course of a year has the dimensions of a cross (or human) if overlaid on it. The analemma is one of the many concepts honored within the symbol of the cross and perhaps the corn dolly as well.
Though not all European corn “dolls” were made in the shape of a person, the concept of it embodying the spirit of the grain was key… and that this spirit would be honored, but then have to die in order for the new crop of the following year to be born. This also touches on the theme of sacrifice. What must be sacrificed so that others may have a better life?
Corn husk dolls were also made by Native Americans, and we will hear a story about them from the Oneida tribe at our meetup.
We are often so absorbed in our Earthly activities that we forget that the heavens are playing out the very stories we are absorbed in here below, and are showing us the Way of redemption. The above and the below are a constant reflection of each other on a spiritual level. They give us the keys that allow our souls ultimately to find our way back home to God.
I am excited to continue sharing these concepts and how they can create peace and well-being in your life. I would love for you to join me if you are able!
*As a reminder, you can also find the schedule of events on the calendar on our website: https://crossinghedgerows.com/calendar/
With all my love,
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.
