Musings
Happy January ~ A Time For Dreaming
In the Druid tradition, the Cailleach is the goddess who represents the dark time, the time of tearing down and decay, but also it is she who builds the bones of the land, the bringer of the mountains. Within nature and our own lives we find the same cycles of darkness, death and decay leading to renewal and rebirth. We cannot have one without the other.
Hail to the Cailleach, an essential aspect of our Mother Earth, our Mother Mary, and our life here in this material plane of existence. We can honor her lessons by remembering that though we may be starting a new calendar year, the light of Father Sky is still small, just as the seeds within the earth have not yet emerged but are dreaming of when their life force is ready to shoot skyward.
As we cycle through the seasons, the dark night time of the year is meant to correspond with our daily cycle and allow us a time to slow down and reflect. Though we may wish to change some habits and allow for more self care, let it be with great intention of rest and renewal in preparation for the springtime energy of life bursting forth joyfully. Give yourself time to plan and dream as much as possible. Though daily routines to maintain our lives are necessary, and there is always work that must be done, what small shifts may be possible to allow for the nourishment you are seeking? What needs to be pared back in your life, and what habits need to die?
Nature is God speaking to us. God speaks in symbolism. Understanding the patterns and cycles of nature helps us to understand his immense love for us and how he is always there showing us the Way.
A January 1st walk with Charlie (aka Sir Charles Curlytail)
May you be blessed beyond measure today and always,
Jean
Share this article
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.
