Lesson 7 of 7
Joining the Circle
The path was never meant to be walked without companions.
What a gathering is like
Trails, stories and song
No performance, and no wrong way to take part. You can always simply listen.
Working together
Hands in the soil
Work days in the gardens, the hoophouse and out on the land.
Coming for the first time
Come sit by the fire
Warm layers, a flashlight and your journal. We are glad you crossed the hedge.
The path is walked alone in some ways, but it was never meant to be walked without companions. Our gatherings are where the practices of this course come alive: shared around a fire, on a trail, or with our hands in the soil.
What a gathering is like
Most gatherings begin around the fire circle with a welcome and a simple sharing. Then we might tell and explore a story, sing, walk the trails, study the plants or the stars, or make something from natural materials. We close by gathering again. There is no performance and no wrong way to take part. You are always free to simply watch and listen.
Alongside our regular gatherings we hold seasonal celebrations with potlucks and bonfires, community work days in the gardens and on the land, and workshops in crafts, music, storytelling, gardening and holistic healing.
How we treat one another
Our community rests on four guiding principles:
- Honor the Divine in each person. Everyone is a child of God and an equal on the path.
- Foster a spirit of healing. We use our words and actions to uplift and care for one another.
- Practice kindness and empathy. We listen with an open heart and seek to understand rather than judge.
- Respect the land and its creatures. We treat the sanctuary and its wildlife with reverence.
You can read them in full on our Community Principles page.
Coming for the first time
- Dress for the weather in warm layers and sturdy shoes. We spend much of our time outdoors.
- Bring a flashlight for evening gatherings, and a dish to share if it is a potluck.
- Bring your journal and anything the lessons asked you to bring.
- Check the Calendar for upcoming gatherings, or write to Jean through the Contact page. She is always glad to hear from you.
Crossing Hedgerows is supported by work-day exchanges, a sliding-scale yearly membership and program fees. If you would like to help sustain the sanctuary, you can become a member through our Patreon.
In your journal
Look back over your journal from the past seven weeks. What has changed in how you see the land, the stories, the sky or yourself?
Bring to the circle
Yourself. We are glad you crossed the hedge.
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