Events & Celebrations
Beltane Celebration Pictures 🌷
By Jean Cavanaugh, President, Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary
Photos by Douglas S. Pierce, Board Member of Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary
Doug, the photographer
We had a wonderful Beltane celebration again this year, with the Maypole once again being a big highlight. There is always so much laughter and fun as we dance! A comment from one of the young adults in the group was something along the lines of… “I would’ve thought it was just a silly activity, until I actually danced the Maypole and found out that it’s a really good time!”
getting ready to take down the previous year’s maypole
After our initial ritual in the fire circle, we headed out to the Maypole which was still standing and dressed with last year’s ribbons. The pole was brought down, the old ribbons taken off, and then everyone tied their new ribbons to the pole before standing it back up again.
taking down the previous year’s maypole to remove the old ribbons
each person tied on a ribbon
raising the pole with the new ribbons
securing the pole
everyone choosing a ribbon
ready to begin
We did have a bit of a snag for the first part of the dance when the ribbons got all tangled up. We had to stop and figure out how to make it work so we could finish the dance without it being a big mess. But Dan directed us in fixing the problem, and we were then able to finish with the rest of the ribbons being woven nicely onto the pole. Comments were made on how this was a great metaphor for how sometimes when working as a group things can get messy, but if we take the time to problem solve, then everyone can come together and create something beautiful!
Thank you to all who participated in helping to welcome in the abundance of summer and to make such a great celebration!
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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.
