Musings
Eala Sruthán
The north branch of the Swan Creek flows through Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary and continues all the way to Lake Erie. Swan Creek is Eala Sruthán in Gaelic. We originally had used that name for our farm, but nobody could pronounce it, so we eventually settled on Crossing Hedgerows. But to us (the Cavanaughs), the creek is still Eala Sruthán. This is how it looks today with the new fallen snow and rabbit prints all along the edge.
Recently I made an offering of various herbs and flower petals to the creek and they floated beautifully under the bridge and out of sight. I pray for the waters of the world that we will give them the respect they deserve and fully recognize their blessings. As we work with the water element here at the Sanctuary, we invite those blessings in with love and gratitude.
~ 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.
