Events & Celebrations
Event: Winter Solstice Celebration ❄️
Sunday, December 17th at 5pm
Sunrise
The Wheel of the Year is continuing to turn and we are quickly approaching the Winter Solstice. And with it come all the holidays which celebrate the renewal of the light that is found within and without during dark times. Though we know the sun will return in full strength, in the meantime, we remember that we are here in this world to experience both the darkness and the light. Without one, we cannot know the other.
Frosty Maypole
I am currently putting together a ritual for the celebration of Alban Arthan.
The druids of the 18th century Welsh Revival called this festival Alban Arthan, from an old literary translation of the word for ‘arctic’: literally ‘bear place,’ a term that also makes us think of the Great Bear… (of the Starry Heavens). It also puts us in mind of Arthur, the wonder-child whose birth meant the beginning of a Golden Age for Britain. ~ From The Winter Solstice Ceremony of the Bards Ovates and Druids.
I would like to focus on the Celtic Bear Gods, Artio and Artaois, during this ritual. These great bears of the starry heavens are the flame of hope in the darkness. And as the spirit of the bear sleeps in the winter earth, it provides an infinite source of bear wisdom to help us dream and evolve.
I am planning this celebration for December 17th at 5pm. We will watch the sunset outside and then move into the hoophouse for a more sheltered ritual. Please dress warmly and bring a flashlight. You are welcome to invite guests, with the encouragement of making a donation for the development and maintenance of the sanctuary for our community.
As always, thank you for your continued support!
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.
