Musings
Honoring the Land
Is it better for people to leave nature completely alone whenever possible? There’s a common conception that nature would be better without humans. It’s true that some of our activities are insanely more destructive than any other animal, but we also have an incredible power to do good and to help regeneration to occur. That’s one of the things we’re striving for here at the Sanctuary.
There is a saying that knowledge without action is meaningless. So being responsible for the beautiful land of Crossing Hedgerows Farm and Sanctuary, along with having learned about permaculture design, has given the Cavanaugh family the duty to do whatever we can to repair the damage that was done in the past, as well as maintain the land as best we can going forward.
Thus the mission of CHFS is in part to teach these principles and how each of us can be better at fulfilling our obligations to the lands we occupy.
We’ve been delighted by the many ways people are stepping up to support the different facets of our mission. I will continue to touch on various aspects of our goals here at the Sanctuary in these posts. And in closing, I would like to add that when we work with nature rather than against, the abundance that flows forth is astounding. It is not a burden, but an absolute joy to tend to the land harmoniously.
Peace and Blessings,
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.
