Flora
Lady’s Mantle: The Alchemical Chalice
One of the herbs we have in our Paw Paw, Aronia Berry guild is Lady’s Mantle. She is one of the magical flora of the Druid tradition.
“One of the most striking characteristics of this graceful plant is the way its leaves gather dewdrops. During the night the leaves fold like umbrellas, opening in the morning to reveal their watery treasure.
Dew has been considered to have magical properties since ancient times, when in the Celtic lands maidens were said to bathe their faces in dew on Beltane morning, and in France and Germany young girls rolled naked in the dew on Beltane eve. The alchemists and early herbalists believed strongly in the healing powers of dew.
The health-giving properties of dew-bathing, long known to birds, were still being promoted by the Victorians, and be naturists in the twentieth century. In the 1920s, Edward Bach developed his system of remedies using dew gathered from different flowers. He, like the alchemists, believed that sun-warmed dew absorbed specific healing powers from plants, so that the dew gathered from one plant would have very different effects to that gathered from another. In the 1960s the French alchemist Armand Barbault wrote about his work to create an elixir of life from dew in Gold of a Thousand Mornings. Alchemists believed that Lady’s Mantle imparted a subtle but vital influence to the dew it gathered, and the plant was much prized by them as a result.” — Excerpt from The Druid Plant Oracle by Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm
A plant guild with Aronia berry bush (back right), Lady’s Mantle, Daffodils that are done flowering for the year, Hosta just emerging, and Paw Paw saplings (left) that haven’t leafed out yet.
Blessings from Crossing Hedgerows Farm and Sanctuary,
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.
