Musings
Sights and Sounds of Midsummer – Video
Summer Solstice 2021
“Even in the height of summer, we remember that winter must come. Yet it is that shift in day length, that change, that triggers blossoms to set fruit. Life is built upon cycles. Beginnings reach culmination, and decline, which opens the way for something new to begin.
Much as we might want to cling to every bright possibility, we must open our hands and let go for potential to manifest. That is the lesson of the Summer Solstice, that I try to remember in this moment of transition and change.
Growth cannot be static.
In the words of our Solstice song:
Bright blossoms all must fade,
Of that loss, the seed is made.
Children of the living earth,
From decay will come rebirth.
Happy Solstice to you all!”
~ Starhawk
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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.
