Musings
Some CHFS History
I thought, just for fun, you might like to see the very first announcement we put out about Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary. Doug Pierce invited me to share his vending table at the Ann Arbor Pagan Pride Day in 2018, and I handed out these flyers to folks. Doug had already agreed to be on the CHFS board with the Cavanaughs if we thought there would be enough interest from the community.
I also gathered contact information from people that day, and invited them out to see the Sanctuary. Anne Rebull was one of those who came to our open house that fall, and also ended up throwing her hat in the ring to join the board. After a few emails back and forth with Sarenth, he too joined our team.
That winter and summer of 2019, we worked our way through an Effective Collaboration course, putting together our Vision, Mission Statement, and goals. By the fall of 2019, we were ready to incorporate as a nonprofit, which became official in November of that year.
In a future post, I’ll write more about how the concept of the Sanctuary originally came to me and some of the synchronicities involved. But for now, please know that it’s ok to go slowly. Big plans don’t happen overnight and we often put unrealistic expectations and pressure on ourselves. I’m thankful for how far we’ve come so far, and very grateful for having the privilege to share it with such great company along the way.
Wishing you all the very best,
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.
