Events & Celebrations
Winter Solstice
Dried Aster in the Sun by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography LLC
As we approach the time of the return of the sun, I hope you find some ways to celebrate. We are not having an official gathering for this holiday at the Sanctuary, but members are always welcome to set up a time to come out. In the meantime, here are a few suggestions for anyone who might appreciate them.
- Tell stories from your tradition, whether it be Christmas Yuletide stories, Alban Arthan, Santa, Odin, Holly King, Saturnalia, or something else. Enjoy exploring the origins of your tradition with your loved ones.
- Create with nature – make centerpieces or wreaths, or simply a design to leave as an offering on the ground.
- Exchange handcrafted or locally made gifts.
- Donate or volunteer for a local charity.
- Feast on delicious food and make merry with family and friends.
- Also called: Yule, Jul, Saturnalia, Christmas
- dates: around December 21 colors: red, green, white
- tools: mistletoe, evergreen wreath, lights, gifts, holly, Yule log, Yule tree
- energy: regeneration & renewal
- goddesses: Great Mother, Isis, Mary, Tonazin, Lucina, Bona Dea
- gods: Sun Child, Horus, Jesus, Mithras, Santa, Odin, Saturn, Holly King
- rituals: personal renewal, world peace, honoring family & friends
- customs: wreaths, lights, gift-giving, singing, feasting, resolutions
And here are some more in-depth idea from Circle Sanctuary:
https://www.circlesanctuary.org/index.php/celebrating-the-seasons/winter-solstice
May your holidays be merry and bright,
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.
