02 Nov 2009 Skye at Spirit Rock 03

02 Nov 2009 Skye at Spirit Rock 03 ~ Here I have taken off my glasses so that I would have a mix of photos.  These are ideal for social media sharing and will be posted on my profile too.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

02 Nov 2009 Skye at Spirit Rock 03 © Nicholas Sea

02 Nov 2009 Skye at Spirit Rock 02

02 Nov 2009 Skye at Spirit Rock 02 ~ I had hoped to get one good photo of myself out of the day.  Luck was with me and there are three.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

02 Nov 2009 Skye at Spirit Rock 02 © Nicholas Sea

02 Nov 2009 Skye at Spirit Rock 01

02 Nov 2009 Skye at Spirit Rock 01 ~ There are so few photos of me, many of which were taken at Circle Sanctuary as it turns out.  On Monday, the day after Circle Samhain Festival 2009, a few of us were on tour up to Spirit Rock. Here I am in one of my favorite places with Spirit Rock behind me.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

02 Nov 2009 Skye at Spirit Rock 01 © Nicholas Sea

01 Nov 2009 Sacred Red-Tailed Hawk in Flight 04

01 Nov 2009 Sacred Red-Tailed Hawk in Flight 04 ~ The red-tailed hawk is in full flight, having been perched on a branch above its nest only seconds before.  This collection of photos was taken over a period of 71 seconds.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

01 Nov 2009 Sacred Red-Tailed Hawk in Flight 04 © Nicholas Sea

01 Nov 2009 Sacred Red-Tailed Hawk Aerie 03

01 Nov 2009 Sacred Red-Tailed Hawk Aerie 03 ~ The hawk is taking to flight in this photograph.  It was on the branch momentarily.  Perhaps it was aware of my presence.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

01 Nov 2009 Sacred Red-Tailed Hawk Aerie 03 © Nicholas Sea

01 Nov 2009 Sacred Red-Tailed Hawk Aerie 02

01 Nov 2009 Sacred Red-Tailed Hawk Aerie 02 ~ Here one can see the hawk on the branches above and to the right of the nest.  It is perched only for a moment in the 71 seconds necessary to capture these images.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

01 Nov 2009 Sacred Red-Tailed Hawk Aerie 02 © Nicholas Sea

01 Nov 2009 Sacred Red-Tailed Hawk Aerie 01

01 Nov 2009 Sacred Red-Tailed Hawk Aerie 01 ~ Yes, one day at Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve I spotted both the red-tailed hawk and its nest at the same time.  One of the most serendipitous 71 seconds possible.  I took a distant photo of the nest, the hawk landed, the hawk took off into flight again, and the hawk soared.  In slightly more than a minute’s time, four photos show the feat.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

01 Nov 2009 Sacred Red-Tailed Hawk Aerie 01 © Nicholas Sea

31 Oct 2009 Cemetery Altar Samhain 2009

31 Oct 2009 Cemetery Altar Samhain 2009 ~ Each Samhain there are memorial or burial services up in Circle Cemetery.  During Samhain 2009, ashes were interred.  Elsewhere, I have more photos and video of parts of the ceremony in 2009.  Here is the altar prepared for the services which follow.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

31 Oct 2009 Cemetery Altar Samhain 2009 © Nicholas Sea

30 Oct 2009 Sacred Amanita Shaman

30 Oct 2009 Sacred Amanita Shaman ~ I was quite surprised when I spotted this Yellow Amanita mushroom on one of the paths up to Circle Cemetery.  I am always on the lookout for the more renowned Red Amanita, which typically grows further north. Though this mushroom is not used, as it is so toxic, it is a part of the Amanita family of Shamanic mushrooms, as I understand it.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

30 Oct 2009 Sacred Amanita Shaman © Nicholas Sea

30 Oct 2009 Maypole at Samhain

30 Oct 2009 Maypole at Samhain ~ In every season the Maypole stands.  Here the whole setting is classic Wisconsin Autumn.  The grass is brilliant green, the skies are overcast and grey, and the leaves remaining on the trees are mostly browns and yellows. The colors of the ribbons on the pole are reminiscent of a Scottish tartan of long ago.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

30 Oct 2009 Maypole at Samhain © Nicholas Sea

30 Oct 2009 Circle Bell Lichen

30 Oct 2009 Circle Bell Lichen ~ For me, the Circle Bell feels like it is in a land apart.  It stalwartly stands during all weather clement and fierce.  When it is time to ring the bell, one goes out to the bell, as if through a veil or over a bridge, to its place and purpose.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

30 Oct 2009 Circle Bell Lichen © Nicholas Sea

30 Oct 2009 Kwan Yin Summer Kitchen

30 Oct 2009 Kwan Yin Summer Kitchen ~ Here is a closer look at Kwan Yin in front of the Summer Kitchen. There is plenty of green grass and green herbs, late in the season.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

30 Oct 2009 Kwan Yin Summer Kitchen © Nicholas Sea

30 Oct 2009 Kwan Yin at the Door

30 Oct 2009 Kwan Yin at the Door ~ There are several statues and figurines of Kwan Yin at Circle Sanctuary.  Here Kwan Yin is by the Summer Kitchen side door.  She is moved from time to time to different positions in this area depending on what is happening for events and festivals.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

30 Oct 2009 Kwan Yin at the Door © Nicholas Sea

30 Oct 2009 Kwan Yin Shrine on Stone Block

30 Oct 2009 Kwan Yin Shrine on Stone Block ~ With the backdrop of a white wall, Kwan Yin stands on a block of stone in one of the old Circle gardens.  This shrine is followed by many people in the Circle community.  Sometimes a person will be away for several years and visit first the Kwan Yin Shrine on returning to the land.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

30 Oct 2009 Kwan Yin Shrine on Stone Block © Nicholas Sea

30 Oct 2009 Sacred Fire Cord

30 Oct 2009 Sacred Fire Cord ~ Every shrine, every sacred site, every activity of spirit, has some labor of love; conception, creation, maintenance, provision.  The various land stewards, volunteers, and Sacred Fire Circle tenders spend much time in tasks such as providing firewood for the various activities on the land.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

30 Oct 2009 Sacred Fire Cord © Nicholas Sea

30 Oct 2009 Sacred Fire Ring Quiet

30 Oct 2009 Sacred Fire Ring Quiet ~ One of the various fire circles on the land at Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve is the Sacred Fire Circle fire ring.  This fire ring draws one into the circle of community, into the self, into the land, into spirit.  The quiet of the space is palpable and I consider it an honor and privilege to visit between Circle events and festivals.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

30 Oct 2009 Sacred Fire Ring Quiet © Nicholas Sea

03 Nov 2014 On Top of Spirit Rock

03 Nov 2014 On Top of Spirit Rock ~ Of course, one of the most notable sacred sites on Circle land is Spirit Rock.  To fully understand Spirit Rock requires a visit.  To fully see the expanse of Spirit Rock means viewing if from many angles.  This photo shows one standing on top of Spirit Rock looking outward.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

03 Nov 2014 On Top of Spirit Rock © Nicholas Sea

03 Nov 2014 Medicine Wheel in Autumn

03 Nov 2014 Medicine Wheel in Autumn ~ There is a tale to be told here.  I was not a part of the setup of the Medicine Wheel up by Spirit Rock.  I only have a few photos.  This is another location worthy of some research and writing.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

Medicine Wheel in Autumn 03 Nov 2014 © Nicholas Sea

03 Nov 2014 Sacred Fire Area Eagle

03 Nov 2014 Sacred Fire Area Eagle ~ Ever sitting vigil in the Sacred Fire Circle area is the sacred eagle sculpture.  The layout of the grounds here is quite complex; a meditative retreat area regularly in use.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

Sacred Fire Area Eagle 03 Nov 2014 © Nicholas Sea

03 Nov 2014 Stags Rub Juniper

03 Nov 2014 Stags Rub Juniper ~ A bunch of years back when I was on my Samhain land hike, I followed the trail of the King Stag and his markings.  He was very active that year.  I have photos some place.  One of the trees he rubbed was this Juniper (also known as Red Cedar).  This tree is above the old sweat lodge area and at the lower edge of the upper prairie restoration acreage.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

Stags Rub Juniper 03 Nov 2014 © Nicholas Sea

03 Nov 2014 Veterans Ridge Art

03 Nov 2014 Veterans Ridge Art ~ A part of Circle Cemetery is Veterans Ridge, where a number of recumbent headstones remind us.  A cut steel silhouette of a kneeling soldier is a simple work of art, ever vigil.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

Veterans Ridge Art 03 Nov 2014 © Nicholas Sea

01 Nov 2014 Bonfire Prep Samhain

01 Nov 2014 Bonfire Prep Samhain ~ For many years, Reed has been assembling the ritual bonfire for such festivals as Samhain.  The photo shows the splendid results of his efforts for Samhain 2014.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

Bonfire Prep Samhain 01 Nov 2014 © Nicholas Sea

01 Nov 2014 Gnome Home and Oak Leaves

01 Nov 2014 Gnome Home and Oak Leaves ~ At the entrance to Circle Cemetery as one comes up the steep Shrine Trail is Gnome Home.  A number of different Gnome figures have lived here, some slowly being absorbed back into the land.  This is where the Yule Log has rested throughout the seasons, year to year.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

Gnome Home and Oak Leaves 01 Nov 2014 © Nicholas Sea

01 Nov 2014 Community Campfire

01 Nov 2014 Community Campfire ~ The community campfire area was one of the first locations where we built bonfires on the land.  There are currently at least 9 fire ring locations on the land, a few obscured.  There have also been ancient fire rings on the land.  Where the community campfire is located, is considered an ancient sacred site because of artifacts found in its vicinity.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

Community Campfire 01 Nov 2014 © Nicholas Sea

30 Oct 2014 Circle Dinner Bell

30 Oct 2014 Circle Dinner Bell ~ In addition to different shrines and sacred sites at Circle Sanctuary, there are touchstone features on the land that we all come to know during our time at festivals and other events.  The familiar call of the dinner bell has been ringing out for decades, calling us to mealtime.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

Circle Dinner Bell 30 Oct 2014 © Nicholas Sea

03 Nov 2014 Mossy Ground 03 Nov 2014

03 Nov 2014 Mossy Ground 03 Nov 2014 ~ On the ridge walk out to Spirit Rock, much moss has grown up and spread out over the past many years.  Before Circle moved to the land, this area was popular with local residents.  Now that foot traffic is much diminished, natural plants including lichens and moss have made a strong come back.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

Mossy Ground 03 Nov 2014 © Nicholas Sea

30 Oct 2014 Kwan Yin Shrine

30 Oct 2014 Kwan Yin Shrine ~ Kwan Yin has a long and varied presence at Circle Sanctuary.  There are many narratives and a number of Kwan Yin statues and figurines on the land and in the Circle buildings.  I count Circle as my own source of connection to Kwan Yin, a connection that goes back to my birth, but only named in the past 30 years.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

Kwan Yin Shrine 30 Oct 2014 © Nicholas Sea

30 Oct 2014 Sacred Volunteer Moment

30 Oct 2014 Sacred Volunteer Moment ~ A lot of volunteer work has been accomplished by the land stewards and volunteer crews, clearing the areas adjacent to Circle House and on many parts of the land.  Old spent trees and dead fall are being cut for firewood and the slopes cleared of invasive species.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

Sacred Volunteer Moment 30 Oct 2014 © Nicholas Sea

30 Oct 2014 Old Homestead Ruins

30 Oct 2014 Old Homestead Ruins ~ Just to the north and west of Circle House are the ruins of the old homestead on the property. The building was small and built of local yellow sandstone.  In the 1980’s the building was still in good repair.  Over the past 3 decades the building has slowly been merging with Nature.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

Old Homestead Ruins 30 Oct 2014 © Nicholas Sea

30 Oct 2014 North Oak Spring

30 Oct 2014 North Oak Spring ~ To the north of Circle House under a large old oak is one of the natural springs on the property.  In wet periods, watercress grows in the flow. Here we can see the large spring stone that has merged with the oak.  This spring is almost at the northern border of the property and feeds into a small wetland area.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

North Oak Spring 30 Oct 2014 © Nicholas Sea

30 Oct 2014 Brigid Spring Healing Ribbons

30 Oct 2014 Brigid Spring Healing Ribbons ~ Surrounding Brigid Spring are many hoops of healing ribbons.  Throughout the year at Circle Sanctuary, ribbons are added to these hoops for individuals, groups, and difficulties around the globe.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

Brigid Spring Healing Ribbons 30 Oct 2014 © Nicholas Sea

30 Oct 2014 Stone Circle North Altar

30 Oct 2014 Stone Circle North Altar ~ In the heart of Autumn, the stone circle is full of oak leaves. Here is a view of the North Altar with its perched stones.  When Spring and Summer come around the leaves will be whisked away.  Even so, millimeter by millimeter the passing winds deposit grains of dust and the stone circle is inseparable from the mound itself.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

Stone Circle North Altar 30 Oct 2014 © Nicholas Sea

30 Oct 2014 View To The Cemetery

30 Oct 2014 View To The Cemetery ~ From the stone circle, one can see over to Circle Cemetery.  The area is known for its oaks and birches.  With the changes in climate that are now upon us, warming temperatures likely mean that white birches will become less common on the land.  All of Nature is on the move.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

View To The Cemetery 30 Oct 2014 © Nicholas Sea

Cir30 Oct 2014 Circle Spiral Labyrinth

30 Oct 2014 Circle Spiral Labyrinth ~ For many years, one of the late night ritual sites at Circle Sanctuary has been the Spiral Labyrinth, tucked at the far end of the long Meadowvale Camping area.  The labyrinth can be reached by walking through the camping fields or down the old sweat lodge road that branches down from the main ritual mound road.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

Circle Van in Autumn 01 Nov 2014 © Nicholas Sea

01 Nov 2014 Circle Van in Autumn

01 Nov 2014 Circle Van in Autumn ~ The old Circle Van is parked at the south end of the upper Circle parking lot, walking south from Circle Barn. This is right where the main dirt road up and around to the Stone Circle begins. The road goes around the south side of the Ritual Mound.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

Circle Van in Autumn 01 Nov 2014 © Nicholas Sea

01 Nov 2014 Sky Branch

01 Nov 2014 Sky Branch ~ Here is a bit of a branch and blue sky.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

Sky Branch 01 Nov 2014 © Nicholas Sea

01 Nov 2014 Cat Shrine

01 Nov 2014 Cat Shrine ~ The Cat Shrine is located on the south side of Ritual Mound as you hike up the main road to the Stone Circle.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

Cat Shrine 01 Nov 2014 © Nicholas Sea