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