02 Apr 2004 Three Evergreens of Yule

02 Apr 2004 Three Evergreens of Yule ~ For a number of the early years at Circle Sanctuary, live Yule trees were decorated in December and then planted in the Spring.  As I recall, there are 5 of these between the barn and the house.  Though these trees are not native to the land, they are a deep reminder of the cycles of the year and Yuletide cheer.  I particularly love seeing these evergreens in the Winter, albeit here we have them in early Spring.  The Yule Tree is very much a poignant Pagan shrine of our times.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

02 Apr 2004 Three Evergreens of Yule © Nicholas Sea

02 Apr 2004 Circle Barn Garden in Spring

02 Apr 2004 Circle Barn Garden in Spring ~ Midmorning early in April a few days before the Ostara Moon, we can see that the gardens at Circle Sanctuary are budding green ~ “O’ she will bring the buds in Spring and laugh among the flowers.”

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

02 Apr 2004 Circle Barn Garden in Spring © Nicholas Sea

20 Mar 2004 Circle Maypole on Spring Equinox

20 Mar 2004 Circle Maypole on Spring Equinox ~ Midmorning on Spring Equinox in 2004, the Circle Maypole stands regal inside the Mugwort Circle.  The old stalks of mugwort will be removed in time for Beltane which is 6 weeks away.  The New of the Moon was on the evening of March 20th in 2004, therefore the Ostara Full Moon will come in two weeks on April 5th.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

20 Mar 2004 Circle Maypole on Spring Equinox © Nicholas Sea

25 Feb 2004 Circle Barn Garden Winter 02

25 Feb 2004 Circle Barn Garden Winter 02 ~ Here is another photo of Circle Barn Garden back in February of 2004.  It is a look at the barn and at Circle House 12 years ago.  Much has changed since then and yet the iconic nature of Circle’s buildings endures.  This photo of barn garden and shrine was taken from the south end of the barn.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

25 Feb 2004 Circle Barn Garden Winter 02 © Nicholas Sea

25 Feb 2004 Circle Barn Garden Winter 01

25 Feb 2004 Circle Barn Garden Winter 01 ~ On the east side of Circle Barn is a long raised garden bed constructed and planted by the Garden Circle.  Many renovations on the barn have happened over the years, including this garden addition. The Circle Barn Garden is both beautiful and functional.  The garden structure provides a bit of buttress to the barn foundation.  I consider the Circle Barn Garden to be one of the multifaceted shrines at Circle Sanctuary.  It is important because it is wheelchair accessible and because it has so many components and people who have nurtured and cared for it.  This photo of barn garden and shrine was taken from the north end of the barn.

Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Wisconsin, USA

25 Feb 2004 Circle Barn Garden Winter 01 © Nicholas Sea

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