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