Quite a while ago I wrote and article, “The Journey Continues: Leader of the Pack” in which I laid out for you my own personal experiences of being a Coordinator of first “Goddess Gathering” and then “Raven-Wolf Nature Sanctuary.” Time and tides of life have brought many changes to that land and now the Goddess appears to be calling me, along with others, back once more.

It’s not important to name names or tell tales that would be primarily gossip (for I was not there to witness any of it), let it be enough to say that the stewardship of this land (physically, spiritually, and legally) has been neglected for a myriad of reasons.

The Goddess, in Her infinite wisdom, has called to some of us, both in waking consciousness and in dream state, to let us know that the Land needs us.

It had only been my intention, because I missed the Land and the people that came to it, to facilitate a reunion of those people combined with a gathering for new people who might enjoy the Land and meeting some of the “old guard”. That’s where it began.

Some members have crossed the Bridge of Light, so it was necessary to reconnect with others to find out what state the Land was in. Would we even be able to use it for a reunion and gathering? I began my quest for this information in March, but by the end of April, silence had fallen with a “thud” from those who had the information that I needed in order to proceed.

I waited patiently throughout the Summer. Hoping to hear something from someone. Finally, I contacted the financial officer on Facebook, not having any other way to reach her. From there, with the help of another former member, I reconnected with the last Coordinator – the only one who, when her time permits – still returns to the Land to see what she and her family can do to maintain it. (A job that was never easy for a large group of us let alone a small family.)

As the picture began to unfold, it became apparent that my experience in dealing with both finances and legal matters was needed. More importantly, people began to talk and theorize about what might be possible to bring the Land back to what we all so dearly remember.

We are still very much in the planning stages, feeling our way along as we reconnect with each other. Here’s the thing though: As I mentioned in that previous article, “…it’s whole purpose was spiritual in nature. It wasn’t your usual piece of ground used for flea markets or county fairs. It was to be a sanctuary for people, plants and animals. For people, it meant a safe place to reconnect with Nature and practice our rites of worship. It meant we would be stewards of this land and keep animals and plants safe as possible.” That purpose hasn’t changed. What I do believe is that the time has come for those of us who were there from the beginning and early days of this Land to allow the next generation to see the value in what was created and take the reins and responsibility for the care of this sacred space.

To find the next generation – or have them find us – means using the tools of the 21st century to make people aware that Raven-Wolf Nature Sanctuary exists and would welcome newcomers to assist in its restoration. We’re tossing around the idea of a web site for Raven-Wolf events, news, and possibly registration for those events. We’re looking into Pagan/Wiccan bulletin boards that will allow us to promote Raven-Wolf, thus letting people know about its existence and need for help. As I said, we are still in the planning stages of this restoration.

So where is it? How big is it? Raven-Wolf is 16 acres of wooden land located about 30 minutes east of Cambridge, Ohio. It’s primitive in nature in that it has no electricity, water comes from a hand-pump well, and restrooms are outhouses. Yup! We are Pagan! It truly is about communing with Nature and leaving the modern world behind. Pagans and Wiccans have owned it for 25 years now and we’d like to keep it that way.

So, although I’m getting involved again, this article really isn’t about me, it’s about this wonderful spiritual retreat that needs restoration so that it can once more be a place for people of like-mind to come together to work and worship and be close to Nature.

I welcome any questions, comments, suggestions that might help in this project. Let me leave you with a wonderful “invocation” to the healing of the Earth:

WE JOIN WITH THE EARTH AND WITH EACH OTHER.

TO BRING NEW LIFE TO THE LAND,
TO RESTORE THE WATERS,
TO REFRESH THE AIR.

WE JOIN WITH THE EARTH AND WITH EACH OTHER.

TO RENEW THE FORESTS,
TO CARE FOR THE PLANTS,
TO PROTECT THE CREATURES.

WE JOIN WITH THE EARTH AND WITH EACH OTHER.

TO CELEBRATE THE SEAS,
TO REJOICE IN THE SUNLIGHT,
TO SING THE SONG OF THE STARS.

WE JOIN WITH THE EARTH AND WITH EACH OTHER.

TO RECREATE THE HUMAN COMMUNITY,
TO PROMOTE JUSTICE AND PEACE,
TO REMEMBER OUR CHILDREN.

WE JOIN WITH THE EARTH AND WITH EACH OTHER.

WE JOIN TOGETHER
AS MANY DIVERSE EXPRESSIONS
OF ONE LOVING MYSTERY:
FOR THE HEALING OF THE EARTH
AND THE RENEWAL OF ALL LIFE.

May the blessings of the Lady and Lord be always with you.

Love & Blessed Be