Story Info
Story Info
Brooke Gilley
South Milwaukee Masonic Temple (demolished in 2008)
2023
Type of Wounded Place
Story & Experience
After thinking about my vision, I contemplated what way I could do to heal this land on an energetic level and physical level. There are not many sources on how to properly energetically heal a space on the landscape so I listened to my intuition. I had seed balls with native plant seeds for the state of Wisconsin. I decided I would place these in the soil to help heal the physical scar and pour water over them to help the seeds. I placed a dahlia flower near the space where I planted the seed balls. The flower had accidentally come off of the plant’s mother so I decided I would use this in my ceremony for the land.
My next step was to sprinkle ground wheat (flour) around the perimeter of the open land scar from where the temple had been. I started in the East first, thinking this would be symbolic of new beginnings for this land. I sprinkled the flour from the East, then South, then to the North, and ended in the East where I had started. I then sat in the East, with rattle in hand. I shook the rattle while my eyes were closed until I felt I should stop shaking the rattle. I meditated on how to offer more healing. I saw an image of a man pulling another man from the center of this space. Then I saw a circle of “fellow” healers join me in offering what we could to this space to provide relief for whatever pain the land felt, especially the open sore that had been created by the demolition of the temple building.
I feel it was important not to only acknowledge the physical wounds but the energetic wounds as well.
After thinking about my vision, I contemplated what way I could do to heal this land on an energetic level and physical level. There are not many sources on how to properly energetically heal a space on the landscape so I listened to my intuition. I had seed balls with native plant seeds for the state of Wisconsin. I decided I would place these in the soil to help heal the physical scar and pour water over them to help the seeds. I placed a dahlia flower near the space where I planted the seed balls. The flower had accidentally come off of the plant’s mother so I decided I would use this in my ceremony for the land.
My next step was to sprinkle ground wheat (flour) around the perimeter of the open land scar from where the temple had been. I started in the East first, thinking this would be symbolic of new beginnings for this land. I sprinkled the flour from the East, then South, then to the North, and ended in the East where I had started. I then sat in the East, with rattle in hand. I shook the rattle while my eyes were closed until I felt I should stop shaking the rattle. I meditated on how to offer more healing. I saw an image of a man pulling another man from the center of this space. Then I saw a circle of “fellow” healers join me in offering what we could to this space to provide relief for whatever pain the land felt, especially the open sore that had been created by the demolition of the temple building.
I feel it was important not to only acknowledge the physical wounds but the energetic wounds as well.
Why this Place?
South Milwaukee Masonic Temple (demolished in 2008)
About a year ago, I was called to visit this space. I had just dropped off my car at the mechanic and was walking back to my home while the mechanic worked on my car.
I was on my back home when I received an intuitive call or pull to visit the land that once held the Masonic temple that had been demolished in 2008. That night, I had a vision of being on the lower level of the temple, and in my hands, I held two sheaves of wheat in my hands. I had no idea what this meant and searched the imagery in the morning when I worked. A sheaf of wheat or corn has long been a symbol of harvest and fertility, in Free Masonry. Today, it is used as a symbol of that time, long ago, mostly during the dedication, constitution and consecration of a new lodge and in the laying of cornerstones. The Masonic Sheaf of Corn represents the fruit of their labors, their sacrifices and all they have done to deserve them.
Needless, to say, I was shocked that I had this vision and found the meaning behind what I had held in my hands. Was I meant to re-consecrate this area?
I will mention that I have no ties to this place other than it is in my hometown; however, members of my family had Masonic ties, including my mother who had been a Job’s Daughter.
I feel like have been called to provide land healings ever since then.
Act of Beauty
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I hope the native wildflower seeds within the seed balls will grow and thrive in this space. My deepest wish is that they maybe fill in this space over time and offer a haven for pollinators. May the planting of these seeds help with the physical and energetic scars as well. The dahlia flower was another way of adding beauty to the space, even temporarily.
I feel that my work here in this space is not over, and the land may bring me back to provide and care for what is there.
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