peace in the unsettled woods
Map
Map
Story & Experience
Years ago, knowing the sale was inevitable, I and some local concerned energy healers held a sacred blessing and protection ceremony here before the ownership changed. On June 15th, 2024, I apologized on behalf of humanity for the pain we’ve caused. I thanked the land, requested permission to use its gifts to create my offering.
As I left, I was treated to a scene playing out in the air. A vulture was on a power pole that was apparently the domain of 2 red-headed woodpeckers. The woodpeckers and their friend, 2 mockingbirds, were dive-bombing the vulture in displeasure. When it left some minutes later, all the birds flew to a nearby tree and were joined by at least 4 other mockingbirds and to me, it appeared that they held a victory party as their song sounded raucously joyful as they flitted around together.
I feel as though it was a thank-you gift because in my 11 years here, I’ve never seen a red-headed woodpecker in this area and two blessed me!
Years ago, knowing the sale was inevitable, I and some local concerned energy healers held a sacred blessing and protection ceremony here before the ownership changed. On June 15th, 2024, I apologized on behalf of humanity for the pain we’ve caused. I thanked the land, requested permission to use its gifts to create my offering.
As I left, I was treated to a scene playing out in the air. A vulture was on a power pole that was apparently the domain of 2 red-headed woodpeckers. The woodpeckers and their friend, 2 mockingbirds, were dive-bombing the vulture in displeasure. When it left some minutes later, all the birds flew to a nearby tree and were joined by at least 4 other mockingbirds and to me, it appeared that they held a victory party as their song sounded raucously joyful as they flitted around together.
I feel as though it was a thank-you gift because in my 11 years here, I’ve never seen a red-headed woodpecker in this area and two blessed me!
Why this Place?
Port Royal, South Carolina, USA
This wounded place that I love is near my home in Port Royal, South Carolina, USA. Although it may appear green and lush in these photos, it was a fully understoried forest until a few years ago, when it was sold and the buyer brought in clearing equipment for 3 days and removed all but a few of the older oaks. The devastation was dramatic as wildlife fled and was killed on nearby roadways, and so much important habitat was removed. It was heartbreaking as so many of the animals and human neighbors quietly wandered the forest for decades prior.
This area is in the increasingly dangerous hurricane zone and the area’s barrier islands (also under development pressure) and this forest land are critical to buffering the worst impacts of storms, as well as providing water species’ nursery and migratory bird feeding/breeding areas.
The current “developer” had plans involving removal of the remaining trees as part of a larger project, but economic and legal delays have given the land breathing room so, as nature does, it began to heal itself. While new plans have been formulated, it remains to be seen if and how this land will be further abused or respected.
Act of Beauty
I selected the location because the buyers had erected “private property/no trespassing” signs all along the perimeter of what has been for decades publicly accessed land. An unknown person had come afterwards and altered the signs so they hung wrong or backwards so as to be disregarded. I wanted to infuse the area with the energy of peace so I chose to make a peace sign out of Spanish moss (which grows in abundance here), grasses and the wildflowers that were in bloom.
Additional Photos
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