Saying Goodbye to Brandtlund Grove

The water level in the lake is down more than ever. Still no pics--and you don't want to see them anyway. It's rather shocking. And I can't help but use it as a metaphor for my relationship to my partner. As the lifegiving water has drained away or evaporated from the lake, so has the life drained out of our relationship and left me very little left to give.

I awoke before dawn today, and my mind eventually wandered to my morning walk. I realized that this weekend may be the last one in which I would have uninterrupted time to wander about the Grove. Although I'm not moving out tomorrow, I need to begin making the move to the new apartment, and so I'll have less and less time here.

As a way to thank the Grove for the transformation it has brought into my life, I decided to visit a few of my favorite spots and make a small offering of thanks. I walked to the clearing where I often see deer, the Stone Circle, Mother Tree, the pond and more special places. Of course, all space is sacred, but it seems these particular spots drew me in, welcomed me, calmed me when I needed it, and inspired me. At each one, I left an offering of tobacco and said "thank you" in Cherokee: "wah-doh."

When I was led to the Grove a few years ago, I had no idea of the spiritual transformations that would take place. I am not the same man, and I am so grateful. It was here that my wolf spirit guide came to me in a dream and I was given the name Riverwolf. In some ways, this place feels so magical, it's as if some mystical portal opened for just a short time and is now about to close. I know it's silly, but part of me wonders that if I return after some time passes--will it even be here? And maybe it was just my emotions, but even the light appeared different today; it was harsher, not as soft. And something in my vision seemed to be shifting, changing--like a digital TV signal that is weakening.

But just as I was led to Brandtlund Grove, so I am being led elsewhere. My new apartment is in a wonderful location with a large park to explore and a creek. Just as the Grove offered so many lessons, so will this new place. Perhaps my next task is to learn how to be an urban shaman or urban druid.

And I'll still be connected to Brandtlund, perhaps even physically. The lake here is actually a reservoir for the city in which I'll now be living. Whereas I currently use a well for my water, I'll now have city water--and perhaps some of it will originate from Brandtlund Grove, still nourishing me, still providing that life-giving water.