Earth Sanctuary: A Nature Reserve, Meditation Parkland and Sculpture Garden

Come Home Safe

Found in the Cottonwood Stone Circle.  We wish Scott all the best!

The surrounding woods and trails with so much to see: mushrooms, huge trees, singing birds, salmonberry flowers, other wild flowers, streams – a beautiful place.  Thank you!! – Mrs. Lynn Rideout

The Sanctuary provide the perfect atmosphere for meditation, reflection and healing.  Sitting in the Heartstone area, I experienced deep “kensho” or realization that rare but welcomed in Zen practice.  – Kakuzen

I liked the sense of peace and protection that’s here.

I like the peace and tranquility- it is lovely and we love coming here!  A great house!

“Felt like a child again. Walking through the trees in awe and enraptured with nature, totally free”

-Sheila Pack, Earth Sanctuary Retreatant

“It’s January, the changing of the year, a time for death and the promise of rebirth.  Among the brown leaves and wilted fern fronds, there are hints of new life to come.  I found it inside myself too.  Thank you.”  -M.E. (Earth Sanctuary Retreatant)

A story from a recent Earth Sanctuary retreatant:

After hours of trying “too hard” in my centering prayer, hours of waiting to hear the still, small voice of God, hours of sitting, piecing together scraps of discernment that may or may not be at my heart, I was moved to tears one twilight when I came upon the Fen Stone Circle.  The tiny cairn with its offerings in the center opened me.  “I want to belong,” I said aloud and fell to my knees, “I want to belong.”

Earth Sanctuary is blessed to have so many spiritual people stay in our Retreat House.  It is very gratifying to read the comments from guest retreatants after their stay.  Here are several comments from the Fall of 2008.

• A place of natural beauty and peace, restoring, healing and rejuvenating!  -Karen N. Johnstone
• Beautiful ecological design and intention of sacred spaces.  Loved the Medicine Wheel!
• Peaceful, beautiful spaces that speak to the inner needs.  I loved all of the sacred spaces, especially the Cottonwood Stone Circle.
• This was a wonderful space to do my solo healing retreat.  The House is easy to live in.  The sacred places on the Earth Sanctuary grounds are ripe for meditation, healing, solitude.  – R.R.
• I’m in the middle of a “difficult time” in my life and coming up here has facilitated the re-connection with myself.  The silence, the sounds of nature, the wilderness, the air have nurtured me during these days.  This place offers all the tools you possibly need to work in your inner growth.  I am pretty sure that from here we are not only  healing our own souls, but also sending a wave of love, peace, and consciousness to the whole universe.  – Diana Castano

Here is a letter from a recent visitor to the Earth Sanctuary Retreat House. - Chuck Pettis.

Thanks for letting others use the retreat center. I enjoyed my stay. I wanted to let you know about my experience with the Fen stone circle. I have an amazing experience there. It is so charged. When I walked to the middle of the circle and closed my eyes, I could feel the energy shudder all through my body. I got goose bumps. At first I thought I was cold. I went back to it a couple of times after that to check and verify my experience. Every single time - rush of energy and goosebumps! I just remain there and allowed the energy to surge through me and stood still for 10 minutes.

I normally wear glasses. When I went for the walk, I wasn’t wearing my glasses so my eyesight wasn’t clear. After standing close eyed in the Fen stone circle for about 10 minutes my eyesight was so clear when I opened them. I could see clearly so far. It blew my mind. The effect lasted for about 2-3 minutes.

I am definitely coming back to Earth Sanctuary

Many visitors who come to Earth Sanctuary leave us wonderful notes and comments. See below. Thank you! - Chuck Pettis & the Earth Sanctuary team

• Came here to morn my dad’s passing. A perfect place for those who have lost a loved one.
• The medicine wheel is beautiful and very healing. Thank you.
• I love what you have done. Very spiritual and meditative.
• Beauty, light, wonder, love, earth connection, planet spirits walk/fly this earth in wondrous being.
• So calming. Much needed.
• Love this place. Thank you.
• Fabulous! Thank you!
• Thanks! I appreciate the quiet, safe, serene natural setting.
• Thank you for this space!
• A truly sacred space.
• Thank you for opening this spirit place. It is needed and appreciated.
• What a beautiful place! Thank you!
• Second visit. Have been eager to return.
• Feels like a spiritual bath.
• Thanks for this place and your great work.
• Thank you for providing this spiritual experience.
• I have been here before, brought back others!
  Wonderful! Peaceful experience.
• Beautiful!
• Love the work you’ve done here.
• Marvelous environment!.
• Thank you for this sacred place.

So much work and money goes into creating Earth Sanctuary. The incredible experiences reported by those who stay in the Earth Sanctuary Retreat House make it all worthwhile! Thank you – Chuck Pettis & Celia Sullivan

• The overall feeling of the house reminds me of a temple. I had never stayed in a place that felt quite so much like a sanctuary. For those seeking to grow spiritually, Earth Sanctuary is a fantastic place to do it. The energy and vibe of the whole area fosters spiritual growth. After staying in the house only three nights, I felt so watched and cared for by Chenrezi, Green Tara, His Holiness Dagchen Sakya and Her Eminence Dagmo Jamyang Sakya that I felt overwhelmingly compelled to join the monastery and take Refuge. The last morning I was here I had the two Osprey parents and what I presume was their child circle no more that twenty feet above my head for five minutes. They were talking constantly and must have been teaching the baby to fly or hunt. – Damien Abel
• This wonderful place is for every urban dweller that’s forgotten we are all connected to this Earth, that reaching our Inner Bing is easier among trees, the birds and the silence that doesn’t really exist. Even silence has a sound. I discovered a sense of Peace that was lost, confidence and that “fear” leads nowhere and is unfounded. “Time out” has never been more rewarding. – BC
• I most liked the chance to be so alone in the quiet and comfort of a home that felt like a sanctuary (and visa versa). This was a supreme experience. I walked the Celestial Trail, enjoying the beauty of the woods, and came to the big tree with the ribbons tied around it. The tree seemed to invite me to sit. I can’t explain it well. I’d sat at other prayer sites on the grounds – but this one seemed to light up – as though the whole area wanted us to contemplate together. I sat peacefully and very gratefully for some time and received a gentle insight into an “issue” of mine. It was lovely. - CM
• I like the way the natural magic of the land has been restored and enhanced by love and wisdom. There are so many sacred spots so easily accessible.

• To be in perfect nature is to find your nature within. – Jeff Armstrong.
• My husband thought I needed a retreat, so he looked for one!! He loves me :o)
• I was able to find balance and peace. I experienced visions about myself that will help me move in a more positive direction in my life. – Brad Petersen
• I deeply respect the respect for the different traditions and the understanding of the relationship between the soul and the natural world.
• I most like the trails, the unexpected beauty and holy sites. I appreciate all the books. You’ve done an amazing job. Thank you.
• I liked the great energy at the house and surroundings, the calm atmosphere in the meditation room, Celia’s warm, helpful attitude, the atmosphere of love and caring, the simplicity of everything and the fragrance-free environment. I hope to return soon!
• This place has been like open arms welcoming back my wandering spirit. The artwork and trails blew my mind. I can still hear the music of the birds and bull frogs! Coming here last minute, after having spent two weeks with a sick child – I was totally on edge. But slowly it happened. I felt I was merging with the home and land. Time was standing still for me. Clarity and calm is what I longed for – both have visited me here. I am excited to bring friends to share in this beautiful place. A place to remember…our spirit.