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

A young Earth Sanctuary visitor enjoys the Cottonwood Stone Circle!

The Earth Sanctuary Retreat House is rapidly getting booked up. If you’d like to enjoy a peaceful retreat this Spring or Summer, we encourage you to make a reservation now by calling Celia at 360-321-5465. Click above to take a virtual tour of the Earth Sanctuary Retreat House with Celia Sullivan, Earth Sanctuary Caretaker. Thanks to all the great retreatants we have been blessed with over the past few years. - Chuck Pettis

As I reached the Cottonwood Stone Circle, I stopped suddenly. There before my eyes standing in front of the 11 foot high stones was a deer. She looked up at me equally startled to see me. Soon another deer stepped forward and took part in the staring contest. I softly said a Buddhist chant - I belive it goes like this, Om Mani Padme Hung. As if they understood what I said, they began a slow trek past the stone circle. I thanked the Universe for this encouter. -Ann Gibson

My favorite experience was lying on top of the large glacier stone on a soft bed of fir needles. The green branches of the tree curved over me like a shelter and through them I could see bright blue sky. A raptor, an eagle I think, flew by. I was not trying to meditate but simply be in nature. I felt so relaxed I almost fell asleep. Thank you for creating and nurturing this lovely place. -T.A.

Far aboave the heads of all, clouds drifted by.
And as I sat beneath them amongst the rocks - wind blowing - the tears came.
I thought I heard the wind saying, “Tend to the soul.”
Bring forth harmony.
Bring forth. Bring forth.

The sky above us sparkled blue and yellow with endless sky and sunshine.
Rocks abound in every shape and size marking guardian gates and sacred spots.
We tend to overlook the gifts of the earth until we are brought together in this magical place.
I pray this day and the spirits within the rocks and trees, bog and pond, fen and dolmen will bring forth a deeper spiritual awareness.

My wife, Claudia Pettis, raises rare endangered sheep at our Mutiny Bay farm near Earth Sanctuary. I was very pleased that Atta, the Baby Doll Southdown sheep, smiled for me in this photo!

It is very entertaining watching birds in breeding season. Here’s a male Bufflehead chasing his mate around. At one point, they started flapping their wings and splashed a lot of water. This is the Reptilian brain at work!

For this video I went on a spring treasure hunt to find some signs of spring at Earth Sanctuary. Come and see what signs of spring you can find! - Bre Pettis

The great French Marshall Lyautey, once asked his gardener to plant a tree. The gardener objected that the tree was slow growing and would not reach maturity for 100 years. The Marshall replied ‘In that case, there is no time to lose; plant it this afternoon.” - JFK

It’s breeding season at Earth Sanctuary. Here is a pair of Buffleheads that I photographed from the new bird blind near the Cottonwood Stone Circle on April 1 afternoon.