Ohio Area Pantheists' Weekend Getaway

Steve and I recently spent a wonderfully low-keyed weekend in south-central Ohio. I'll let him tell you about the mission of the Sanctuary. I wanted to let you know about the grounds.

There are three options for overnight stays. We opted for the Hermitage, a small, clean cabin overlooking the gorge and a row of caves on the other side of a large creek. The Hermitage has three bedrooms, one of which hangs over the side of the gorge and gives you an incredible view with its three walls of almost floor to ceiling windows. This is the Zen River room. It is decorated with Asian artifacts, floor pillows, and a futon like bed, creating a meditative atmosphere. With the rocky, tree-framed view, the water cascading below and the dampness of the cliffs, it is a sense-engaging experience.

The day starts with the early morning calls of the cardinals and ends with the late night swooping of the bats. Whether you spend the time between reading on the decks on each side of the cabin as wild turkey, great blue heron and a wide variety of other birds fly below and above you, or wandering the various trails to see the rocky forest and wildflowers is up to you. I liked starting the day with coffee on the deck, a good book in hand and binoculars by my side. Steve would sit, yoga style, on a pillow in the Zen River room, meditating. After a relaxing morning, we ate an early lunch and headed for the trails.

We entered an incredible wonderland of trillium, blue and white hepatica and yellow trout lilies. We had to search for walking sticks to help us through the rolling pathways. We climbed just below the cliffs and could peer into several small caves as a small waterfall gurgled and gushed below. Steve wrestled a potential walking stick, flushing a great horned owl that had been napping in a hemlock.

As we passed the wildflower explosion, the earth began to close in. The cliff walls curved overhead and a spring rambled below. The acoustics were incredible. The trickling spring echoed off the cliffs. Someone fifteen yards ahead of you could whisper and the sound would travel the curve of the cliff making them sound as if they were right over your shoulder.

By the time we finished the trail, we were ready for a quiet evening on the deck, listening to the sounds of the gorge. I was so relaxed by this trip that I breezed through the Monday workday as if Id taken a week off instead of just a weekend away. I felt refreshed and energized. I am ready to go again.

Contact Susan Hall