Columcille Megalith Park, May 9, 2021

May 10, 2021

Today we went back for a visit to Columcille Megalith Park in the Appalachian mountains. I was here for the first time last summer, and it truly is a magical place. Even if you’re not particularly spiritual or in tune with the nature spirits, you can’t help but feel their high vibrations here as you walk the sacred grounds.

A little about Columcille as I noted in a previous blog post:

Columcille is a hidden gem located in Bangor, PA. It is the creation of the late William Cohea, Jr. who was inspired by a dream he had after visiting Iona, a small island on the western coast of Scotland. According to ancient history, the early Celts considered Iona a place where the veil is thin and one’s spirit could easily travel between worlds. There were once over 350 standing stones on the isle along with sacred oak groves. Inspired by his vision, Mr. Cohea made his dream reality in 1975 when he created Columcille.

We quietly walked the grounds through the circle of standing stones and followed the path into the forest leading us to enchanted sites and ritual circles. We stepped through the Celtic Eye which led us down to a small stream where the banks were abound with skunk cabbage and wildflowers. We circled the faerie ring path and noticed an orange carnelian crystal charging in the morning sunlight. Lastly, we walked the labyrinth where offerings can be laid upon the stone alter if one so chooses.

I left Columcille feeling inspired and rejuvenated.

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Delaware State Forest, Egypt Meadow Lake, Snowshoeing, February 14, 2021

February 18, 2021

Today we ventured out again to take advantage of the abundant snowfall in the Pocono Mountains. This time our destination was the Delaware State Forest. We parked at the trailhead for Egypt Meadow Lake off Route 390 just north of Promised Land State Park. From here we donned our snowshoes and headed out into a winter wonderland. The snow was even deeper than what we had experienced yesterday at Nescopeck State Park. But it was light and powdery and such a delight to walk on. We traveled east along a wide path through a hardwood forest. Soon enough Egypt Meadow Lake came into view. Egypt Meadow Lake was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935. It’s one of the few undeveloped lakes in Pennsylvania that can only be accessed by hiking. Today it was a sheet of solid ice covered in a veil of pure white snow. As we followed along the main path we came upon a side trail that looked like it would take us in for a closer look. We decided to explore. As we approached the icy shores we saw tracks made by humans leading out across the frozen lake. Ice thickness needs to be at least 4 inches to support the weight of a person up to 200 lbs. It appeared solid enough, so we made our way out onto the lake slowly and carefully. As we ventured further towards the center, expansive views opened up in all directions. It was such a thrill to be standing out there on top of the frozen water and enjoying the lake from this perspective. After taking it all in, we made our way back to the trail and continued following across the outlet of the dam. We then began to ascend on a single track into an exquisite forest of pine. The snowy path undulated gently along the shores of Egypt Meadow Lake and meandered in and out of giant hemlock trees. We passed by rhododendron, mountain laurels and rock formations that were almost hidden by the deep drifts of snow. It was an absolutely beautiful trail. At about 2 miles we came to the bridge that would cross over Egypt Meadow Lake and begin the second half of the loop around its western shores. This section of trail was equally as beautiful as the first half of the loop. We took our time as we snowshoed atop the magical white blanket covering the earth enjoying the beauty of the forest on this incredible winter day.

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Columcille Megalith Park, Bangor, PA, July 11, 2020

July 11, 2020

I woke up a little before 5 am on this Saturday morning. The cardinals were singing outside my bedroom window in the big maple tree as dawn was about to break. As much as I wanted to enjoy the birdsong and keep sleeping, I couldn’t get my mind off a place my aunt had shared with me called Columcille Megalith Park in the Appalachian mountains.

Within the grounds of this enchanted park you’ll find circles of standing stones, pathways to hidden sacred sites, a faerie ring (don’t be surprised if you see one), a winding labyrinth and a chapel, named after St. Columba. There is a beautiful bell tower with large quartz and lapis lazuli stones inset in the top of the stone building. The surrounding woods are filled with fern, wild mushrooms and toadstools. I could have lingered here all day. Each winding path led to something magical. It’s a wonderful place for a quiet walk or meditation. I will definitely be visiting again.