After my post yesterday, someone asked what draws me to Steinke Basin.
I’ll be honest. Initially what drew me to Steinke was its accessibility. The basic loop trail is gentle and welcoming. As my stamina increased and I got used to being in nature, I began branching out onto the longer and steeper trails as well.
That’s what got me there. The gentle energy of the land has kept me going back. This has been a sacred healing place since humans first inhabited the Baraboo Hills.
The nature spirits at Steinke readily engage with people. I’ve had many encounters over the years with deer, coyotes, pileated woodpeckers, barred owls, and chipmunks. I even saw a badger once. Another time directly at my feet, I witnessed a rabbit successfully escape from a hungry weasel. All these animals and birds brought messages and shared their medicine in unique ways.
I’ve enjoyed getting to know the same plot of land consistently over time. My body remembers what happens during certain times of the year and cues me to tune in to the change of seasons. My soul began nudging me a couple of days ago to go visit the bottle gentian, which only bloom for a short period of time in late summer. It was wonderful to greet my old friends.
After years of walking there, the trail is so merged with my cellular structure that it’s become a part of me.
It never gets boring because there’s always something new to see or experience. I appreciate the many different kinds of habitat in one small area. On just the loop trail, the path takes you by meadows, hardwood forests, pine forests, marshy areas, and streams. Just a little bit further and you can be on top of the bluffs.
I feel a deep connection to the nature spirits there because they have walked with me during the darkest days on my healing journey. They have supported me and been an integral part of my healing. Many times they have witnessed me in personal ceremony or held me when I cried, prayed, or spoke healing intentions to the Universe.
I feel very safe there now. When I first started walking at Steinke, I would jump whenever I heard a sound. I slowly began to appreciate the rustle of leaves on breezy days – and on windier days, the conversations the trees had when their branches rubbed together. The nature spirits eased my discomfort until I learned to decode the sounds of the forest.
I often return from a hike marveling at how time slowed down to embrace me. Sometimes it feels like I completely stepped out of time, and I’m surprised when I get back to my car and it’s just been an hour or two.
By the end of each walk, I’ve found myself again, and I’m much more at peace and connected to my soul. This is what draws me.
This work is real, and it matters.
September 5, 2021