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| Voluntown Peace Trust |
My final walk, from the 2019 Walktober Calendar of Events, took place on a perfect fall day in early November. The purpose of these events, hosted by The Last Green Valley, is to bring awareness to this area of New England which has been designated a "National Heritage Corridor." The 35-town area between Norwich, Connecticut and south-central Massachusetts is the only area between Boston and Washington, D.C. that still has a true dark night sky, unspoiled by excessive light pollution. So, this 54-acre land trust, owned by the Voluntown Peace Trust, was the perfect place to end this year's events, with a peaceful walk through the woods and a prayerful, meditative labyrinth walk.
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| Meeting house |
On the property, there are a number of small buildings for rent which could be used for small conferences, workshops, retreats or weddings. At other times these buildings are used to promote nonviolent action, social justice, organic and sustainable living practices, and in the summer months as a retreat space for inner-city youth.
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| Undergoing renovations is a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired house |
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| South-side view |
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| Inside is a spiral staircase, kitchen facilities and plenty of bedroom space |
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| Front-view |
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| This yurt is also available for retreats |
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| A yurt is a Mongolian tent. The walls and ceiling fold up into a small bundle for easy breakdown, moving, and set up in a new location. |
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| A sky light provides some light |
After a tour of the main facilities, we began our walk through the woods. The first thing we saw was berms built 11,000 years ago by the native inhabitants. The berms, built near a stream, formed a pond for holding fish. This area of Connecticut was inhabited by the Narraganset, Pequot, and Mohegan tribes.
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| 11,000 year old Earthen berms surround a small pond |
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| Close-up of berm |
In more recent times, Voluntown was one of the locations of King Philip's War (1675-1676). King Phillip is the name the English gave to the Wampanoag sachem Metacom. While most of the war, caused by colonial land grabs and the killing of three Wampanoags, took place in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, volunteers from Connecticut participated in many battles. Sadly, many Native Americans and colonists died in these violent battles. After the war, these volunteers were granted land to form their own plantations - hence the name Volunteer town or Voluntown.
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| Our trail crossed over the same winding stream in several locations |
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| Small bridges made the crossings easy |
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| Our guide tells us about this sculpture, which gets decorated each season |
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| Close-up of mother and children |
We saw beautiful views of the stream, woods, and crisp blue fall sky.
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| Stream at Voluntown Peace Trust |
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| Another view |
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| Cool, crisp air and a deep blue sky |
We came upon another building, Ahimsa, named for the Hindu word which means respect for all living things, and nonviolence in thought, words and deeds. Gandi's non-violent protests were a great inspiration to the founders of the Peace Trust, who first walked together in the 1960's, from New York City to Connecticut, to protest the use of nuclear weapons.
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| At Ahimsa, we learned how to use our "deer ears" |
While at Ahimsa, located by the stream, we learned how to cup our ears, folding them forward to amplify sound, just like the forest deer do when listening for predators. It's a great way to focus on the sounds of nature - a babbling brook, rustling leaves, and birds chirping.
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| Another small cabin on the grounds |
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| An old chimney and foundation remain from a time when there was a Finnish recreation hall and sauna on the property |
Our last stop was the Voluntown Peace Trust Labyrinth. The purpose of a labyrinth is to walk a purposeful path to your center and then back out into the world. You are asked to pray for peace as you walk the labyrinth's path.
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