Sacred Water Blessings

Deer Park, located in a forest in Bucks County not far from New Hope, is a spiritual oasis for me. I’ve had many transformative experiences visiting there. One in particular stands out.

In September 2013, my men’s group was having a Gathering of Elders at Deer Park. Our keynote speaker was Grandma Aggie, a member of the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers who created an alliance for the healing of Mother Earth and are a “voice for the voiceless,” speaking out for animals, trees, the water and for all beings. This is about the water.

Grandma Aggie told us she would do a Water Blessing using sacred water she gathered from many places around the world. She asked that we supplement her sacred water with ground water from Deer Park.

I took responsibility for collecting the Deer Park water and learned from the Camp Manager about the Aquetong Spring, hidden by trees at the entrance to Deer Park, and its spiritual significance. “Aquetong” means “at the spring among the bushes”.

Before European settlement, the Lenni Lenape tribe lived near the Spring and it’s believed that a revered sacred Tribal Head Man was born there. Although the land around it has long since been developed, the Aquetong Spring is still a place held sacred by local Native Americans, who regularly visit and leave prayer ties at the site. (If you visit the Aquetong Spring, please be respectful and do not touch or remove any prayer ties you might see.)

So, in September 2013, Deer Park’s sacred water was combined with sacred waters from around the world. The spiritual impact of that on the planet is unknowable and eternal.

This story was graciously written by Scott Lederman. Would you like to be featured on our blog? We are looking for experiences that touch the readers heart. Please email Kimberly Monks for more information. – [email protected]