Many places are created to provide refuge and peace. Today, I talk with one of those places, but encounter multiple attacks. The gift of disernment shows me, in hindsight, what I initially missed. Apparently, there are those who don’t want stories of light and goodness to cover the land.
Preparing to discern the spirits of the land
September 17, 2025. My husband and I have almost finished a 2.5 hour hike along the Ice Age Trail at Chippewa Moraine State Recreation Area in Wisconsin. It’s a gorgeous Wednesday afternoon, and we had the trail entirely to ourself.
As we’re finishing the last little leg before returning to the visitor’s center, we come upon a beautiful prairie on our left. The bees are going crazy on the goldenrod, preparing for winter. Ready to be done, my husband continues on.
However, since I’m never one to pass up an opportunity to talk with the land, I stop. Each land has its own story, and I’m on a quest to gather and share these stories, to learn from the land and the spirits that inhabit them.
What is the lesson that you learn as you listen today?
A goldenrod prairie shares its purpose
I stop and turn to face the goldenrod, taking a few steps forward until the tall, yellow flowered stalks surround me. After saying a prayer, I ask the land, why are you here?
The guardian of the land comes up first. He is very large. I would say tree-like almost. Very broad, stout. Man, these guardians are huge. Ten feet tall. He comes and sits down in front of me. Oh, goodness. He is actually a child. Wow. Maybe he's not?
"Why are you here?" He is menacing.
"I am simply here to talk with the land, to hear her story, and to share it with others who also want to know her story."
"No one has done that in a very long time."
"Yes, I know. It is my understanding that there are more like me who are returning again to the earth."
He seems pleased. As he gets up and walks away, he turns around and says, "be careful what you ask for." And he leaves.
I ask this prairie, why are you here?
"I am here to be a place of refuge for those seeking to hide, those looking to hide from the world, to escape from the monstrosities of men. And from the carriages that have been created to demean and to deface and to defile. The world is so very harsh but I am gentle. Listen to the breeze. Is it not peaceful? I am a space for those who wish to play, to escape, to be renewed, to find joy. Is it not joyful being here among my flowers?"
"It is, actually. I think so. It's beautiful."
"Thank you."
"How are you different from other lands?"
“Oh, well each land has its purpose, so I simply know the purpose for which I was made.”
"Can you tell me about your guardian?"
“Oh, I have many guardians. The one that you encountered was just one of them. I am grateful for them. They help keep this space safe.”
"Do you have anything else you would like to share? Or is there anything else you would like me to ask you?"
Spiritual attack on the prairie
As I say that, some being comes up from the land in front of me and lunges at me to strangle me. I'm barely able to deflect his arms. I turn as we fall to the ground so that I am on top when we land. As I stand up, he has gone back into the ground.
He comes again, but this time I am prepared, so I simply deflect and spin him around and hold him out at arm's length.
“You must not be here. You are not welcome.”
“I'm sorry you feel that way, but I think I am.”
Off to my right, in the corner of my eye, I see Jesus walking toward me. I am happy to see him, of course. I simply extend my arm and give him this being who has attacked me.
The voice of Jesus is omnipresent.
"Be at peace, child. You are doing extraordinarily well. Not all stories are meant for all people, but you receive them all. You have ears to hear. You are a marvelous warrior. Do as seemeth you fit with these stories. Have fun in your days. Is it not beautiful here?"
“Yes, it's glorious.”
"Yes. The goldenrods prepare things for the fall. I created them that the honeybees and the monarchs and many other bugs would receive the energy that they need to take them into the winter. They will do the same for you if you consume them. Drink their tea. Combine it with some rose hips. It will do wonders for your being."
“Sounds wonderful.” I barely finish the thought, when Jesus turns and attacks me. Obviously, he's not Jesus. I simply deflect, and he's gone.
Why wasn't I protected?
“Excuse me, Prairie.”
“Yes, child.”
“Why is the guardian of the space not protecting me from those who are attacking me?”
“Oh. It does not know that you need protection. Do you need help?”
“No I guess I don't.” I’ve had enough of being attacked, so I withdraw my attention from the spiritual realm and return to focusing on the sunlight, the bees on the flowers, and the breeze. Calmly, I pick up my hiking bag and head off to find my husband.
Discerning a counterfeit Jesus
It is not unusual to encounter attacks when talking with the land or when trying to do good. I think of the story of Joseph Smith when he saw Heavenly Father and Jesus when he went into the grove of trees to pray, to know what church to join. One of my favorite parts of that story is that before he saw these beings of light, he encountered darkness.
The darkness was so strong that it almost overpowered him.
I like that story, not because there's darkness, but because it is highly instructive that when we go and seek for the light, we are going to encounter evil or darkness in our search for the light because it doesn't want there to be more light brought into the world and into our lives.
As I reflected on this particular experience where it seemed that Jesus appeared, I noted that the counterfeit Jesus spoke words that were almost identical to things that I've been told. Yet there was one small phrase that kind of. It was a little bit different. That just wasn't quite right when he said it.
He said, "not all stories are meant for all people." While it is true that most will not receive or even accept these stories as I share them, they are meant to be shared far and wide. I know that because I've been taught that over and over. Also, the guardian I initially encountered did warn me.
Nevertheless, I am so grateful for the opportunity to continually refine my awareness of light and dark and how they work and more importantly, to know that our loving Heavenly Father has created so many places of refuge, relief and light for us. There are always places that we can go to find that relief and to find that light.
It doesn't have to be out in nature. It can just be within your own home. When you open your scriptures or you pray or you listen to hymns. May you find your own place of rest and peace, wherever and whenever you need it.
