Dear Readers,

It is not easy to get to, but that’s why it feels like a sort of pilgrimage to visit the Ancient Serpent Mound in Peebles, Ohio. I recently had the good fortune to make the trip to this preserved giant grassy snake-like form that undulates for over 1,000 feet. It is commonly believed that American Indians built this earthwork perhaps two-thousand years ago.

But, to me, the most meaningful qualities of this effigy relate to what we don’t know about it. Like, what was it used for? A burial ground? Ceremonial rituals? Or some sort of astronomical device? For the serpent’s oval head perfectly aligns with the setting solstice sun. Whatever the case may be, a timeless wooded natural environment gently enwraps the serpent and contributes to the beautiful energy of the site. And, as I slowly encircled the mound, I could sense a feeling of connection with our quiet, mysterious human past.