Maine, United States
Courage and honor endure forever. Their echoes remain when the mountains have crumbled to dust.
—Wiccan Code of Chivalry
Maine’s spectacular Mount Desert Island with its crashing waves, sparkling waterways, forested mountains, craggy coastline, granite cliffs, and invigorating sea air became a refuge in the nineteenth century for wealthy families seeking solace and respite. For the indigenous Wabanaki (People of the Dawnland), the island they know as Pemetic (the sloping land) was sacred. For practitioners of Wicca and other Earth-based spiritual traditions, the island’s wild beauty has ideal places to cast sacred circles for gathering spiritual strength.
To spend time in a restorative natural setting, you can’t beat Mount Desert Island, home to Acadia National Park. The best time to visit is mid- to late summer. Drive to the island town of Bar Harbor from Bangor or Boston.
Take a reflective stroll along a coastal path or one of the historical carriage roads used by walkers. Find a quiet spot and cast a magical stone circle. Commune with the energy of this island sanctuary and give voice to your desire or intention. Offer prayers of declaration, courage, and gratitude.
Mount Desert has only four towns, and yet the island accommodates more than two and a half million tourists annually. The island’s Cadillac Mountain is the tallest on the eastern seacoast and where the sunrise is first seen in the United States.