Land Encounters
Shadows and Stones in the Hudson Valley
Several years ago, I went on a tour to Ireland, called Shadows and Stones, led by Sylvia Perera, a Jungian therapist and art historian, Michael Paull, a historian at Lehman College and folk singer Cathie Ryan . We visited several out-of the-way areas -- many just fields with odd stones. Hearing the stories behind these cairns gave a whole new depth to landscape. It holds memory It was a magical experience. I brooded all the way home:
What! I have to go to Ireland to get in contact with the 'other' who have been before? There must be places right here in the Hudson Valley!
That began a long and somewhat difficult seach right here in the Hudson Valley for our places of Shadow and Stone. Many are Lenape Indian sites; some seem to pre-date the Lenape.I have found several and am happy to share what I know and take people to these places:
- Lenape Indian Rock Shelters: the famous Dutchess Quarry Caves,the Ball and the Minisink Rock Shelters.
- unusual stone structures in a creek bed in a public park
- interesting stone features near Fitzgerald Falls on theChester- Greenwood Lake border
- Churt quarries along the Appalachin Trail and in a public park
Information on local Lenape:
'Portals' to elsewhere
