“There exists in nearly all of humankind an innate need to be connected to the natural world” -Attleboro Springs Welcome Sign
“We think of landscapes of healing as an ideal, a potential, something to strive for but what is ideal for one person is not for another” -Gesler and Kearns, Page 137
Introduction
On a sunny and brisk late September morning, I ventured north to Attleboro, Massachusetts with my mother, chocolate Labrador and camera. Nestled in the woods behind the National Shrine of our Lady of La Salette, the Attleboro Springs Wildlife Sanctuary encompasses over 100 acres and includes multiple trails, bodies of water and rich plant life. Through the efforts of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, Mass Audubon, Attleboro Land Trust and the City of Attleboro, the Sanctuary has become, as it once was in the past, a wildlife preserve, home to a wide range of creatures, such as birds, frogs and turtles.
Google Earth © 2012 image of Attleboro Springs Wildlife Sanctuary
This history of the Sanctuary is complicated but offers insight into its current state as a place of healing. Over one hundred years ago, James Solomon had the idea of building a sanitarium to care for cancer patients. However, Solomon was not a medical doctor. His work focused on herbal remedies and he found the future location of the Sanctuary to have healing capabilities based on its rich environment and natural spring. He decided to pursue this dream and, with backing from a local businessman, constructed the facility. However, due to lack of funding, the sanitarium was closed and the Methodist Church purchased the land to use it as a retreat center in 1919. In 1942, the La Salette Missionaries purchased the land and constructed the Shrine. They used Attleboro Springs, the Methodist Church’s new name for the land, as a retreat landscape for pilgrims to the Shrine. A fire in 1999 destroyed what was left of Solomon’s building and parts of the landscape. In recent years, with the help of the organizations listed above, the Sanctuary has been restructured and maintained. Without significant human involvement, the area has been able to return to its natural state of wildlife.
I chose to visit this Sanctuary because of its origins as a sanitarium and its unique healing properties. As an aspiring medical professional, I have an interest in healing others and believe that this can be achieved through methods beyond just prescription drugs or surgical corrections. My goal of this trip was to explore the Sanctuary from both a visual perspective and a healing perspective and then try to understand what connection may exist between the two at this place. I entered the Sanctuary with a series of questions in mind. These included: What is this place? Is it a place of healing? Do people use it as a place of healing? How does a place, such as this, act as a facilitator of the healing process?
Brother’s Pond
I began my time at the Sanctuary at the base of Brother’s Pond along the Reflection Trail. Following the trail, I walked along the eastern edge of the pond, surveying the shallow waters. I came across a variety of animals that did not scurry away despite my presence. Countless tadpoles crowded the water’s edge- the shallowest part of the pond- to absorb the warmth from the sun. Alongside these tadpoles, turtles sunbathed on logs and rocks protruding from under the water. Silence filled the air, except when interrupted by a tree swaying or a frog croaking. Perhaps the most important observation that I made at this pond was the still environment. As seen through the photographs below, the water was calm and leaves delicately floated on the surface. I found the reflection of the surrounding environment on the water’s surface to look like a beautiful watercolor painting. A series of chairs had been placed on a porch overlooking the pond and allowed for one to rest and admire the calm, pleasant area.
Reflection Trail
I continued on the Reflection Trail and headed towards the first of two vernal pools. Parts of the trail, although marked by gravel, had been overwhelmed by plant growth. Vegetation, such as grass, weeds and mushrooms, could be seen everywhere. Another thing that I noticed about the trail was that it was heavily wooded. At certain times, it was difficult to see the sky and little sunshine made it through the foliage. Furthermore, trees and braches could be seen encroaching on the path, making one feel more a part of natural world.
Vernal Pool
Upon seeing the sign for the Vernal Pool, I was disappointed. What had been a small body of water undoubtedly full of life was now lacking water. After researching vernal pools, I have found that they are generally at their peak in the spring (hence the name vernal) and all vernal pools dry up from time to time. While this area lacked water, the ground was moist and clearly had held water recently. When I went to collect a sample of the ground material, I observed insect life below the dirt’s surface. Although intended for both small amphibians and insects, at this point, this vernal pool was proving a safe heaven for just insects. Unfortunately, the area where the second vernal pool was located, off of the Meadow, was completely dried up and it was difficult to identify where the pool would have existed.
Puddingstone
Continuing along the trail, I came across a collection of large rocks named Puddingstone. Intricately put together, these rocks offered a different sight and texture when compared to other aspects of the area. While trees loose leaves and braches and the water levels in the pond and pools change, the rock structure has remained virtually same. This fixed aspect of the Sanctuary provides comfort and variation to the other parts.
Foundations of Healing
Immediately past the Puddingstone was a sign that read “Foundations of Healing.” I was excited to see what this part had to offer as it sounded like it would provide insight into the relationship between the healing process and the Sanctuary. However, immediately behind the sign was simple foliage, both small and large trees. There was nothing different about this part of the Sanctuary and others. This struck me as very odd and I sat on Puddingstone, across from the Foundations of Healing sign, to think about this. However, I think that the fact that it was not drastically different was part of the point. Minus the sign, this part of the Sanctuary was completely covered in wildlife. If one looked straight ahead, into the wooded area, one could only see more trees and foliage. Given our reliance on society and technology, the false notion of endless nature provided me with a type of comfort that I could not remember having experienced before. This speaks to the quote provided above and links nature to the healing process.
The Meadow
Continuing along the Reflection Trial, I shortly came to an incline, which opened up into a magnificent field. The Meadow, as it is named, was full of grass up to my ankles and contained flowers along the edge. Walking in the Meadow provided me with a sense of liberation. Throughout my time in the Sanctuary, I had sensed a unique pressure. I felt as if nature was coming towards me from all angles: trees and branches from above and the sides and vegetation from below. I did not consider this pressure to be bad but entering the open Meadow allowed me to appreciate my surroundings in a new way. One unique aspect of the Meadow was a bench towards one of the far edges. Facing directly into the forest, this bench reminded me of the Foundations of Healing spot and the idea that nature plays an instrumental role in the healing process.
After Thoughts
After reflecting on my experience, I believe I have found answers to the questions posed above. The Sanctuary’s lush environment, sun rays pushing through the trees and calming wildlife noises shape a place that connects the individual to nature. This relationship is a strong spiritual connection between people and nature and it is within this relationship that I believe healing can occur.
Although not stated at the site, I would classify this space as a therapeutic landscape. Between the turtles and frogs sunbathing on the banks of the pond to the fragrance of evergreen pines, this space kindly forces the individual into a close bond with nature. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the Sanctuary is the vernal pool. By definition, a vernal pool is a safe heaven or a place for growth and regrowth of insects and small amphibians. After thinking about the Sanctuary as whole, I began to view the area as a vernal pool for humans. At its core, it is a place of refuge, rebirth and healing. Similar to how insects and small amphibians find safety and protection from predators in vernal pools, the Sanctuary allows a person to escape from the commotion of society and find comfort in ‘getting away from it all.’ This idea is further seen in the Foundations of Healing area. Looking straight into the forest, this spot hints towards nature as a place of solitude and facilitator of healing.
As seen in Gesler and Kearns’ quote, places of healing may not be ideal for all people. In order for the healing process to occur in a natural space, such as Attleboro Springs, the individual must embrace nature and be willing to spend time and effort reflecting in the natural setting. I have found that the Attleboro Springs Sanctuary, through scenery, sounds and smells, clearly engages with one’s physical and psychological state in an attempt to aid in the healing process.
References
Gesler, Wilbert M., and Robin A. Kearns. Culture/Place/Health. London: Routledge, 2002.
Google Earth Images. 2012.
La Salette Home Page. National Shrine Of Our Lady of La Salette, 2007. Web. 27 Sept. 2012. <http://www.lasalette-shrine.org/>.
Appendix
This image shows samples taken from the various labeled spots within the Sanctuary. It is important to note the absence of water in the Vernal Pool sample on the far right. As discussed above, this is due to a lack of water at the Vernal Pool site. The dirt found in that area is seen in the bottle to its left.
