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| Approaching Buckman Springs. Photo © S. Varner |
Buckman Springs: White Blossom Woman
An Initiation Through Working with Nature
Linda Iles, ArchDrs.
Grove of Elen of the Ways and Llew of the Silver Hand
Isis, Lotus of Alexandria Lyceum
In the early summer of 1997 I wrote the following sentence to John Merron, who was my teacher while training to become
a priestess: "I know of a holy/healing spring that was sacred to the local Native Americans here in San Diego County, it is
called Buckman Springs." This was in response to a task that he required of his students, to visit a local sacred site and
contact local deities. I didn’t realize at the time how significant this place would become during the next several
years of my life.
I found Buckman Springs through a happy accident, one of those occurrences in life that just floats in so simply and quietly,
but changes everything in a split second. My husband Jeff and I had been out on a drive into East County, and stopped at a
rest area. While waiting for Jeff, I read some of the information posted about what to do and what to see while in the area.
Almost as an after sight, there was a one paragraph mention of a place nearby to the rest area, in fact it was the locale
that gave the rest area it’s name, Buckman Springs. The information said that it was one of seven naturally occurring
mineral springs (the only one with public access) that local Native Americans believed had specific healing powers. The waters
of these springs are 'lithia' water, which means they are naturally carbonated. They are also tinted
pink-orange-red due to the presence of iron oxide.
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| This spring is one of seven sacred springs in the area. Photo © Linda Iles |
I don’t think that my teacher John, was prepared for the effect that this task would have on me. Visiting a specific
site that had been held sacred by Native Americans brought up a great many personal issues. I have a small amount of Native
American heritage, Cherokee as a matter of fact. I was punished as a child if I ever mentioned this to anyone. It is true,
the majority of my bloodline comes from European stock - Welsh, Irish, English, Scottish and Dutch. I do not believe in implying
to be something I am not. I will never say that I am Native American, but I can say I am fortunate to carry a small amount
of Native American ancestry. The experiences I have had growing up, and along with what I know of the history in this land
of Native American cultures being suppressed or in some cases whole tribes being exterminated, meant I had issues to deal
with, as you may well understand.
All of this was running through my mind when we drove up to the site of Buckman Springs for the first time, and at the
same time I was filled with anticipation. Instead, when I arrived and got out of the car and looked towards the spring,
I wanted to cry. The area was defaced with graffiti, littered with broken bottles, shotgun shells, and even some old rotten
chairs and mattresses, plus a few other things I had rather not mention. In a word, it was not what I had envisioned.
Emotions raced through me, helplessness, sadness and then a fire welled up inside, a fire that initiated action. I knew
what I had to do, and set about doing it. An empty plastic bag in the car became an instant trash receptacle and I began to
pick things up, cleaning up what I could right then and there. After gathering up as much as possible, I knelt and prayed
by the side of the spring. I felt great sorrow as if the heart of the Spirit of that place was as heavy as my own heart;
from Her I felt reproach, sadness and some bitterness. I apologized to the Spirit for the disrespect shown to the area over
which It resides. Then I prayed to the Spirit at the spring and meditated for a while longer. I looked back as we drove away,
wondering if my prayers had done any good.
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| A closer view of the spring. Photo © Linda Iles |
The little spring beckoned to my heart again and again, called me to come back, the thought of a sacred place looking
like that would not let me rest. I continued to go back whenever I could, and I continued to clean up the area and pray by
the side of the spring. After several visits it started to look better. The Spirit of the place came to feel a bit lighter
with each visit. Each time I knelt down to pray at the side of the spring I felt what I can only describe as a softening.
Sometimes, during or after meditation at the spring there would be a strong, unaccountable smell of roses - with no rose bushes
within miles of the place. Finally I dared to ask the Spirit of the Spring about Her name, and I got the message that She
would show me in Her own time.
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| Yucca blossoms at Buckman Springs. Photo © J. Iles |
I wasn’t able to return for a few months afterwards, but on my next visit there were two yucca plants blooming with
tall stalks of creamy white flowers on either side of the spring. From that day forward I have always referred to the Spirit
of that spring as White Blossom Woman. Shortly after this, someone carted the old chair and mattresses away, something I had
wanted to do, but hadn’t the resources or physical strength to do myself - and the remainder of the graffiti was painted
over! Even with these physical signs as affirmations, something in me still wondered if I was doing things right and in the
most respectful way. I have distant ancestors whose names, whose clans, whose way of life are not my own. Yet their blood
calls from time to time, and I wanted to respect the gift of life they passed on to me through the generations. I wanted ‘to
do them proud’, as the old southern saying goes.
This was how things stood between Buckman Springs, White Blossom Woman and myself when I went to Isis Oasis for ordination
in October of 1997. I was standing under the Great Fir Tree at Isis Oasis, accompanied by deTraci Regula, waiting for others
to show up for the ordination ceremony. We were approached by a beautiful woman with long white hair. She said to me, "Are
you the initiate?" and when I said yes, she asked if she could clean my aura with sage smoke and told me her name was White
Buffalo Woman. Then she said her husband wanted to chant a song for me.
Her husband walked over, tall and regal, his features spoke plainly of his Native American heritage. He told me his
name was Robert Standing Bear, he was from Phoenix, Arizona and did a lot of ceremonial work as a shaman. He and his wife
were not associated with the FOI, he had arranged to attend the Convocation because the spirit had told him there was something
he must do there. Robert asked permission to chant a song for me he had written, and addressed me as his sister. He
knelt down on one knee in front of me and beat a beautiful hand painted drum and sang in a Native American tongue.
I was so moved, tears ran down my face - deTraci‘s eyes weren‘t completely dry either! Afterwards Robert told
us when he saw me standing under the Great Fir Tree, the spirit told him I was his sister and told him what he was to do.
He said the song called on the Spirit of the Eagle to help the initiate receive spiritual power. Robert and his wife sat a
distance away as others gathered for the ordination ceremony.
After ordination I was able to talk to him again for a few minutes. This was when Robert told deTraci and I he was
a member of the Cherokee nation. I said I had a small amount of Cherokee blood. "I know," he said to me, " that’s
why I called you my sister." I told him about Buckman Springs and my work there. He nodded his head and said "That’s
what you’re supposed to do." Then he said, "The spirit never wants you to be ashamed, for we are all one color in the
heart, I came to tell you that."
I have never seen Robert Standing Bear or his wife, White Buffalo Woman since that day. But his words have remained a healing
balm in my heart.
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| A close up of bubbles rising to the surface of the pool. Photo © Linda Iles |
Postscript: I have continued to visit Buckman Springs. deTraci Regula, Ian MacWatt, deTraci’s mother the late
Lorna McGaw, and Diveena, who now lives in Hawaii, have all traveled with me to this special place; and I have used water
from Buckman Springs in two different presentations at Isis Oasis for ritual work.
I feel as though both sides of my ancestry were acknowledged by Spirit for my ordination that weekend at Isis Oasis. Magical
circumstances had allowed Caroline Wise and Johnny Merron of London to attend the Convocation. Johnny was able to be physically
present to sponsor me, along with deTraci during the ceremony, with Caroline as witness. Another synchronicity, Johnny in
earlier years had a profound experience after drinking the iron-red water at Glastonbury - the water at Buckman Springs is
also tinted iron-red.
About the Author: Linda Iles is an ordained priestess in the Fellowship of Isis and the Temple of Isis.
She is certified and teaches as a head instructor in all branches of the Fellowship of Isis, including
the Adepti Spiral, the College of Isis, Solar Alchemy of the FOI Priesthood, Noble Order of Tara and Druid
Clan of Dana. Linda is a founding member of the Circle of Isis Advisory Board of the Fellowship of Isis, a member
of the Circle of Isis FOI Central Website staff, and a founding member of the Temple of Isis, Geyserville Chapter of
the Muses Symposium. Linda undertakes some of the editorial duties for the Mirror of Isis. She has been an
active teacher, given presentations at FOI events in Los Angeles and Geyserville and contributed articles,
poetry and illustrations for Fellowship of Isis publications for ten years.
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