Big Break Regional Shoreline is a warm, inviting park in the fertile River Delta waters of Northern California. I had an incredibly touching interaction with the gentle Spirit of the Land who shared about the healing attributes of this special place. Read on to discover more.
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Park Overview: Big Break Regional Shoreline
Where: Big Break Regional Shoreline, Oakley, CA, USA
Indigenous Lineage: Miwok, Yokut and Ohlone Native American Tribes
Landscape: Delta shoreline, wetlands
Trails: Yes
Difficulty: Easy
Visitor Center: Yes - with activities and education
Family Friendly: Yes - with playground
Toilet Facilities: Yes
Big Break Regional Shoreline is part of the 1150-square-mile Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The water flowing past Big Break through the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers represents half California's water flow and is responsible for the largest estuarine environment on the Pacific coast.
Big Break is a small bay at the edge of the San Joaquin River and lies in the zone where salty seawater meets fresh water snowmelt and runoff from the Sierra Nevada mountains. The mixing of salty and fresh water creates a fertile habitat leading to species diversity, including a diverse population of birds and fish.
Nature-lovers can walk directly to a covered dock to view the magnificent River Delta waters, or take a trail on a 15-minute loop through the marshlands.
About an hour east of San Francisco, Big Break Regional Shoreline's open hours and activities vary depending upon time of year, so check out their website to make sure you have a successful visit.
In the Words of the Gentle Delta Spirit
Nourishment from The Great Delta Mother
The Spirit of the Land stood at the edge of the field holding a basket full of food harvested from the lands. "This is a place of nourishment, nurturing, community, and balance," she said. "These lands have fed all of Mother's children for thousands of years."
I asked, "What do you want me to tell the people about you?"
She was quiet for a moment.
"People can come here to lay down their burdens and be nourished. There is enough here. Lay on the lawn by the dock and give your worries to the Earth - let her hold you. My gentle winds bring nutrients from the land and water to your spirit body, nourishing you on all levels. Walk along the grasslands and listen to your Earthly Relations play amongst the reeds, sing in the bushes, and splash in the waters. Be inspired to play yourself. Sit at the water's edge and reflect as the wind makes patterns on the surface. Watch the tides gently rise and fall, noticing how the land accommodates the ebb and flow of water. When the surface is still, take in the beauty of the great mirror - above as below. And so it is within you. Come here for rejuvenation. Lay your burdens down and leave nourished by the love of the Great Delta Mother."
Experiencing Big Break
Big Break is a place where you feel a warm invitation from the land to spend time there. The wetland landscape is subtle, yet incredibly alive with its palpable diversity of life. As you walk, the grasses quiver with excitement as your take in their beauty. Birds dart back and forth, turtles sun themselves on rocks in the water, wild turkeys jaunt along with their chicks, and you may even catch a glimpse of a scurrying skunk, rat, or mouse.
The water's edge is an incredibly calm, meditative place. The vast views of the sky reflect on the placid waters and invite you to dream. Majestic herons glide to patches of cat tails to hunt fish and crawfish. You have a sense that life is balanced and abundant. The waters flow gently, influenced both by the great fresh water rivers inland, and the mighty tides of the Pacific Ocean.
Big Break Regional Shoreline is a wonderful place to connect with very active, potent lands without taking a multi-day hike out into the wilderness. Great for a daily dose of nature, the park is also excellent for families and is a great place to introduce children to the strong nourishing forces of the Earth.
About Connecting with the Land
This series highlights beautiful spaces I've experienced in my quest to (re)connect with the land. In these writings I hope to inspire people to connect with nature near them with open heart and mind to experience these vital relationships in new, fulfilling ways.
Visiting natural environments is a vital part of deepening connection with Mother Earth. Each location has different land spirits stewarding the area as well as diverse human lineages. All land holds the memory of its history as well as potent medicine for all people with open minds and hearts willing to connect to our Earthly Relations.
Go forth and commune with the lands around you.
Happy Connecting!
Have you been to Big Break Regional Shoreline?
Yes, so beautiful!
No, not yet.
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