Simorgh and Sacred Oak Sanctuary Deck

At the end of my property I have an easement that goes down a hundred foot-slope. It’s an undeveloped flora and fauna corridor for wildlife in our wild/suburban township. After clearing the space of hundreds of feet of in-ground poison oak, I cut steps into the slope and installed an 8x6 floating deck nestled under twin coastal live oak trees. Meant for a one or two person sanctuary, writing, and meditation space. I then created a seaweed figure of the Golden Simorgh bird, a Persian phoenix, to honor the story Clarissa Pinkola Estes tells of the little birds who believe that somewhere there is an inexhaustible life force to which they fly over four mountains and valleys—only to be told by the great bird that their faith in coming has made accessible the golden feather they each carry in their heart from birth.