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Columbia River Gorge
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Note about visiting Quinn Mountain:
Quinn Mountain and its labyrinth are private places on 40 acres of private land. NOT open to the public for drop-in visits. Open to visitors BY APPOINTMENT only, please. Donations by visitors are gladly encouraged and used to support projects and activities of the West Columbia Gorge Humane Society No-Kill Animal Shelter, Washougal, WA. |
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Name: Labyrinth of the Wind |
Features of the Labyrinth of the Wind |
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Date built: 2011 Location: EcoPlace at Quinn Mountain, 10 miles east of Washougal WA, a 40-acre private retreat and our home in the Gifford Pinchot Forest, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, with views of Cape Horn Bluffs, WA, and Angel's Rest, Larch Mountain, and Bridal Veil, OR. Owners-Builders: Christina Brittain, ecopsychologist and labyrinth designer and L. W. ‘Bud’ Quinn Size: 9-circuits including center, 70’ in diameter Materials: Brick, pea gravel, sand, trees, native plants, medicinal flowers, herbs Access: Open to the public by appointment. NOT a public place. Please call first. Phone 360-837-3711 Cell: 360-513-9066 |
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Naming the Labyrinth: This Labyrinth is named in honor of wild nature that speaks to the Columbia River Gorge in a myriad of voices. Gorge winds from the east and west converge above Quinn Mountain…torrid summer winds and frigid winter winds from the high desert to the east, and rain-laden winds from the vast Pacific Ocean to the west. Most of the time, Quinn Mountain is sheltered from winds by the high mountain to the east and the Cape Horn bluffs to the west. However, when east winds become severe (over 50mph), they deflect off the face of the Cape, coming back to encircle Quinn Mountain and the Labyrinth in a spiral of invisible energy
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Guest accommodations at Quinn Mountain
EcoPlace at Quinn Mountain offers two cozy retreat suites with private entries as well as walking path, woodland and meditation gardens, ponds, outdoor giant checkers, horseshoes, greenhouses, secluded Aerie on the Mountain, and Labyrinth of the Wind. Info at Visitors by advanced reservation. Info at Columbia Gorge Retreat. Also consider a day stay!
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About its conception, Christina says: “As I connected to the bare land on which the Labyrinth would be built, I did not visualize perfectly aligned circuits or geometrically aligned shapes. Instead, my intuitive wisdom revealed ancient, winding paths with irregularities to cradle and nurture native plants and herbs, all in harmony and balance with this special place where wildness abounds.” |
“As I began laying out the Labyrinth, I sensed the bare ground warmly receiving its paths, and the trustable intelligence of nature coming forth with a loving spirit and energy…ready to lead seekers to enhanced lifelong wellness and joy.” “To my delight, the center, and main path to and fro, unexpectedly revealed a keyhole...most fitting for a journey to awakening and embracing 'genuine self.' |
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About Labyrinths in general: The labyrinth symbolizes the cyclic journey that each of us must take daily and seasonally throughout our lives as we follow a path to unity and wholeness. While reaching the center of the labyrinth is a goal, every participant in this ancient ritual will approach the center and then be taken back to an outer circuit that is far removed from their destination. |
0000 Eventually, however, the center is reached. The lesson of the labyrinth is may be different for everyone who walks it, every time it is walked. Within the labyrinth , a walker may find that his/her mind quiets, breath slows, and time slips away out. For some who walk, the many left-to-right and right-to-left turns experienced while walking the labyrinth may cause a vestibular response that temporarily balances both the logical and artistic activities of the brain. Much like swinging in a swing, walking the labyrinth can provide a centering experience. Some who walk may find it to be a path for prayer, introspection, self-discovery, or meditation. |
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Location of Quinn Mountain described on Cape Horn USGS Bridal Veil Quad, OR, WA, Topographic Map: Quinn Mountain is just east of Cape Horn, which is a Cliff in the state of Washington, County of Skamania, located at latitude - longitude coordinates (also known as lat-long or GPS coordinates) of N 45.57262 and W -122.19509. The nearest town is Bridal Veil, OR. |
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Quinn Mountain labyrinth design: |
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Above: This illustration shows a 3-circuit labyrinth. The Quinn Mountain labyrinth has 9 circuits, counting the center, and is both a forest labyrinth and a garden labyrinth. It is based on an ancient, primitive design with a long history of use for reflection, meditation, self-discovery, and deep healing. |
This very simple design was chosen to reflect the vagaries of nature. One who walks this labyrinth follow along the tracks or circuits from one outside point to the center where there are sitting places for reflection and contemplation, and then back out to the point of origin. This design follows the attraction of a labyrinth to draw a person into the center, and then back along the same path on the journey back to the outside. |
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Healing benefits of labyrinth: A big inspiration for this labyrinth is to help Bud Quinn with the challenges of lung disease. The quiet power of the labyrinth helps him to feel more connected to his breath as the condition makes it difficult to utilize oxygen to keep his system well. |
Part of the existing kitchen garden area at Quinn Mountain is being enhanced with the addition of a labyrinth. It is not really a Labyrinth...when it is replanted, it will be a kitchen garden with a labyrinth within it. The entry to the labyrinth faces directly west toward the Cape Horn bluffs. |
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Looking down on labyrinth area from the upper garden at Quinn Mountain in the Columbia River Gorge and across to Oregon. |
The Cape Horn bluffs tower over Quinn Mountain and the Labyrinth of the Wind in the forest of the Columbia River Gorge. |
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According to most labyrinth scholars, notably Jeff Saward, a well-known British scholar of labyrinths and creator of Labyrinthos.net, quoted here: "A true labyrinth has no false pathways or dead ends to deceive the explorer. Instead it consists of a single meandering pathway which leads inexorably from the entrance to the centre, and back out again. This symbol and its family of derivatives has been traced back some 4000 years; its origins are still mysterious. |
As many stories are told as mythologies exist, but in all the labyrinth seems to symbolize the path to be followed, in daily and seasonal cycles, in life, death and in rebirth. The expanding and contracting circuits mimic the path of the sun in its travels across the sky, a recognition of the perpetual rebirth of the sun each morning and every year and beyond this may exist a cosmology, an ancient understanding of the cycles of time, all safely concealed within the labyrinth, locked up in numbers and movements." |
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There are three stages of the walk:
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Guidelines for the walk: Quiet your mind and become aware of your breath. Allow yourself to find the pace your body wants to go. The path is two ways. Those going in will meet those coming out. You may "pass" people or let others step around you. Do what feels natural. (Information from Grace Cathedral)
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Branches of the tall maple at the center of the Quinn Mountain labyrinth acts as a 'Sky Tree' to connect those who walk it with the energy of the heavens, while its roots reach down to the healing powers of deep Earth.
Circuits of the labyrinth will be lined with red brick. Plantings will help define bounds of each circuit and ground the labyrinth in wild nature.
A drip irrigation pipe will be hidden along edges of each circuit to water the plantings.
Squash plants watch the progress with great excitement and anticipation. They already feel the powerful energy of the labyrinth coming to greet them.
The small rock slope on east side of labyrinth with be planted with culinary and medicinal plants and herbs as well as native ferns and evergreens.
Additional evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs and grasses will be added to the Quinn Mountain labyrinth as a way of further connecting and blending the labyrinth into the surrounding forest.
Wildflower seeds will be sown along the perimeters, too. |
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Log rounds for seating are placed at the center of the Quinn Mountain labyrinth under a maple tree and in various places around the outer circuit where walkers can sit quietly and gain inspiration from nature. |
Progress on the Quinn Mountain labyrinth continues: Irrigation pipes are laid along lines of circuits from outside to middle to water plants with low emission drippers that will be installed to water new plants as they go into the ground. Bricks are being laid to protect irrigation pipes and define circuit lines in the labyrinth. |
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Another view of bricks being laid along circuits of the Quinn Mountain labyrinth.
Note that the circuits are NOT in exact alignment or repeating shape as they would be in 'traditional' labyrinths. This is because I felt that perfect alignment was more a reflection of more recent science-based logic and geometry of modern humans than ancient universal wisdom.
Instead I turned to my studies and practice of ecopsychology that suggested I follow the ancient ways of nature, which always seeks harmony and balance, but is not bound to perfect symmetry.
I let the design come to me by arousing my inborn wisdom and asking it to work in cooperation with nature to reveal the most attractive paths. It is this same evolutionary 'knowing' that instinctively guides all living things to enhanced wellness and joy.
In addition, the irregular paths will allow more room for adding plants to the labyrinth to further connect it to the forest. |
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View looking toward the southwest where a natural pond lies below the Quinn Mountain labyrinth.
Another single walking path will go from the west side of the labyrinth to the lower pond where there will be quiet places to sit under the trees.
A cedar grove will be added to increase the tree count in this area.
Native riparian vegetation is being added to the edge of the pond. It is home to native frogs, toads, salamanders, and rough skinned newts. Herons often fish along the margins of the pond. In spring, ducks and geese seek refuge here. |
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The lush forest of native firs, cedars, alders, big leaf maples, hazelnut bushes and more wrap the Quinn Mountain labyrinth in a supportive, nature cloth of green. In the fall, the majestic big-leaved maples will swath the area in colorful bands of yellow and orange. |
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All the bricks in the Quinn Mountain labyrinth are in place and the drip irrigation pipe has been installed along each circuit. At left, the rock grotto will comfort and cradle those about to enter the labyrinth, or wish to meditate in quiet solitude after their walk. |
At right, from above the Quinn Mountain labyrinth, one can enjoy the view across the Columbia River to Angel's Rest promontory point and the little town of Bridal Veil. The labyrinth itself is hidden from view by a forest of tall trees, and more will be planted this fall. |
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The perimeter of the Quinn Mountain labyrinth as well as the center and the paths in and out are covered with hemlock bark shavings in contract to the earthen color of the walking paths. |
The paths and center form a keyhole design...fitting for a journey that can open the door to awakening and embracing 'genuine self.' Labyrinth has a magical quality in the evening with a light summer breeze rustling the leaves overhead in the canopy of the trees. |
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The shadows of the trees above the Quinn Mountain labyrinth lengthen with the day to cast the paths in light and shadows along the journey to the center and back out again. |
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Tall older trees and thriving young firs are growing up to add concealment to the Quinn Mountain labyrinth from above and on all sides.
Quinn Mountain's newly built sister labyrinth on the Cape Horn Bluff is not so shy.
She is clearly visible from many key viewing places in the Gorge.
Here she is seen from Quinn Mountain in the open space cut into the trees along the ridge line |
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The long branches of maples above and around the Quinn Mountain labyrinth form a natural roof of swaying patterns of light and shade as well as soft rustling sounds to soothe those who walk its paths. |
The Quinn Mountain labyrinth is cradled and concealed in its own natural mountain and forest grotto. Quinn Mountain to the east, Salmon Falls Ridge to the north, Cape Horn bluffs to the west, Larch Mountain to the southeast and Pepper and Salt twin peaks to the south. |
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Quinn Mountain's 'Labyrinth of the Wind' has a beautiful, new sister labyrinth atop the nearby Cape Horn bluff.
Cape Horn Labyrinth built by US Forest Service with 3-circuits of stone and gravel offering views west to Rooster Rock State Park and Crown Point, east to Beacon Rock, Multnomah Falls, and Bonneville Dam.
For information about the new Labyrinth along the Cape Horn Trail at Cape Horn, Washington, go to Cape Horn Labyrinth |
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Quinn Mountain Labyrinth Dedication planned for the Summer Solstice - June 2012 Our original plan was to dedicate the labyrinth this month with the expectation that we would have some of the circuit and perimeter plantings in place. We did not count on the two week blast of summer heat that would have caused the hardiest transplant to wither. We decided this week to wait until the summer solstice next June for the dedication. By then, it will really be coming into its own, clothed in green, and ready for visitors. I will change the web site to reflect the new plan. Thanks for spurring us to confirm our new plan. We will send info for the NW web site when we get closer to the date. You are most welcome to visit us and the labyrinth anytime this fall. It would be so exciting to meet and chat with you. Labyrinths are so new to us that everyone and everything associated with them is a wonderful learning experience. The September Equinox The September equinox occurs at 09:04 (or 9:04am) Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on September 23, 2011. It is also referred to as the autumnal or fall equinox in the northern hemisphere, as well as the spring or vernal equinox in the southern hemisphere (not to be confused with the March equinox). This is due to the seasonal contrasts between both hemispheres throughout the year. The equinox will occur in the evening of September 22, 2010, for locations on US Eastern Daylight Time or further west. To find the September equinox date in other time zones or other years, please use the Seasons Calculator.
What happens during the September equinox? The sun crosses the celestial equator and moves southward in the northern hemisphere during the September equinox. The location on the earth where the sun is directly overhead at solar noon is known as the subsolar point. The subsolar point occurs on the equator during the September equinox and March equinox. At that time, the earth’s axis of rotation is perpendicular to the line connecting the centers of the earth and the sun. This is the time when many people believe that the earth experiences 12 hours of day and night. However, this is not exactly the case. The June Solstice The June solstice is known as the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere contrary to the southern hemisphere, where it is known as the winter solstice. Its date varies from June 20 to June 22, depending on the year, in the Gregorian calendar. The June solstice occurs at 17:16 (or 5:16pm) Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on June 21 in 2011.
Varying datesIn the Gregorian calendar the June solstice dates vary. For example, it occurred on June 20 in 2008 and falls on June 21 in 2009. A June 22 solstice will not occur until June 22, 2203, which is 193 years away from 2010. A June 22 solstice previously occurred on June 22, 1971. The varying dates of the solstice are mainly due to the calendar system – most western countries use the Gregorian calendar, which has 365 days in a year, or 366 days in a leap year. As for the tropical year, it is approximately 365.242199 days, but varies from year to year because of the influence of other planets. A tropical year is the length of time that the sun takes to return to the same position in the cycle of seasons, as seen from earth. According to Swinburne University of Technology, the exact orbital and daily rotational motion of the Earth, such as the “wobble” in the earth's axis (precession), also contributes to the changing solstice dates. The June solstice explainedThe June solstice occurs when the sun is at its furthest point from the equator – it reaches its northernmost point and the earth’s North Pole tilts directly towards the sun, at about 23.5 degrees. It is also known as the northern solstice because it occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere. According to Swinburne University of Technology, if the earth's rotation was at right angles to the plane of its orbit around the sun, there would be no solstice days and no seasons. The June solstice day has the longest hours of daylight for those living north of the Tropic of Cancer. Those living or travelling to the north of the Arctic Circle are able to see the “midnight sun”, where the sun remains visible throughout the night, while those living or travelling south of the Antarctic Circle will not see sun during this time of the year. For those living near the equator, the sun does not shift up and down in the sky as much compared with other geographical locations away from the equator during this time of the year. This means that the length of day temperature does not vary as much. The June solstice marks the first day of the summer season in the northern hemisphere. The word solstice is from the Latin word “solstitium”, meaning “sun-stopping”, because the point at which the sun appears to rise and set stops and reverses direction after this day. On this day, the sun does not rise precisely in the east, but rises to the north of east and sets to the north of west allowing it to be in the sky for a longer period of time. In the southern hemisphere, the June solstice is known as the shortest day of the year. It is when the sun has reached its furthest point from the equator and marks the first day of winter. In 2012, summer solstice will be June 20.
Excerpt above from http://www.timeanddate.com |
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Information on building the labyrinth at Quinn Mountain in the Columbia River Gorge near Cape Horn came from 'The Complete Guide to Labyrinths' by Cassandra Eason, The Crossing Press. |
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My beautiful daughter, Teresa Hill, sent me three book for my birthday. One book is 'exploring the labyrinth, A Guide for Healing and Spiritual Growth' by Melissa Gayle West, Broadway Press. Full of useful information about creating, building, maintaining, and walking a labyrinth. Thank you, Teresa.
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