Mountain Light Sanctuary - Gardens & Grounds |
Gardens & Grounds
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Merlin's Bridge Entry into the Sanctuary from the Pisgah national forest brings you across Merlin's bridge, a rustic log and board gateway into a world of enchantment. Standing on the bridge and looking upstream to your left, you see the confluence of Dragon River and Cloud Mountain Creek as they meet after cascading many miles and thousands of feet from their hidden sources high in the mountains. Click for more photos... |
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The Entry Gate Crossing the bridge, immediately to your right is a small parking area and stone steps leading up to a Japanese style gate, entry to the Sanctuary. As you enter you are facing a small rock garden with a standing stone painted with the Chinese characters for Mt. Light Sanctuary or, literally translated: "Temple Of The Illuminated Mountain." Click for more photos... |
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Stone Circle If your tradition is Celtic, it is a stone circle. If it is Native American, it is a medicine wheel. For many of us, it is both. Standing just beyond the Grotto of the Divine Feminine, and built according to guidance, the circle includes 32 standing stones set at a distance of 13 feet to the center. Here a perpetual flame is kept burning in the Celtic and Cherokee traditions - a flame that serves as the living heart of the Sanctuary. The stone circle both honors the perpetual flame and serves as a ceremonial center for the Sanctuary. Click for more photos... |
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Grotto Of The Divine Feminine Between the hermitage and elflodge you will find the Grotto of the Divine Feminine, a womb shaped and walled grotto with a small statue of Guadeloupe, the patron saint of Mexico. It is said that Guadeloupe is actually a "makeover" of the Aztec goddess of the Earth, Tonatzin, a necessity forced upon the indigenous people by the conquistadors. At any rate, many visitors find this spot to be very special, offering a powerful connection with the feminine energy of the Earth. Click for more photos... |
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St. Francis Garden A Sanctuary such as Mountain Light would not be complete without a garden or shrine devoted to St. Francis of Assisi. In this simple garden, enclosed with a split rail fence, St. Francis stands quietly as a silent reminder that - when all is said anMountain Light Sanctuary - Facilities & Retreats - Elfhaven Lodged done - Love is the most powerful force in the Universe. Click for more photos... |
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Japanese Garden Stepping through the gate and stone walls of the Japanese garden you enter a dark, cool green world of flowing water, moss covered rocks, ferns, vines and a sense of utter peace and timelessness. The simple stone path is laid out in such a way as to slow you down, cause you to pause and to notice the little things which are often missed when we move too fast. The whole garden was built as a metaphor for life's journey. There are many inner secrets hidden here for those who take the time to find them. And a good place for taking such time is the little teahouse, perched at the upper end and offering a panoramic view of the garden. It is the ideal place for quiet contemplation. Click for more photos... |
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Vegetable Garden Just beyond the Stone Circle is the vegetable and flower garden laid out in seven fifty-foot rows separated by three-foot wide sodden paths. Plantings vary from year to year but usually include a nice variety of vegetables & flowers that provide fresh food for body and soul throughout the summer. Click for more photos... |
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Dragon River The Sanctuary is bordered by a cascading mountain river that separates us from the national forest; A half million acres of mountains, streams, forests, caverns, and one of the densest concentrations of medicinal and rare mountain plants anywhere in the Appalachian mountain range. A trail begins just on the other side of Merlin's bridge and links with hundreds of miles of trails all over Western North Carolina and Virginia. Click for more photos... |
| Scrapbooks Enjoy these photos from around the Sanctuary, including our outdoor shower, composting area, swing, elfbridge, recycling area, hammock, wee folk, peace pole, Earth flag, sunrise and various panoramas. |
