Blood Money, Drug Companies, and Gardens

Dear Ms. Marianne Skolek,

First of all, let me applaud you for your staunch stand against rx drug abuse and your continuing investigative efforts to expose legitimate criminality in Big Pharma. We are all aware of those who have committed horrible wrongdoings for profit. You do a great service by publishing evidence of abuses in the pharmaceutical industry. You have dedicated your life to seeking much-needed reform, and I hope you never stop your honorable search for justice.

In addition, I empathize with the unimaginable pain you feel because OxyContin stole the life of your beloved daughter. I, too, have dozens of friends who have lost family members to rx drug abuse. I, too, know many other families struggling through the present addiction of a loved one and all the related devastation that dependency breeds. I despise the damage drug abuse inflicts.

I am, however, greatly puzzled by your comment to a blog post I wrote about seeking a large sum of grant money from Purdue Pharma to construct a healing garden that would contain a SOLACE National Memorial to the Victims of the Disease of Drug Abuse.

After reading my post, you commented,

"You are taking blood money 

from the people responsible 

for your loved ones addiction and death. 

Do not lose sight of that."

I assume by blood money, you mean "money paid by a killer as compensation to the next of kin of a murder victim." In other words, to you, blood money is money obtained at the cost of another's life. This is a common definition of the term -- a definition with a very negative connotation to most.

Encyclopedia Britannica relates the history of the term blood money by citing: "Among the Anglo-Saxon tribes, members of the killer’s kin group contributed to pay wergild, or blood money, to the kin of the victim. Kinsmen contributed according to the distance of the relationship to the murderer; the sum was divided among the victim’s kin on the same basis.

An additional entry follows: "Among many Indians of the northern Pacific coast of North America, blood payment was mandatory after killings in order to make peace possible, even when actual blood vengeance was also required. In most places there was no fixed standard, each group demanding as large an amount as possible. If agreement was not reached, a feud might result."

Please understand that blood money is, colloquially, a reward for bringing a criminal to justice. The American legal system is comprised of two very different types of cases, civil and criminal.  Crimes are generally offenses against the state, and are accordingly prosecuted by the state.  Civil cases, on the other hand, are typically disputes between individuals regarding the legal duties and responsibilities they owe one another.

Criminal offenses and civil offenses are generally different in terms of their punishment. Criminal cases will have jail time as a potential punishment, whereas civil cases generally only result in monetary damages or orders to do or not do something. A criminal case may involve both jail time and monetary punishments in the form of fines.

Criminal cases involving drug abuse are fairly common. When criminals employ drugs to cause death and/or injury, they must be severely punished. The legal system requires that crimes be proved by substantial evidence to the degree of "beyond a reasonable doubt."

Civil cases are proved by lower standards requiring "the preponderance of the evidence," which essentially means that it was more likely than not that something occurred in a certain way. The difference in standards exists because civil liability is considered less blameworthy and because the punishments are less severe.

I assume your negative connotation of "blood money" would apply to monetary damages paid to victims' families by a decision rendered in a civil case. To me, this reward is a far cry from the Biblical reference to "blood money" as the thirty pieces of silver Judas received in exchange for revealing the identity of Jesus to the forces sent by the Pharisees. Judas Iscariot committed an act of betrayal to receive payment whereas a court rewarding civil monetary damages is an act of retribution. Do you not believe in the American court system's policy of  retribution as punishment, Ms. Skolek?

I assume if you do think monetary retribution for death is "blood money," you did not want the court to favor the office of the Western District of Virginia in the 2007 settlement and order Purdue to pay $600 million in fines, including $160 million to state and federal health care programs and $130 million to resolve pending private lawsuits (Los Angeles Times, 5/11).

Purdue CEO Michael Friedman, general counsel Howard Udell and former Chief Scientific Officer Paul Goldenheim each did pay a fine ranging from $7.5 million to $19 million. Many of us, myself included, would have liked to see them do significant jail time but the court decided against that.

As part of that settlement, the court insisted that the money should go to finance community programs to help drug abusers, law enforcement aimed at reducing substance abuse and medical education to further reduce substance abuse.

Granted, to a person like yourself, Ms. Skolek, whose life has been ravaged by Purdue Pharma's Oxycontin, the fact that three Purdue Pharma executives pleaded guilty to misleading the public regarding the dangers of OxyContin and were fined is not sufficient punishment. You are working to ensure that criminals like the Purdue trio do not get away with these crimes or light sentences anymore. Your work is noble, indeed.

Still, I think the impact of the Purdue settlement made permanent gains for those fighting for change and determined to seek the proper responsibility for criminal actions. I, too, want justice, but I know the system moves slowly and often in tiny increments. Some of the payments even went to necessary treatment of those addicted to the drug and helped save lives. Even if the court did not thrust the point of the spear of punishment as hard as we had wished, it, at least, penetrated the thick skin of the greedy. I believe victims need more monetary compensation.  

I fully believe in retribution. Although it doesn't cure, retribution can help heal. By using money to construct a healing garden, the fruits of the settlement benefit families that have been struck by tragedy, those who now deal with dependency, and new generations that face the potential horrors of abuse.

Nothing could ever cure the pain you feel, Ms. Skolek. No amount of money or sympathy or justice could effect that outcome. I do believe though that some common ground must be shared by the manufacturers of pharmaceuticals and those damaged by their mistakes. Only then will better insight provide strong relief - a potential to heal.

Let me temper these comments by saying that I do not understand how hundreds (thousands?) of civil cases dealing with drug deaths are not being filed against criminal elements of the healthcare community and coming to trial in a speedy fashion. I hope anyone who has legitimate proof of wrongful death and permanent injury receives a good measure of justice whether the justice involves receiving the death penalty,  jailing guilty parties or requiring the villains to pay.

I personally know of many such culpable circumstances in my area of Scioto County. These shattered families should all seek measures to weaken criminal enterprises and bring unscrupulous professionals to judgment. If and when they take the parties to court and they believe judgments to be too lenient, they must help change the rules of the system as they build on tiny steps of positive progress.

Ms. Skolek, what you see as "blood money," 

I see as responsible retribution. 

Nowhere else in America has seen drug abuse

dominate the spirit, 

the will, 

and the lives of its residents 

like my home of Scioto County, Ohio. 

Many of the people here are actually ashamed of living in an area dubbed by one renowned national reality show doctor as "the small town (Portsmouth - the county seat) where everyone is addicted." What an unkind, unethical and untrue statement to make about a place willing to reveal the epidemic of drug abuse as a pertinent warning to the rest of the country while they pour every ounce of local resources into alleviating their problem.

We, in Scioto County, are a proud, common people with a powerful grass roots movement in place to end abuse. We have been accustomed, as Appalachians, to being regarded as an ignorant and backwards lot. This very "difference" applied by those who believe in the "dumb hillbilly" stereotype has made us stronger in common causes.

Although neglect and economic conditions contributed to our unhealthy state, we Appalachians fight best when cornered and up against tremendous odds. The large number of "drug sick" residents here have become the perfect willing victims of their own demise. Unfortunately, once-trusted institutions and professionals have gladly contributed Jonestown poison to these residents, and the distributors have exchanged their souls for their unholy love of money. At one time, we would have been able to exorcise our own demons, but now we have few resources to aid us other than the survival instinct.

We understand that a pill or a company in its very essence or, certainly, in its entirety, is not bad. Without the thoughtful manipulation by certain evil human beings, companies and their drugs cannot purposely kill masses of people. Justice demands that those who do manipulate evil devices be brought to trial. Yet, should every Nazi in Germany be held accountable for the sins of Hitler and his henchmen? Should every physician be held accountable for standing by while other doctors perform abortions? And, most aptly, should every victim of intense pain count each prescription he or she consumes as evidence of a pharmaceutical manufacturer's wrongdoing?

Please, Ms. Skolek, continue your good work to lift up the rocks and uncover the slimy creatures responsible for committing  rx drug crimes. That is what Scioto has done recently with the help of health officials, enforcement officers, lawmakers, medical and pharmacy boards, support groups, and scores of dedicated citizens. Much irreversible damage caused by many criminals has been done, yet the people here deserve every consideration of possible retribution. We are working for solutions every day and not sitting on "our fat, lazy asses" as some may stereotypically think.

As far as "blood money," I believe history and the legal system both have traditionally recognized the difference between bribe and compensation. I would never betray a victim of illegal drug abuse by taking "blood money." I am not, however, ready to denounce and punish an entire company for the sins of certain group members. I am willing to help change attitudes and policies through reconciliation and meaningful encounters. And, I am willing to continue my fight, no matter how perilous, against those who contribute, in any way, to abusing innocent people. If that means making the hoods cough up every bloody cent they plucked and returning it to the rightful owners, I will strive to do that.

To close, I would like to request your help, Ms. Skolek. With your resources and knowledge, I would like to begin a campaign to assist those who have been damaged by the destruction and death caused by OxyContin. If you know of someone who deserves compensation because criminals knowingly and purposely, either through their own disregard or illegal activity, caused such a tragedy, I want to begin writing letters to inform the proper authorities of their misconduct. If victims have necessary proof for trial, we will be doing them (and all of us) a favor by flooding the system with crucial information. We will be seeking justice for all.

Will Purdue Plant a Garden?

Purdue Pharma provides community grants to non-healthcare community groups in support of a wide variety of educational, cultural, and civic initiatives. They place particular emphasis on contributions to organizations in the communities in which their colleagues live and work. And, the company also supports local and national initiatives to help communities across the country encourage the healthy development of youth by reducing high-risk behavior, such as substance abuse.

The Purdue Healthcare Grant Review Committee considers healthcare-related requests by organizations (e.g., societies, institutions, hospitals), whether the grants are related to education matters (e.g., live programs, educational materials, general educational initiatives, research studies, fellowships) or non-education matters (e.g., charitable events).

Also, Purdue provides direct healthcare grants to foster improved understanding of scientific, clinical, and healthcare issues that help to improve patient care. All grant requests from healthcare-related organizations, whether the grants are related to educational or non-educational initiatives, are reviewed by the Purdue Healthcare Grant Review Committee.

I have taken the appropriate steps to initiate a request for a grant from Purdue Pharma in the amount of $150,000 to help The Scioto County Drug Action Team Alliance construct a healing garden that will contain the SOLACE National Memorial to the Victims of the Disease of Drug Abuse. We believe this setting will aid in improving holistic patient care for those who suffer pain and, thereby, help reduce drug dependency while providing a fitting memorial to those who have lost their lives to abuse.

The garden will serve the physical and mental needs of patients, staff, and visitors of the Southern Ohio Medical Center, and it will be an area to all residents of Scioto County. The many health benefits provided by a healing garden are well documented. In addition, the garden will provide an area of respite, transcendence, and education for all ages. As a place of congregation, both individuals and groups will find the garden conducive to relaxation, nature study, physical and psychological healing, and meditation.

Understanding Purdue's commitment to healthcare and to community improvement, I trust they will provide funds needed to construct a place that will help bridge the gap of understanding that exists between the thriving pharmaceutical industry and residents who reside in a county devastated by the illegal distribution of rx drugs. With the inclusion of a permanent SOLACE Memorial within the garden, a nation may better come to grips with the need to treat addiction as a deadly disease and to accept its many victims as tragic reminders of those we can no further suffer to succumb.

Money spent on this project will yield vast returns, not only to those in Scioto County but also to those across the nation struggling to find a medium between medication and alternative treatment. Here in our area, people must find new wills to cope with a sick economy and a sick spirit. The argument about whether lack of jobs or our pitiful social attitudes are most at fault for our decline is moot. Both are cancers with the potential to be terminal.

According to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index for 2010, our small section of Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia leads the nation in depression, percentage of unhealthy days, and "lack of energy to get things done." Without better health and increased drive, we will continue to suffer disproportionately. 

Here in Scioto County, we have come to grips with our situation. We have exposed a health epidemic related to drug abuse, and we have fought fiercely to eliminate major problems related to this abuse. We know what happens when greedy physicians and unscrupulous pharmacists assist drug dealers. Literally everyone in our county has suffered the horrible consequences of unethical minds feeding sick habits and criminal behaviors. No place in America should have to contend with the scale of death and destruction we continue to repel.

The earth of Appalachia has always been sacred ground to its loving inhabitants. But now, our hills, our streams and rivers, our hollows, and even our buildings and streets hold memories of better days gone by. With native stubbornness, we have distrusted the rich and powerful, and we have questioned almost any change. In a word, we have learned to become "stagnant."

Even in decline, we dislike the stereotypes outsiders use to belittle us and our hillbilly ancestors. We understand that our accents and peculiar customs have made us a "different" type of minority. Yet, at one time, we employed our own isolation to make strong, common bonds that served us well. But, today, that is no longer the case. Our population is either "looking back" while sinking in sadness or "looking ahead" while preparing to move elsewhere.

And, look what moved to the depths of our despair to take advantage of the remains -- the bottom feeders. They came with new business opportunities to set up mills of pills. They sprinkled pain relieving opiates like bread crumbs to attract those nearby and those far away. From Florida and Detroit carloads drove here to shop. Thousands took daily retreats as they snorted crushed capsules, swallowed opiate cocktails, and pushed silver needles into their skin. Damn, lots of folks got happy -- until reality slipped back in and they woke up on the bottom again. That is, the ones who did wake up because many perished as the chemicals took them over.

If I had the means and the brains, I would rebuild this area I love with a view of the future. I wouldn't complain about the lack of industry or the lack of retail stores or the lack of Dreamland Pool or the lack of any of "the way things used to be."

Instead, I would build on health -- the mental and physical health of all people. And, I would build on education -- the ability to think and reason in all people. I would spend all of my time and resources on  healing: 

(1) Healing the bodies of everyone from the smallest babies (officials say now up to half born here are addicted) to the bodies of the oldest seniors (some of which sell pills to pay their utilities) and

(2) Healing the minds just beginning to comprehend the results of their decisions to the minds weakened to the edge of dying.

I know I'm a crazy fool with an entirely different vision, but I think Scioto needs a garden, one that can help heal its citizens in body and spirit. And, a garden that will awaken the nation to the realization that thousands of beautiful, well-meaning people are needlessly dying each year of a disease -- a disease we all must take responsibility for curing. I pray Purdue helps us with this simple project on the home front -- maybe it could be a bridge of understanding and a road to a garden of hope.

Water: The Power, the Beauty, and the Glory

From The Brook by Lord Alfred Tennyson

"I steal by lawns and grassy plots,
I slide by hazel covers;
I move the sweet forget-me-nots
That grow for happy lovers.

"I slip, I slide, I gloom, I glance,
Among my skimming swallows;
I make the netted sunbeam dance
Against my sandy shallows.

"I murmur under moon and stars
In brambly wildernesses;
I linger by my shingly bars;
I loiter round my cresses;

"And out again I curve and flow
To join the brimming river,
For men may come and men may go,
But I go on forever."

Water provides soothing sights and sounds that help us relax and de-stress. When we are near enough to water to sense even its most gentle flow, it somehow sweetly harmonizes with the other elements of our human nature. Why this clear, colorless, odorless, and tasteless liquid has the power to flow directly to our souls and form a healing union is a mystery. Science defines water as a simple compound composed of hydrogen and oxygen, but water has more symbolic understanding than any other natural or man-made creation.

The four elements of antiquity -- earth, water, air, and fire -- dominated natural philosophy for two thousand years. The premise that everything was formed from these four elements was developed by the Greek philosopher Empepedocles of Sicily, and continued to be believed until the rise of modern science. Even today, earth, water, air, and fire are not bad symbols for the four states of matter -- solid, liquid, gas, and plasma.

Water characterizes change and is necessary for the survival of all things. A large part of the human body is made up of water. Our blood, lymph, and other fluids move between our cells and through our vessels, bringing energy, carrying away wastes, regulating temperature, bringing disease fighters, and carrying hormonal information from one area to another.

Water is a substance without stability. We can incorporate the symbolism of circulation, life, cohesion and birth by associating the creative waters of the earth with the fluids found in our own body.

"We call upon the waters that rim the earth,

horizon to horizon, that flow in our rivers and streams,

that fall upon our gardens and fields, 

and we ask that they teach us and show us the way."

— (Chinook Blessing Litany)

 Water Symbolism
Thus, it is natural that the symbolism of water has a universal undertone of purity and fertility. Symbolically, it is often viewed as the source of life itself as we see evidence in countless creation myths in which life emerges from primordial waters.

* In Taoist tradition, water is considered an aspect of wisdom. The concept here is that water takes on the form in which it is held and moves in the path of least resistance. Here the symbolic meaning of water speaks of a higher wisdom we may all aspire to mimic.

* The ancient Greeks understood the power of transition water holds. From liquid, to solid, to vapor - water is the epitomal symbol for metamorphosis and philosophical recycling.

* The Native Americans considered water to be a symbol of life (further solidifying the symbol affixed in many creation myths).
.
* The ancient Egyptians believed their beloved Nile river was akin to the birth canal of their existence.

*  Almost all Christian churches or sects have an initiation ritual involving the use of water. Baptism has its origins in the symbolism of the Israelites being led by Moses out of slavery in Egypt through the Red Sea and from the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan. After Jesus' resurrection he commanded his disciples to baptise in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20).

Throughout human history water and the natural beauty associated with it have been essential components in spiritual understanding. For example, simple waterfalls have a special ability to make us aware of the essence of our lives. We are impressed and moved as we watch water descending over rock edges and cascading into broadening pools. The symbolism and the real-life connection of H20 remain as important understandings.

"Water, thou hast no taste, no color, no odor; 

canst not be defined, art relished while ever mysterious. 

Not necessary to life, but rather life itself, 

thou fillest us with a gratification that exceeds the delight of the senses."

— (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)

Today We Recognize Negative Ions

While the West is only beginning to understand the benefits of water, its power has been known in the East for centuries. Through science, process of ionization and the structure of negative ions in widely understood; running water creates a unique effect known as negative ionization. Every time a drop of water splashes and breaks apart, the atomic structure changes to incorporate more negatively charged electrons. The effect of negative ions in water splashes is particularly noticeable near natural waterfalls and large fountains, where the air feels and smells clean, cool, and fresh.

For thousands of years, the Ancient Chinese have recognized chi as the universal life force found in all living things. According to Chinese principles, chi or life force in generated by water, food, and air. For centuries, fountains, koi ponds, and water features have been regarded as essential elements in the Feng Shui where water features are strategically placed to improve the flow of chi and positive energy.

By releasing clouds of negatively charged ions that purify the air, ponds and waterfalls create a relaxed stress-free atmosphere that feels miles away from the troubles of the day.

Water Features In Healing Gardens

From decorative fountains to pre-formed ponds and streams, water features have become attractive, popular garden amenities, and for good reason. The sight, sound and touch of water are relaxing and promote stress reduction and healing through their ability to captivate human understandings and imagination.

That's why water features involving water have been always important in the design of gardens, temples or cities in the form of canals, waterfalls, fountains and pools. In particular, falling or moving water has the ability to calm and inspire us. Just being around water is soothing, conducive to thought. Most fishermen don't consider the trip to the lake wasted if they don't catch anything. Gazing at it from the shore or from a boat is sublime.

Soothing sounds of flowing water help reduce stress by increasing endorphin production. Studies have found that variations in sounds produced by water can positively affect our level of relaxation. For instance, consistent bass sounds are relaxing enough to lower our blood pressure and improve our mental health.

As sensory delights, water settings fully engage us. Wetland plants can be spectacular, whether they are delicate water-lilies that float on the still surfaces of ponds, the brilliant cardinal flowers that populate marsh edges, or the carnivorous pitcher plants that grow in spongy bogs. And, the sounds of a trickling stream, a cascading waterfall or a bubbling urn produce pleasant, rejuvenating effects as these natural noises are conducive to reducing unwanted clatter, increasing creative productivity, and accelerating healing processes.

As well as providing benefits through aesthetics and sound, water features can act as highly effective air filtration systems. During warmer seasons, temperatures outside can be unbearable, as well as the energy bills to run air conditioners. Water features can help reduce temperature.

Water Features For Health

 “… Hospital patients who have a view of natural landscapes recover faster from surgery and require less pain medication. In addition, heart rate, blood pressure, and other measures return to normal levels more quickly when people view natural rather than urban landscapes after a stressful experience.” (The Sustainable Sites Initiative. Standards & Guidelines: Preliminary Report November 1, 2007.)

And, what is the value of natural artworks? The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has developed a study about the relation between art and health.This research took a broad view of how the relationship between art and health is articulated. It draws on an increasing body of evidence that focuses on the importance of such factors as increased well-being and self-esteem, and on the role of participation and social connectedness in the enhancement of people's health by building social capital.

Indicators for such improvements include:

• Enhanced motivation (both within the course of a project and in participants' lives more generally).
• Greater connectedness to others.
• People's own perceptions about having a more positive outlook on life.
• Reduced sense of fear, isolation and anxiety.
• Increased confidence, sociability, and even self-esteem.

One major aspect of stress in the medical setting is the feeling of loss of control. Water features in healthcare settings offer patients choices in their daily routine to help restore this sense of control. Visiting a water feature is a connection to the familiar outside world, totally unlike a sterile environment of a hospital or a nursing home. The patients feel less isolated as they reconnect with nature. Water features in healthcare facilities enrich and improve the lives of patients, staff, and visitors.

Westminster Village Retirement Community, Scottsdale, Az.

"If you' re not beside a real river, close your eyes, and sit down beside an imaginary one, a river where you feel comfortable and safe. Know that the water has wisdom, in its motion through the world, as much wisdom as any of us have. Picture yourself as the water. 

We are liquid; we innately share water's wisdom." 

— (Eric Alan, "Meditation Draws Its Power From the Water," The Oregonian (September 11, 2005))

Harper's Nursery, Mesa, Az.

"There is no music like a little river's . . . It takes the mind out-of-doors . . . 

and . . . it quiets a man down like saying his prayers."

— (Robert Louis Stevenson)

                      Holdeman Residence, Peoria, Az.

"All things are connected, like the blood that runs in your family . . . 
The water's murmur is the voice of my father's father." 
— (Suquamish Chief Sealth - 1854)

"To trace the history of a river or a raindrop . . . 

is also to trace the history of the soul, 

the history of the mind descending and arising in the body. 

In both, we constantly seek and stumble upon divinity, 

which like feeding the lake, and the spring becoming 

a waterfall, feeds, spills, falls, and feeds itself all over again."

— (Gretel Ehrlich, Islands, The Universe, Home)

McIlhenny Project

"We are never far from the lilt and swirl of living water. 

Whether to fish or swim or paddle, of only to stand and gaze, 

to glance as we cross a bridge, all of us are drawn to rivers, 

all of us happily submit to their spell. We need their familiar mystery. 

We need their fluent lives interflowing with our own."

— (John Daniel, Oregon Rivers)

Manolson Project

"A brook can be a friend in a special way. 

It talks to you with splashy gurgles. 

It cools your toes and lets you sit quietly beside it 

when you don't feel like speaking."

  — (Joan Walsh Anglund, A Friend is Someone Who Likes You)

"If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water."

— (Loren Eiseley, "Four Quartets," in The Immense Journey)

Pepper the Planet With Labyrinths

 

Sentara Health Campus

Life is walking a labyrinth,

I cannot always know which way I will turn,

or even see far ahead, but there are no tricks.

It is not a maze, no chance of getting lost,

trust in the path that has been laid for me

or in the path that I have chosen.

Walk it in trust, stop when a break is necessary,

and know that the center is always there.

    - Elizabeth H. Wiggins

A Brief History

The symbolic labyrinth is a series of concentric lines, carefully connected. This symbol and its family of derivatives has been traced back over 3500 years. The labyrinth occurs in different cultures at different points in time and in places as diverse as Peru, Arizona, Iceland, Scandinavia, Crete, Egypt, India and Sumatra.

The initial lines of human contact with these ancient forms are difficult to trace, so true origins remain mysterious. But, throughout history, a labyrinth has been known as a "magical" geometric form that defines sacred space. As a potent symbol, labyrinths have been an integral part of many cultures, such as Celtic, Mayan, Greek, Cretan, and Native American. 

Mediums employed for a labyrinth's use have been many and varied. To cite but a few of the forms, historical evidence has shown the medium could be (a) a simple symbol recorded in a mythology; (b) an artwork carved on wood or a rockface; (c) a design woven on a blanket or a basket; (d) a path laid out on the ground with water-worn stones in the desert or on shorelines, (e) a design used in a colored mosaic; and (f) a design in stone or tiles installed on the floors of villas, churches and cathedrals, or even cut into the living turf.

The classical, or seventh circuit labyrinth, is an ancient design found in many cultures. It has seven circuits. These circuits are the seven paths that lead to the center or goal. Also known as the Cretan Labyrinth, it is associated with the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur.

7 Circuit Labyrinth

The Cretan design may have spread quickly—and lasted for so many centuries—because the secret of how to draw it (using a seed pattern construction technique) was passed on from generation to generation and civilization to civilization. More intriguingly, the shape of the 7-circuit labyrinth also mirrors the motion of the planet Mercury in the sky over a long period of time. Did some ancient astronomer record this motion, and create the labyrinth symbol based upon it? We will probably never know. ("The History of Mazes and Labyrinths," http://www.amazeingart.com, 2012)

The earliest known use of the 7-circuit labyrinth symbol occurs on a clay tablet from the Mycenaean palace at Pylos in Greece. A fire destroyed this palace around 1200 BC, baking the clay tablet and preserving it for archaeologists. The labyrinth was probably a scribe's doodle, because the other side of the tablet was part of the palace records, and lists a number of men who were each owed a goat. This design has also been found on Cretan coins.

In the following centuries the identical labyrinth turned up on an Etruscan wine jug in Italy, on rock outcrops carved in Spain, on a roof tile of the Parthenon and even as graffito in an Egyptian quarry. The labyrinth also begins to be associated with another Greek legend, that of the fall of the city of Troy, around this time.

The Latin word for labyrinth is labyrinthus. The Latin word is from pre-Greek origins and means "double-edged axe", which was a symbol of royal power.

http://amazeingart.com/maze-faqs/ancient-mazes.html - For More History

This design was taken by the Romans and new forms were created for use on mosaic floors. Many Roman labyrinths are actually simple extensions of the Cretan labyrinth into four square quadrants. In fact, an image of Theseus slaying the Minotaur is often seen in the central compartment.

Most Roman labyrinths were too small to have been walked, and are typically found on the floor near the entrances to houses and villas; many have small city walls (perhaps indicating the walls of Troy) drawn around them. This suggests they served a protective function, and were perhaps believed to have warded off evil influences or intruders—a common function of the labyrinth in many other cultures as well.

There are over 60 known examples of Roman mosaic labyrinths, found throughout the Roman Empire at its height—from Italy to Egypt, Syria, and England. In addition to mosaics, one curious use of the labyrinth pattern is recorded by the Roman author Pliny. He wrote that large labyrinths were inscribed on the ground and were used as a test of skill by young Roman nobles riding on horseback. This ancient Roman game may have the beginnings of the turf maze.

Further developed during  medieval times, the labyrinth design then appeared on the floors of the Gothic cathedrals of Europe, on village greens and hilltops, on remote coastlines and islands in Scandinavia, up to the Arctic circle and beyond.

In the middle ages, the religious labyrinth symbolized a hard path to God with a clearly defined center (God) and a single entrance (birth). In earlier times, many people devoted to practicing their religions, could not afford to travel to Mecca, Mount Sinai, or other sacred and holy sites and lands, so labyrinths and prayer acted as a surrogate form of pilgrimage.

In Western Christianity, the mystical path is traditionally known as The Threefold Path.  There are three stages in the process of deepening a sense of union with The Divine, and we walk the Labyrinth using these stages.

1. Purgation: Walking in, a purging and releasing; and emptying and quieting of the mind.
2. Illumination: In the center, a place of meditation and prayer.
3. Union: Walking out, a sense of grounding and empowerment, a way to integrate and manifest our visions in the world.

Visitors Park and Recreational Trail Area, Fort Drug, NY

Modern Symbolism

The labyrinth is a symbol that relates to the wholeness of one. The circular shape and its pathways combine to form a metaphor for life’s journey -- a path of life on a single continuum. Today people walk the circuits of  labyrinths that have been constructed in many public areas. As they walk, they often seek solace and  continuity of the mind and soul along with some much-needed exercise.

Walking a labyrinth is a simple, direct experience with many potential benefits.Concentrating on the path is an "action-meditation" allowing people to focus on the moment. At the center one reaches a place for reflection. It is also a mandala - a schematized representation of the cosmos characterized by a concentric organization of visually appealing geometric shapes. As chattering thoughts cease during a walk, people may find a higher consciousness. The mandala serves as a tool for a spiritual journey as it symbolizes cosmic and psychic order.

The labyrinth represents a journey to a person's own center and back again out into the world. Having completed a purposeful and physical path, people may experience profound insights, truths or simple reflections about their lives.

As history relates, labyrinths have also long been used as meditation and prayer tools. In this sense, labyrinths can be thought of as a symbolic metaphor for a spiritual pilgrimage; people can walk the path, aspiring toward salvation or enlightenment.

Labyrinths are often confused with mazes. In the English-speaking world it is often considered that to qualify as a maze, a design must have choices in the pathway whereas labyrinths have one pathway that leads inexorably from the entrance to the goal, albeit often by the most complex and winding of routes. Thus, to qualify as a labyrinth, a design should have but one path.

Backyard Labyrinth

Research About the Benefits of Walking a Labyrinth

Today meditation is being used more and more in hospitals to reduce complications that occur when increased stress leads to a depressed immune system. Medical professionals around the world have begun to realize that mental factors such as stress make a significant contribution to a lack of physical health. As a result, efforts by mainstream scientific organizations to fund research in this area are increasing including the National Institute of Health's initiative to establish five new centers to research the mind-body aspects of disease in the U.S.

Labyrinth walking is among the simplest forms of focused walking meditation, and the demonstrated health benefits have led hundreds of hospitals, health care facilities, and spas to install labyrinths in recent years.The lesson of the labyrinth is simple: As long as a person persists, he or she will reach his/her destination.

* Meditation has entered the mainstream of conventional health care as a way to reduce stress and pain only within the last 35 years. The breakthrough came in 1976 when Ainslie Meares, an Australian psychiatrist, wrote in the Medical Journal of Australia that in some instances cancers actually regressed following intensive meditation. Meares went on to write several books about his findings, including, Relief without Drugs.(Meares, A. Relief Without Drugs: The Self-Management of Tension, Anxiety and Pain, Fontana, Sydney, 1970.)

* Research conducted at the Harvard Medical School’s Mind/Body Medical Institute by Dr. Herbert Benson  found that focused walking meditations are highly efficient at reducing anxiety and eliciting what Dr. Benson called the "relaxation response." This effect has significant long-term health benefits, including lower blood pressure and breathing rates, reduced incidents of chronic pain, reduction of insomnia, and improved fertility. Regular meditative practice leads to greater powers of concentration and a sense of control and efficiency in one's life. (Benson, H. The Relaxation Response - Updated and Expanded, the 25th Anniversary Edition. 2000)

* One report described anecdotal evidence of some beneficial effects of the “Classic Seven Path Labyrinth” for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, sex hormone changes, effects on vision, dyslexia and mental and nervous system disorders. (London, W. P. 1994. The healing earth project: An update, November 1994. The American Dowser 3:1).

* Danielson conducted a study to explore the psychologically transforming effects of walking a labyrinth. This study explored labyrinth history, resurgence, current uses, and discussed the psychological benefits associated with its use. The research  found walking a labyrinth increased awareness, encouraged more focus, and offered a deep connection with personal spirituality. (Danielson, K. J. 2004. The transformative power of the labyrinth. Unpublished masters thesis. Sonoma State University, California.)

* A letter to the editor of the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing described how, in 2000, a special team of northeast Ohio physicians, nurses, administrators, art therapists, and chaplains formulated an innovative and comprehensive model for cancer care. The patients had access within one building to high-quality cancer care that incorporated radiation therapy, medical oncology, and the Center for Body, Mind, and Spirit, an integrative health program that included healing gardens and a labyrinth. (Abdallah-Baran, R. 2002. Ohio labyrinth encourages powerful spiritual practice. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing. 6:6, 319-320)

* Abdallah-Baran also found how, at the Ireland Cancer Center in Elyria, Ohio, complementary and integrative therapies, including walking the labyrinth, in conjunction with conventional cancer treatment (e.g. surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, biotherapy), generated and promoted a patient culture rooted in holistic healing. The article included three examples of how two patients with cancer and a caregiver had incorporated holistic health care into their lives. (Abdallah-Baran, R. 2003. Nurturing spirit through complementary cancer care. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing. 7:4, 468-470)

*Schultz and Rhodes introduced research concerning the labyrinth as a way to deal with life stressors. The results showed a positive relationship of responses with definitions of healing in the holistic nursing literature. For a majority of walkers (66% - 82%) labyrinth walking increased levels of relaxation, clarity, peace, centeredness, openness, quiet, and reflectiveness, and reduced levels of anxiety, stress, and agitation. The experience of labyrinth walking supported recovery, renewal, integration of the whole person, and facilitating a sense of harmony. (Schultz, E. D. & Rhodes, J. W. 2011, June. The labyrinth as a path of healing. Poster presentation at the American Holistic Nurses Association Annual Conference, Louisville, KY.)

* Another study provided a randomized trial that showed the amount of stress some new nurse graduates are feeling, and how another group of new nurse graduates, by walking the labyrinth, was able to keep their stress in check. The research suggested developing creative ideas concerning stress management should become a larger part of nursing research. (Weigel, C, Fanning, L, Parker, G, & Round, T. 2007. The labyrinth as a stress reduction tool for nurse interns during the journey of their first year in practice. Healing Ministry 14:3, 19)

Barnstable High School

Conclusion

A garden is a soulful retreat and often a sacred space, whether it is a garden at a private residence or at a communal facility. Gardens provide much-needed respite. They serve as places for interaction with one another or as places for reflection and soul-searching. Gardens can help people explore the essence of life, foster personal growth and deepen spiritual awareness. They are places that engage the senses through the goodness of nature.

In the past, there was little commonality between garden labyrinths and meditation labyrinths. The earliest use of labyrinths was probably for rituals and ceremonies. Only the select were allowed to participate in these events. But, during the Middle Ages, walkable floor labyrinths appeared in the Gothic cathedrals of northern France starting in the late 12th century.

Meditative garden labyrinths of the 21st century offer simple paths for wholeness. Attractive structures that stimulate the mind are known to have great appeal, and now, the medical profession is discovering the great benefits to health labyrinths provide. Health facilities are employing their unique, interactive features in a healing/meditative garden setting. Benefits to patients, visitors, and staff  are cost efficient and mind altering.

Labyrinth and Healthcare

1. A quiet place where the simple act of walking offers a proactive way to ‘do’ something towards getting better.
2. An inviting way of getting exercise outdoors in nature.
3. A clearly non-medical environment where patients can share time with family and friends.
4. A place where patients can let go of the issues related to illness and injury.
5. A sacred spot where patients can express intentions and hopes for the future.
6. A perfect spot for a “get well” ceremony.

Delmar Baptist Church, Town and Country, Mo.

First Presbyterian Church, Livermore, Ca.

John Hopkins Medical Center

Peace Lutheran, Grass Valley, Ca.

Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church

West Clinic, Memphis, Tn.

When Walls Become Alive

The concept of the green wall dates back to 600 BC with the Hanging Gardens of Babylon..Legend says these gardens were built by King Nebuchadnezzar in the ancient city-state of Babylon so that Queen Amyitis, his wife, would have a lovely, private, terraced garden to enjoy. 

Amyitis, daughter of the king of the Medes, was married to Nebuchadnezzar to create an alliance between the two nations. The land she came from, though, was green, rugged and mountainous, and she found the flat, sun-baked terrain of Mesopotamia depressing, so the king decided to relieve her depression by recreating her homeland through the building of an artificial mountain with rooftop gardens. 

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. They were supposedly built along the bank of the Euphrates River (south of the modern day city of Baghdad, Iraq.)

No one knows if the gardens actually existed, but the gardens were rumored to be about 400 feet wide, 400 feet long, and over 80 feet high. Some historians believe the gardens were built in a series of platforms that all together were 320 feet high. There were paths and steps and fountains and gorgeous flowers, all build to make a homesick queen feel welcomed and loved. 

Caixa Forum Museum, Madrid

A "Living" Wall

Are you familiar with modern living walls? Some call these structures biowalls, green walls, vertical gardens, or Vertical Vegetated Complex Walls. The walls can either be free-standing or part of another structure, and they can be internal or external. A living wall is constructed from modular panels, each of which contains its own soil or other growing medium. This increases the variety of plants that can be used beyond the use of climbing vines.

The vertical gardens can also feature geotextiles and irrigation systems. Many designers prefer the structural media of "blocks" as the most robust option for a living wall for both exterior applications and for interior applications. These blocks are not loose, nor mats, but incorporate the best features of both into a block that can be manufactured into various sizes, shapes and thicknesses.

These block media have certain advantages: (1) They do not break down for 10 to 15 years; (2) they can be made to have a higher or lower water holding capacity depending on the plant selection for the wall; (3) they can have their pH and EC's customized to suit the plants; and (4) they are easily handled for maintenance and replacements. Depending on the installation, blocks do tend to be more expensive to install, but cost less to maintain.

Recently, the larger green walls concept has been utilized with innovative hydroponics technology by the French botanist Patrick Blanc.

Green walls are found most often in urban environments. Here, they are particularly suitable as they allow good use of available vertical surface areas. They are also suitable in arid areas, as the circulating water on a vertical wall is less likely to evaporate than in horizontal gardens.

The living wall could also function for urban agriculture, urban gardening, or for its aesthetic contribution as natural art. It is sometimes built indoors to help alleviate sick building syndrome.

 

Advantages of Building a Living Wall

• Living walls are extremely space efficient. Living walls make use of vertical walls - areas that would otherwise be wasted space in the garden. In small city lots, they are a perfect way to expand your garden and increase the number of plants you can grow.
• Living walls can help cut heating and cooling bills. On exterior walls, both the growing medium and the plants themselves provide insulation and shade to the sides of buildings, cutting heating and cooling bills, in many regions significantly. Interior walls provide insulation. Plant surfaces, as a result of transpiration, do not rise more than 4–5 °C above the ambient.
• Living walls also make excellent sound barriers to reduce unwanted noise.
• Living walls can improve air quality. Both exterior and interior living walls can improve air quality. So-called "active" living walls are specifically designed to provide biofiltration and improve air quality. "Passive" living walls may or may not significantly improve air quality, depending on the choice of plants.
• Some active living walls are also designed to reuse or purify greywater or stormwater runoff by absorbing dissolved nutrients. Bacteria mineralize the organic components to make them available to the plants.

Even More Possible Benefits of These Structures

* Living walls may have a positive impact on both physical & mental health and wellbeing. Green views and access to green spaces in cities help and relieve the everyday pressures of crowding and noise.

* Living walls may have a positive impact on crime reduction since residents living in ‘greener’ surroundings actually report lower levels of fear, fewer incivilities, and less violent behavior. 

* Living walls can benefit communities socially by instilling higher public esteem and pride for an area.

* Living walls are unlikely to be homes for graffiti. They improve the quality and perception of the urban environment, and can provide security as a dense and natural barrier for unwanted guests.

* Living walls can have seasonal variations in color, growth, flowers, and perfume which provide all year round interest.

* Living walls can provide local fruit and vegetation for the community.

* Living walls and other planting have the potential to increase residential and commercial property values by between 7% and 15%. They help to create a positive perception for prospective purchasers of property.

* Living walls soften newly built houses and give immediate character and warmth. 

* Living walls provide screening and /or barriers where fencing regulations may limit alternatives. 

* Living walls increase biodiversity, along with aid for food and shelter for wildlife.

"Our personal consumer choices have ecological, social, and spiritual consequences. It is time to re-examine some of our deeply held notions that underlie our lifestyles."

- David Suzuki

"The mistake made by all previous systems of ethics has been the failure to recognize that life as such is the mysterious value with which they have to deal. All spiritual life meets us within natural life. Reverence for life, therefore, is applied to natural life and spiritual life alike. In the parable of Jesus, the shepherd saves not merely the soul of the lost sheep but the whole animal. The stronger the reverence for natural life, the stronger grows also that for spiritual life."

- Albert Schweitzer

"When the act of reflection takes place in the mind, when we look at ourselves in the light of thought, we discover that our life is embosomed in beauty."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"The highest knowledge is to know that we are surrounded by mystery. Neither knowledge nor hope for the future can be the pivot of our life or determine its direction. It is intended to be solely determined by our allowing ourselves to be gripped by the ethical God, who reveals Himself in us, and by our yielding our will to His."

- Albert Schweitzer

"Follow your bliss and the universe 

will open doors where there were only walls."

- Joseph Campbell

Woodstock '69 Obscurity

Obscurity may be defined as "the quality or condition of being unknown." Can fame, "the state of being of great renown" coexist with obscurity? I certainly believe so. For example, someone today known as “Internet famous’’ (1) very well known among people who spent most of their day staring into a Web browser and (2) not going to be famous for very long.

Or how about a rock music "one-hit wonder" artist? Granted, sometimes popular performers still held in great esteem such as Janis Joplin only hit the Top 40 once ("Me and Bobby McGee" in 1971, incredibly after her death, making the song the second posthumous number-one single in U.S. chart history). Janis could never be considered an obscure artist in the annals of rock. But, how about other one-hit acts that gained great fame then suddenly faded into the musical sunset? I mean "Macarena" (1996) was wildly popular as the song blazed new trails in the dance music scene but few remember the obscure artist who performed it -- Los Del Rio. By 1997 "Macarena" had sold an astounding 11 million copies. But due to the obscurity of Los Del Rio, it was ranked the "#1 Greatest One-Hit Wonder of all Time" by VH1 in 2002.

I guess, when it comes to "one book wonders," many authors come to mind -- some very famous. Examples of the relatively obscure in literature include Harper Lee's only novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, which sold 30 million copies; and author Joseph Heller, who wrote several novels, but is still best known for Catch-22. Margaret Mitchell  never wrote another book after her first novel, Gone With the Wind, was a smash best-seller.

Here is a writing, "The Politician," that offers some food for thought in fable form.

"An Old Politician and a Young Politician were traveling through a beautiful country, by the dusty highway which leads to the City of Prosperous Obscurity. Lured by the flowers and the shade and charmed by the songs of birds which invited to woodland paths and green fields, his imagination fired by glimpses of golden domes and glittering palaces in the distance on either hand, the Young Politician said: 'Let us, I beseech thee, turn aside from this comfortless road leading, thou knowest whither, but not I. Let us turn our backs upon duty and abandon ourselves to the delights and advantages which beckon from every grove and call to us from every shining hill. Let us, if so thou wilt, follow this beautiful path, which, as thou seest, hath a guide-board saying, "Turn in here all ye who seek the Palace of Political Distinction.'"

"'It is a beautiful path, my son,' said the Old Politician, without either slackening his pace or turning his head, 'and it leadeth among pleasant scenes. But the search for the Palace of Political Distinction is beset with one mighty peril.'

"'What is that?' said the Young Politician.

"'The peril of finding it,' the Old Politician replied, pushing on."

- Fantastic Fables by Ambrose Bierce

But Today Let's See If You Have Ever Heard
Of a Very Obscure Band That Achieved Great Fame!?

This late 1960s rock group founded by brothers Jon and Dan Cole from the Boston area played many large venues while opening for acts such as The Jeff Beck Group, The Who, The Kinks, Deep Purple, Buddy Guy, Sly and the Family Stone, the Grateful Dead, and Janis Joplin. Once they even played before comedian Steve Martin took the stage. The "word" was that the group routinely outperformed many visiting Boston headliners.

And, as the legend goes, one of their early summer '69 appearances at Steve Paul's Scene, a New York City club, resulted in the debut of Johnny Winter and a late night super jam with Winter, Stephen Stills, and Jimi Hendrix. Not only did this band jam with these rock legends at the club that memorable night, but also their performance earned them an invitation to play Woodstock Music Festival.

One of the great assets of the group was its ability to mount a variety of instrumental and vocal configurations to play specific songs. Just as an example, Roger North, the drummer/percussionist, is still considered by many to be among the best technical and most creative rock drummers of that era. The other members -- Norm Rogers (guitar), Phil Thayer (keyboard, sax and flute), Jon (bass) and Dan (vocals)-- often would switch instruments to create different sounds and effects.

Undoubtedly, diversity was one of the band's strongest attributes. Jon and Norm both sang some lead vocals while Dan might be playing guitar, or even trombone,  forming a small horn section with Phil on sax; Jon would sometimes switch to guitar with Norm playing bass; Norm was known to trot out his cello on occasion; Phil even played bass while Norm and Dan played guitar and Jon sang; everyone participated in group vocals as needed. Though Dan was the primary front man for the band on stage, its ability to effectively and frequently change focal points and configurations was well-suited to the broad song writing ambitions of the Cole brothers, who were responsible for almost all of the band's material.

In addition to its unique original material, the band made its reputation throughout New England and New York on performance art by drawing the audience into the music. The band handed out rhythm instruments and exhorted the crowds to a near riotous dance frenzy. A number of famous bands that played on the same bill with them received lukewarm receptions after finding themselves no match for the excitement generated by this five piece band from Boston. After they disbanded, many other groups took up audience participation with incitement to rhythm.

The band was influenced by greats such as the Beatles, Dylan, and Pink Floyd. They played a hodgepodge of styles and worked out complex song structures with their unique vocal and horn arrangements. Yet they saw their music as a commercial proposition.

Playing Woodstock

Nice Guys Should Finish First.

At Woodstock, in addition to playing the main festival stage on Saturday, August 16, 1969, the group spent the week preceding the festival living at the setup crew's camp at a nearby motel, providing entertainment for the collection of stage crew, hog farmers, and festival workers. Festival promoters also hired the band as emissaries to a skeptical community: they played a series of goodwill concerts at nearby state prisons, mental institutions, and halfway houses as a gesture aimed at countering community concerns about the upcoming festival.

Jon Cole said of the experience, “It was a perfect setup for dealing with people who had difficulty finding their control switch. We pushed people to let go.’’

In the run up to Woodstock, seeing the market potential of the buzz that the band had already created with press and fans, and their coming appearance at the Festival with the potential for film exposure, Ahmet Ertegun, the legendary talent scout and president of Atlantic Records, agreed to sign them in the summer of 1969 to his Cotillion label.

Enter "Cruel" Fate. 

At the festival, after relentless, and torrential rain all Friday and through the night, the skies cleared just before the band was to play. Saturday, on a soaking stage and under a  beaming sun, the group played a 40 minute set of 4 songs ("That's How I Eat", "They Live the Life", "Waiting For You", and "Driftin'"), and was received enthusiastically by the mud-caked throng.

Some slight technical difficulty did hamper their performance, however. With the stage set high above the crowd and the sound system designed to carry across the fields, the band had difficulty making the kind of intimate connection they had mastered in the clubs.

As a result of its position as first on stage that day and the remaining disarray due to all of the rain, the group missed a key opportunity to appear in the Woodstock film, although that was the original intent of their manager Ray Paret and the band. The band was filmed, but a glitch in the film/audio system made it such that the audio and film were not synchronized properly. This rendered the footage unusable for the now famous film that made so many acts household names. The problem was fixed in time for Santana, the next act up, and their outstanding appearance in the film sealed the Santana's later unbridled success.

Oh well, Jon, who had twin toddlers at home at the time, found the fame backstage at Woodstock as "no picnic." He actually was put off by all the debauchery and said later, “I really didn’t like the indiscipline of the heavy druggies."


A Second Opportunity Comes Knocking.

Shortly after the festival, the band self-produced and then released its first Cotillion album, which made some impact, but did not gain national attention. The fact that the group's footage could not be used for the Woodstock movie seriously disappointed Ertegün and the band's record was never actively promoted, even though over the years it has attained some cult status.

Jon, who was, in many ways, the driving creative force in the band, left several months after that release to pursue other production projects in which he had an interest. With the assistance of New York producer, Tony Bongiovi, the other four members, in a collaborative effort composed enough material to produce and record a second album for Cotillion, but which the label chose not to release. The remaining four disbanded the group late in the Spring of 1970, going their separate ways.

Now, Jon, has given up on the music business altogether. He has lived in Hawaii for nearly three decades, where he has reinvented himself as a solar-energy expert. Dan works as a business consultant after years as an executive with Sony’s professional audio-visual products division. And, Roger, who played with the Holy Modal Rounders, has invented his own line of drums.

Now a rarity, the band's lone album can fetch big money in online auctions. Forty years on, the group is getting a bit of belated recognition for its unsung role in the Woodstock saga: Two of the four songs they performed at Woodstock became available when the music appeared on Rhino’s six-disc box set “Woodstock: 40 Years On: Back to Yasgur’s Farm.’’

“We were joking that we might actually get paid for Woodstock, finally,’’ said Dan Cole.

Did you know the band? The Boston band was Quill. Believe it or not, Quill never even achieved the status of "one-hit" wonders, but their place in rock music history is certainly famous although quite obscure. A twist of fate? What do you think?

"I'm afraid of losing my obscurity. 

Genuineness only thrives in the dark. 

Like celery." 

- Aldous Huxley, author of Brave New World

Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/obscurity.html#ixzz1kUtLTwnZ

http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2009/08/09/quill_founders_recall_the_bands_woodstock_set/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quill_%28band%29