Sacred Objects: Working with Stones

Last week we talked about how to begin a relationship with stones and crystals. That blog post was received so well that I wanted to follow up by diving a little deeper into the subject. As I mentioned in the post Introduction to Working with Stones and Crystals the approach that I offer is one that points to learning to access our intuitive abilities. This article will continue this theme. To me it is a nessesary foundational practice that will support us in all aspects of our lives. 

In this article I want to talk about Stones specifically. The best way to begin the conversation is to introduce you the the stones that I work with daily. Talking a bit about them and how I came to carry them I feel will help to shed light on the qualities that stones carry that are unique to them. I also hope this information will help you notice how Stones show up in your life and how to hear what teachings they hold for you.

It is believed in some traditions that the Stones hold the archive of all of history in their being. They are the remains of our ancestors and speak to us from beyond time and space to teach us lessons that have been lost or forgotten. Wisdom once held sacred by those who walked in harmony with the Earth. Other teaching share that rubbing cornmeal on their surfaces will reveal hidden messages. One thing I know for sure is that they hold wisdom about how to come into harmony with the Earth. It is up to you to discover how that wisdom is expressed.  

Disclaimer: I want to say first that I am not a geologist, I’m not versed in the composition or formal names for different kinds of stones found locally or globally. For those that may read this that have more education in that area than myself forgive my ignorance. Feel free to add your wisdom in the comments, I am very receptive to learning more! 

Let us begin with the definition of Stone

The hard, solid, nonmetallic mineral matter of which rock is composed.

The photo above is a picture of the stones that I work with on a regular basis. I will share individual photos of each stone as well as the teachings and uses of each later in the article. But for now, I want to tell a story about how many of my sacred objects have come into my care. 

Personal Path

I walk the Shamans Path. This means I have been initiated into knowledge that permits me to walk between worlds and act as a guide, interpreter, facilitator and teacher for those that are called to work with me. My purpose is to remember who I truly am. I have committed my life to this call that I’ve been hearing since I was a child. In turn I share what I have learned along the way to help point those that wish to work with me back to themselves and the power they carry to reclaim the wisdom and knowledge of their unique expression of Spirit. What I share with you in this article comes from this path of initiation. I do not claim that it is THE way, it is a way, my way. If it resonates with you, that is wonderful. If it doesn’t I honor that and trust you will as well. We each have our own unique expression and role to play. First and foremost you must question and find out for yourself what is True. I offer this information as an opportunity to explore that Truth. Trust yourself. You know the way. 

Sacred Objects

In the facilitation work I do I have a lot of help. This help shows up as energies that I work with in Spirit such as the Ancestors, Guides and Spirit teachers. There are also the Sacred Objects that have found their way to me. These Sacred Objects have many purposes and uses. They are all teachers showing me how to use them, teaching me the qualities and guiding my Vision. The ability to listen through the heart is key to being receptive to what a Sacred Object has to share and learning to be receptive to this subtle communication in all its forms. This is a powerful and valuable practice.

Humans often fall into the delusion that we are the most evolved beings on this plane of existence. This belief robs us of the magic and knowledge that is flowing through all things. I invite you to open yourself and listen from the heart. You may be surprised by what you discover if you are willing to give it your attention and trust what you are hearing. 

The Stones

Each of these stones has a specific role to play and has taught me specific skills. They are my ally’s and I could not have learned the skills that I carry without them. They are extremely valuable to me. I hope that by reading this article you will recognize or discover the relationship you have with the stones in your life and celebrate them. Honor them. Give them gratitude. Ask them to share their secrets with you. At the end of this article I will offer a practice for honoring and learning to listen to the Stones in your life. 

The Water Stone 

In all honesty I have no idea when this stone came to me. I have had it for close to 20 years. This is the stone that I bath with and has lived on the edge of my bathtub for as long. This stone asked to be used in my bathing rituals for the purpose of grounding and learning the sacred relationship between stones and water. When I bath with this stone it draws all the energy that doesn’t belong to me out and clears the water. This stone has been primarily for my personal use. The only time it has shown up in the healings is when I hear to suggest that people be open to incorporating a bathing stone into their personal practice. I haven’t learned all the wisdom that this stone carries. This rock has always been mysterious to me but my bond with it is strong. It speaks to a relationship with the sacred blood of Earth Mother, her streams, creeks and rivers. The fresh water veins flowing and how this sacred water carries emotions, cleansing, and is vital for our survival. 

The Cord Cutting Stone

I remember distinctly walking at Hagen Stone Park in Southeast Greensboro and hearing the call of this stone. I felt drawn to it and knew I had to take it home with me. I offered some hair in place of the stone on the trail. For a couple years the stone sat on my altar. I would spend time meditating with the stone and just sit and ponder what mysteries it had for me. Nothing would come, for years. It just sat there. I was perplexed by it. 

This stone has distinct edges on it, and has always felt like a tool of some sort. One day I was working with a client at the yoga studio facilitating a shamanic healing session and during this session the stone spoke to me. I was being asked to cut old outgrown energetic cords that were draining the energy of this particular client. I allowed my vision and the communication from the stone to guide my hand. It showed me how to move the stone in a certain way and over areas of the body to accomplish the task at hand. I had never done a cord cutting before so was learning as I was being shown. This is how I learned what this stone was to be used for in my work. 

This is a distinct example of how a Sacred Object has taught me one of the skills that I now carry. After my session with this client we were processing and what she shared with me validated the experience I had with the tool. Later in a Healing Circle with some of my closest co-journeyers one of the women shared a vision she had of this stone. What she said resonated with me deeply, like a remembering of that day I found it. She was able to see how my Spirit Guide led me to this stone specifically. At the time of its discovery I hadn’t yet become aware fully of the Guide that was to become my primary teacher in the Spirit World. An Ancestor that remains with me to this day. I will talk about him more in another article. 

I don’t think that it is everyone’s path to carry a tool like this. Cord cutting is a process that we are all able to do for ourselves and a tool in physical form isn’t a requirement by any means. It is just how I was initiated into the knowledge. Often the tools we acquire in the material world are physical manifestations of the skills and tools that we need in the Spirit Realm. Once we understand how to use them and work with the energies the physical object is no longer necessary. However, with that said this stone remains with me.

The Shaman Stones - Moqui Stones 

This pair of stones was gifted to me by my sister Artemis Balyless during a particularly difficult time in my life. They stood out to me as powerful ally’s in the work that I have been called to do. I always heard these stones tell me that they help to create the “Dream Journey” or Non-Ordinary Reality container that Shamanic work is done within. They have a place on every altar I create and in every session that I do. They are the space holders. They in essence hold the space for me. They carry a proud energy about them and project the frequency of groundedness while still being able to easily navigate the unseen realms. These two stones have taught me how to embrace my gifts. Trust the process and have courage. As any healer will tell you, it is rarely sunshine and butterflies when unearthing energy of old wounds. Remaining steadfast is imperative to people feeling safe to do the work they are asked to do. These stones are amazing at supporting my faith and helping me remain steady under any circumstances. 

The Grounding Stone

This is another stone that was gifted to me by one the most influential teachers I’ve ever had. He was my partner for almost 10 years and taught me more about walking the Shamanic Path than anything else in my life thus far. He is a naturalist, a Shaman, a Warrior and a Wolf. The lessons he shared were about facing my fear of death, of loss and the power that these two things can have over me. He taught me inner strength founded on navigating the tangled web of attachment and truth, light and dark, my need for approval and trusting my own unique path. Ultimately what I learned from him was how to remain grounded in my own being and to develop the necessary qualities and characteristics to support the path I am called to. This doesn’t need to be approved of by anyone and where I have misdirected my need for acceptance it helped me to take responsibility for accepting myself. This stone embodies all this for me. When it was gifted to me I knew I had stepped into fuller expression of myself and in turn also validated the magical yet wildly difficult experiences that led me to it. 

I give this stone to clients when they come out of a meditative state after a dreaming or reiki session. It immediately brings them back to themselves in body, mind and spirit. This stone was once a tool used by indigenous people of Missouri and carrys the markings of this work. If you feel that a grounding stone would be beneficial for you, once again I encourage you to ask for your grounding stone to come forward. Trust that it will. What does grounding mean for you? Asking this question could be the path to finding the teacher that can shed light on the answer. 

Common Theme

As you read this article you may notice a theme that runs through the story of each Stone. Grounding. Rocks and Stones are inherently grounding. They are heavy, dense and hard. Each has a different way of teaching us to ground our energy. I once struggled with symptoms of brain fog, difficulty focusing, memory issues and shattered energy. I always thought I would have to deal with these bothersome symptoms but it turns out by working with Stones I learned all the nessesary skills to feel present in my own body while still being able to access the Spirit World whenever needed.

Our culture has diagnosed many disorders that express these symptoms. I often wonder if we deepened our relationship to the natural world would we find the cure to what ails us? I certainly did and continue to find healing in nature. It is amazing what happens when we open ourselves to the voice of the natural world. All we need to come into balance surrounds us. Stones are one of the many teachers waiting to share their wisdom if we humble ourselves to hear it. 

The Practice

It’s likely you have some Stones already. And as you read this article I bet things are popping into your consciousness about your experiences with them. Things you may have written off as an overactive imagination, or insights you may have taken for granted. Bring out the Stones that you carry and ask them who they are. What lessons do they have to share with you. Talk to them. Listen and trust your feelings and intuitions. Write what you discover down in your journal. Perhaps there are story’s behind how you acquired these stones that you haven’t given much thought. Journal about these experiences and what you remember. You can also come into a meditative state and travel to the heart of the Stone to commune with its Spirit. What does it say? Write what you hear in your journal. Again, I encourage you not to over think. Just allow the stream of consciousness and see what shows up. Get to know them. Honor them. Give them gratitude. They can be powerful guides in this material world if you allow them to be. 

Calling the Stones

If you are new to stones then ask. This is the key to discovering the mysteries that are held in the natural world. When we ask, we develop a receptive state of mind that allows the wisdom to flow in. Listen from the Heart and be patient. Humans are notoriously impatient. Once you have asked, trust that you will find one another. There are Stones that want to journey with you and when you find them or they are gifted to you, you will recognize them right away. 

Most importantly is to have fun. Find the lightness of heart as you discover the world around you as if you were a child once again. Curious. Receptive. Delighted.

If you are enjoying my blog please share and like the posts! I would love to hear your Stone stories. Please share in the comments of this article. If you have questions don’t hesitate to reach out to me at audreymsheldon@gmail.com. You can also visit my website at www.audreymacnamarasheldon.com to schedule your private session or see what classes I’m offering. I look forward to hearing from you! I appreciate your donations for content that is meaningful to you. You can find me on Venmo @SuryaOm and PayPal audreymsheldon@gmail.com