Sacred Stones with Bonnie

Sacred Stones

Three of my greatest passions are travel, books, and stones, not necessarily in that order. I always keep a rock or two (or more), in my sweater pocket, purse, and car.

I find them to be grounding as well as a tactile reminder of my sacred connection to the Earth. Prior to traveling, I gather stones from my altar where they've been charging, and tuck them into a special compartment in my carry-on bag. The stones serve as both touchstones and talismans, connecting me to home while drawing me out into the world to discover new places and faces.

My fascination and affinity with the Mineral Kingdom began many years ago, before I was able to read. I remember marveling over a color chart of precious, semi-precious, and gemstones in Volume #19 in the set of the Books of Knowledge, the precursor to encyclopedias. Little did I know the love of stones would last until this day.

Many years ago I began noticing heart-shaped stones everywhere in my travels. I collected them for a while, but after a time my desire to collect heart-shaped stones waned and I began photographing them instead. They are, for me, a physical reminder of a Divine presence in my life.

I like to imagine that in ancient times, before there was little more than air, fire, earth, and water, on this planet, we offered each other rocks, stones, and shells as tokens of esteem, as well as using them for healing. It is my belief that rocks are meant to be shared and ironically, the very stones I say are my "favorite" and "will never give away" are always the first to go to someone else. Funny how that works.

It's mostly an intuitive thing, but I always travel with at least one Garnet. I love the energy and weightiness of them. After doing a bit of research, it's become clear why I am instinctively drawn to these precious gems. Garnets are often referred to as "a stone of health" It is said to extract negative energy from the Chakras and transmute the energy to a more beneficial state. Sacred to many ancient cultures, Garnet is also known as the "Stone of Commitment" (to purpose, other, oneself).

Its "loving powers" are a protective influence and offer a "calming, stable vitality." Who doesn't need that?

It was a cold and rainy morning in May last year when I took a bus to the tiny village of Zennor, Cornwall where I met an Iranian woman named Ruby. While signing the guest book, I saw from her notation above mine that she was a foreigner in a foreign land, and that she was sad. We both eventually found ourselves outside wandering through the ancient graveyard, when I decided to offer her the beautiful Almandine Garnet tucked inside my pocket. Ruby thanked me and we shared a short conversation and exchanged information before she went to catch up with her hiking friends.

I love the reaction of people when I drop a stone into the middle of their open palm. The first thing I notice is that their palm gently closes around the stone, as if to get a clear sense of the stone's energy, then instantly a smile appears. Rarely does anyone look at the stone first. For some inexplicable reason, I find these interactions heartfelt and extremely satisfying.

Later that day, Ruby texted me to let me know how much peace and calm the Garnet had brought her, reaffirming that sentiment when we shared tea and dessert at the Dolphin Inn in Penzance that evening.

The next day, I met Pat and John, a wonderful couple, at the Rock Pool Café in Mousehole where the three of us enjoyed our cream tea and scones. After a two-hour conversation, and more than a few book recommendations, we parted ways but not before giving each of them a stone. They were both so pleased with the humble gifts, asking several times for the names of the rocks so they could tell their children.

I have a personal rule that if I meet two people but the engagement is mostly between two of us, in this instance John and I, they both get a stone. It would be bad form to do otherwise. I've given stones to countless people; a whale-watching ship captain in Alaska, Uber drivers, and shop clerks, family members, and friends.

I've found that children are naturally drawn to stones and am proud to have helped start a few rock collections for the children in my orbit. Perhaps I'll write a book entitled "The Rules of Rock-Giving." | don't believe I've seen one yet.

Conversely, volumes have been written about the spiritual energies and healing power of gemstones, and a quick Google search brings up an astounding 7,650,000 entries! | love Citrine for attracting abundance, Strawberry and Rose Quartz for their calming energies, Black Tourmaline for grounding.

One of my absolute, all-time favorite stones is Chrysocolla. I love its beautiful mix of turquoise blue, sky blue, amidst various brown hues. This particular stone is said to be one of the energetically supportive stones (and Black Tourmaline) for the twenty year time period (!) that Pluto is in Aquarius. Being an Aquarius, I am definitely stocking up on this beauty.

With its emanations of gentleness and power, Chrysocolla is considered "A stone of the Goddess" empowering the feminine energies in both men and women.

Closely attuned to the Earth, this stone activates the Throat Chakra, harmonizes the Heart Chakra, and connects them both with the Root Chakra for greater activation of Life Force Energy. Other attributes of Chrysocolla include helping one disengage from the "media fear cycle," as well as opening channels of communication, and in forming our own words.

Some of my new favorites are Quantum Quattro (a combination of Smokey Quartz, Chrysocolla, Shattuckite, Dioptase, and Malachite), Billitonite, Sardonyx, and what is known as the Prophecy Stone. However, in my estimation, Paraiba Tourmaline is the most exquisite gemstone of all time. It is also the least abundant, most sought after, and expensive.

This fabulous stone derives its name from its country of origin, the Federal Brazilian State of Paraiba. The only producing mine closed over twenty years ago resulting in a significant decrease in availability and subsequent increase in cost.

Fortunately for me, Apatite, another beautiful stone, is almost exactly the same brilliant shade of turquoise, plentiful, and affordable.

To learn more about stones, I highly recommend "Love is in the Earth" by Melody, a veritable compendium describing the Metaphysical properties of the Mineral Kingdom. Another is "The Book of Stones: Who They Are and What They Teach" by Robert Simmons & Naisha Ahsian. Or, you can go to your nearest crystal shop, pick up a stone, hold it in the palm of your hand, close your eyes, become very still, and allow the stone to introduce itself to you, energetically.