Yard Stones
by Stephanie Pflumm ©Copyright 2001
Long ago, further back than the first stones date, swirling clouds of
Star Dust became caught in the gravitational pull of Grandfather Sun.
One theory says the dust came from the explosion of a twin Sun,
explaining how they came to be so close to the Grandfather. Of
course, no one really knows exactly what happened.
Most scientists agree that gases and space dust were pulled into
orbital paths around the Sun. Somehow these gases began to liquify,
raising the temperatures of these swirls, then as they gained
density, they attracted more Star Dust and space debris, growing and
slowly developing an outer crust.
Every stone on Mother Earth shares a connection to those natal Star
energies that spawned ours, and the planets around us. Many of them
hold the footprints of the very first organisms to nourish and thrive
on Mother. Others have been transformed, reshaped and moved by the
constant labor pains of Earth.
The oldest stones have been dated back 4.5 billion years. Most
gemstones and crystals began forming approximately 200 - 400 million
years ago. Many of them date back to the shifting of the continental
plates, which caused catastrophic earthquakes, volcanoes, floods,
mixed with the tremendous friction created by the massive forces at
work equaled the perfect conditions for crystal growth.
The geological truth is, these conditions still exist. In some areas
(mostly below the oceans), only three miles separate Earth's outer
crust from her molten heart. Most of the time, there are 20 to 30
miles of insulating stone between you and the magma. Continental
plates in the Himalayas Mountains are still pushing together, as they
are all around the world. As much as an inch a year in some regions.
All this means, stones, gems, crystals are still being formed, the
process is not complete.
It also means any stone can be a tool for manifesting your higher
good, your fullest potential. Inside every stone is the story of
change, evolution, strength and improvement. Inside every stone is
your story of challenge, survival and spiritual triumph.
In the simplest geological terms, there are three basic types of
stones that you will find in your back yard. Igneous, sedimentary and
metamorphic. The formation of these stones is as complicated and
diverse as the most rare crystal, even breaking down into several
subclasses. I'll try to keep it simple.
Igneous
These are some of the oldest stones on Mother Earth. Formed by the
cooling of molten magma, many of these original stones contained high
concentrations of minerals. As Mother slowly aged, these minerals
would precipitate out of these stones, which then became perfect
hosts for growing crystals. Obsidian, Limestone, Quartz, Agate are
all examples of Igneous stones. Extremely hot liquid minerals that
cooled into solids. These are the teachers. The stones that will
help you see your greatest potential. If your lessons are endurance,
persistence and spiritual maturity, or if your path involves any kind
of learning, carry an Igneous stone from your back yard.
You can recognize these stones by their hard, compact appearance.
Some may have a crystallized surface.
Sedimentary
Stones that are formed by the weathering process of the planet. As the
mountains wear away, the gravel, dust, sand is washed into creeks,
hillsides, ravines and valleys. It collects, building layer over
layer, pressure from water, time and crawling glaciers create new
stones from the remains of the old.
Sedimentary stones are created from their environment, just as we are
shaped by ours. Often, when our childhood environment was painful, we
carry those pains with us. Using Sedimentary stones can help you
become a new person, by breaking down those old walls, and building
something more beautiful and much stronger from the remains.
Chrysocolla, Turquoise and Selenite are some of the stones formed
through the sedimentary process. You can pick these stones from you
yard by looking for layers within the stone, a tendency to crumble
and they also weigh much less than other stones of equal size.
Metamorphic
These are stones that were quite literally smashed together by
tremendous geological forces. The weight of land masses crashing
together creates friction, causing nearby stones to become heated to
the point of being very soft, but not quite liquid. This halfway
point allows the different minerals to be folded together.
Charoite, Tiger Iron, Jadeite and Nephrite are examples of
Metamorphic stones. To identify possible Metamorphic stones in your
yard, look for folded lines, distinctive zones or a woven together
appearance. These will be the most difficult stones to locate, unless
you live in a geologically active region.
As survivors of change, a Metamorphic stone is your best companion for
navigating the changes in your life. They will also help you initiate
change from within. Meditate with this stone to examine your
motivations, goals, desires. Are these really what you want? What are
you doing to achieve them?
Use your free Stones exactly as you would any crystal or gem. Cleanse
them before using, introduce yourself and your intent and charge it
with that intention.
If stones are not readily available in your yard, try a nearby stream
or creek. The dirt road that goes into the woods by my house offers a
treasure trove of stones. It's hard not to bring them all home.
Please be aware, that if you are in a national or state park, it is
against the law to remove anything. Be sure to leave a gift behind
when you collect your stone. Some recommend tobacco, personally, I
like leaving other stones.
Abundant blessings,
Stephanie