Stones

Lesley's Blog

Stone is amazing stuff. Over the centuries humans have used stone to form axes for hunting, have sheltered in caves of stone and then used stone to create shelters of their own design. We have marveled at sculptures made out of stone, both by the natural hands of wind and water and by creative human hands. Cathedrals were made exquisite by the designs carved into the stone by stonemasons who worshipped God by their creations. Precious stones have adorned the bodies of women and men throughout the centuries and humans have challenged themselves to climb the stone of cliffs and mountains for the sheer joy of doing it. Cairns made of stones piled one on top of another throughout the ages have guided climbers, hikers, travelers and pilgrims safely along their ways.   

Symbolically, stone is associated with stability, reliability, being impenetrable and the eternal. But stones, even the hardest of them, are vulnerable to erosion and movement by other elements such as glacial ice. Over millions of years tranformation is complete. Stone becomes soil, ground into fertility by the sufferings of its life. And so it is with us. We might think we are, as the song by Bob Segal says, "Like a Rock", but we are all vulnerable to the trials and tribulations of life which mold and form us eventually grinding us down. Whether that grinding results in fertile soil depends on how willing we are to surrender to the process. For to become ready for the new growth we must release our "stoney face" and our beliefs that we have "cast in stone" so that over time we allow overselves to soften our harsh edges and judgments and embrace the law of love. And the transformation reminds us that, much as we long for it to be different, nothing is permanent, all comes and goes, and with it waves of delight and grief.



(Mountains and rocks painted by Lesley in Oriental Brushwork style)

 

There are many other "plays on words" associated with stones and it can be fun and enlightening to wonder how these apply to ourselves.
Do we "leave no stone unturned" when we are seeking something including our inner truth?
Do we cast the first stone instead of waiting for the facts with non judgments?
What is just a stone's throw away that we might not have noticed?
Do we throw stones at glass houses?
How do we tend to stone-wall, be stone cold or think that things are set in stone?
But are there certain "written in stone" values like the Ten Commandments or freedom for all beings that you would adhere to no matter what the cost?
What is your touch-stone?

Many people love rocks and these "rock hounds" have large collections of beautiful and extraordinary stones. Others can feel energy emanating from stones and stones have had a sacredness for some religions.

But our love of stone can have a dark side that challenges us to look at our values and actions. Many have watched the movie "Blood Diamonds" with horror at the violence and destructiveness of the diamond mining and trade in parts of Africa. In Wales, many decades ago, the mining of slate, for the adornment of the houses of the wealthy, sent men, women and children underground into damp and dangerous conditions. And prisoners on the chain gang were punished by the mind and body crushing stone crushing.



(A stone wall in Ireland)

 



In our modern world, natural forces are not the only actions that change stone. As the popularity of hiking increases, the number of human feet that traverse the pathways is causing erosion and damage to the landscapes. And the number of climbers on Mount Everest has risen to such a level that the mountain is being littered by equipment carelessly left behind by the expeditions. It is sad that we have lost the connection to the sacredness of the stones.



(More rocks painted by Lesley in a different style of Brushwork)

 

On a more positive note, I want to recount a couple of incidents that occured on the tours that I led to Ireland and Wales. In Southern Ireland, I had arranged for a local farmer, who supplemented his income by guiding tourist around the area, to be with us for a day. After we had explored the limestone pavement along the seashore, he took us on a walk to the hermitage and well of Saint Colman. It was a profoundly peaceful place but when we arrived at the well some of the structural stones had fallen and the well was in disrepair. In Britain and Southern Ireland, the landscape in many areas is defined by stone walls, that have in some cases survived for centuries. The building and therefore repair of these amazing structures is no simple task and requires a high degree of artistic skill. Our guide casually began to rebuild the well wall and, watching him, we were filled with wonder. It was a magical moment.

Also magical was an event on a walk to Aber Falls in North Wales. One of the women who was on the tour had suffered a devastating loss in her life and on the walk she found a lovely heart-shaped stone which she felt had significant meaning for her. Later in the day we joined her in a lovely ritual that helped her release some of the pain of the loss. 

So, maybe from now on, a stone will not be just a stone.