Solace Stones: Retreating into Stone Spirit Medicine ~ Krista Mitchell

There is a solstice occurring tomorrow, Saturday Dec. 21st.

In the northern hemisphere at dawn this will herald the rebirth of the sun and the return of the light.

In the southern hemisphere at sunset there will be a gala of light meant to raise us to ascendency.

Both are rites of passage and devotion that were once held sacred by the wise ones of old.

They would gather or retreat within stone circle and dolmen. They would purify and pray. And then they would prepare to commune with their higher powers, receive the Earth’s song, and heal from the geomagnetic energy that poured through the stones themselves.

While in our modern times this no longer occurs, the stones still stand, and they remember.

I can feel within our own community here an increased desire for fellowship, communion, and to have a genuine experience of the sacred. This is understandable in a world that feels increasingly unsafe, uncertain, disconnected, and cruel.

But it’s also something in our blood: I firmly believe that all of us here walking the spiritual path now have walked it before, in lives past, and we remember the circles and rites of old.

We remember the stones, too.

It’s why we feel a pull to crystal and stone, water and trees, the sun and stars, and each other.

Crystals for deep listening: Nuummite, Moonstone, Labradorite, Amethyst
When I feel lost I know now to retreat into Spirit. I take hold of a crystal that sings to me, close my eyes, and listen for its voice. I drop down deep within, and I listen for my soul’s voice, too.The collective crystalline consciousness that I channel teaches us that Spirit finds us in silence. That all we need to do to reconnect with the Sacred is to simply go quiet, let ourselves have some peace, and listen.Tomorrow there will be plenty of circles (you can join the replay of mine, here), and ritual ideas and tips, but for some of you it may be the simple act of finding your own inner sacred that will bring you the greatest healing, or peace, or revelation.Spirit and consciousness is in all things, which means it’s in you, too.If you can tomorrow, or any time leading up to the end of the year, see if you can carve out some time for quiet for yourself. To sit simply with a crystal, and listen. To let the Earth’s song rise up through and around you, and remember your magic. Wishing you all the best of the season. ~ Krista Mitchell

Questions To Ask A Tree

“The wonder is that we can see these trees and not wonder more.”

It’s no surprise that Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote these words.  The famous American writer was intimately connected to trees:  He planted trees, gathered their fruits, and taught his children the value of learning their names.

Emerson spoke the language of trees, yet was still humble enough to acknowledge that every encounter with trees presented a fresh opportunity to engage in wonder.

Who are you?  How old are you?  Why are you here?  Can you say anything about the underlying rocks?  What can you tell us about the broader ecosystem?

In the spirit of Ralph Waldo Emerson, you and I can ask these kinds of questions every time we encounter a tree.  When we ask questions, we engage in wonder.

A basic step we can then take to answer those questions is first to learn the names of trees.  Fortunately, there are many ways to learn.  We can:

  • Study tree ID field guides
  • Learn how to use dichotomous keys
  • Learn all major physical features of trees (buds, bark, leaves, flowers, etc.)
  • Learn habitat characteristics of trees
  • Attend tree ID walks
  • Visit arboretums (where trees are often labeled)
  • Cultivate friendships with local tree enthusiasts
  • Teach others what we have learned

If you’re looking for a carefully curated opportunity to improve your tree identification skills, consider enrolling in Trees In All Seasons.  This online course teaches you how to identify 100 trees in every season.  It’s currently on sale through Monday, December 23.

You can register and learn more about the course here.

Regardless of how you decide to learn, I strongly encourage you to hone your tree identification skills over time.  With learning comes wonder, appreciation, love, and the unraveling of at least some of nature’s mysteries.

—Adam Haritan