The Alchemy Stones Journey: Introducing Spiritual Art and the "Woo-Woo Factor"

Art is basically the alchemy of a multiple set of factors.

For example, when you look at a painting, you could say that it's basically a piece of canvas with a — presumably — compelling or aesthetically pleasing image on it.

But that only covers the tangible aspects.

A "Zero Point" design. Deeper meaning, or just "doodles on a rock?"

In a broad sort of sense, people — and perhaps more specifically art lovers — recognize that there are also some intangibles involved. We talk about the passion of an artist being reflected in their work, and we also talk about there being a message or a "statement" being made with the art.

Depending on who you are and your perspective, that's either an essential part of art or it's one of those things we don't quite understand and prefer to sweep under the rug with a little pile of platitudes about artists being "strange" and perhaps "tormented souls."

These are, of course, very general statements.

Crossing Certain Lines

But wait! There's more! If you buy now....

A set of 7 matched "Chakra Stones"

But the journey often continues, and we start to travel out into the territory of art representing "visions" the artist may have had, or things visualized during drug induced hazes at Burning Man, or even "messages from God," or perhaps even "extraterrestrial languages."

That's generally where most people start shuffling their feet, getting a little uncomfortable and back slowly away from the subject.

As science develops and learns, the idea of "the artist as a mad genius" actually makes a remarkable amount of sense; scientists increasingly realize that the same genetic markers associated with certain mental illnesses (Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, etc.) are the same as those found in most highly creative artists and geniuses.

What's more, the "madness" aspect is more about your coping skills than about neuro-chemical imbalances. In other words, are "The Voices" telling you to paint, or to kill baby bunnies? If you learn/have the skill set to "manage" that bridge apparently the stunning creativity vs. insanity question might be harnessed simply through awareness and mindfulness, rather than chemistry and institutionalization.

But I am getting off track here.

Call this type of design "Amplification Stones"

Alchemy Stones as Spiritual Art

On the surface of things, "I paint pretty patterns on rocks." Yesterday, my wife and I were having a conversation about precisely this — she has helped me "brand" what I do, since the very beginning. She said "In the end, you're just some guy who enjoys doodling on stones."

Most people are pretty comfortable with that... but it's not all that's there, and that was the point she was making... but that's also when I start "losing" people.

I don't paint these patterns because I have a love affair with geometry and snowflakes.... I paint them because they "appear to me" during meditation and I feel compelled to try to "give them form." Much like some writers subscribe to the idea of "Automatic Writing," I feel like the painted patterns simply are a "translation" of sorts of "something" that pops into my head from elsewhere.

The reason I put it that way is that I actually have no particular aptitude for drawing or art (I was about a "C-" art student), and I never had much aptitude for geometry, either... in fact, I almost failed math in high school, simply because my skills at the "geometry" sections were so miserable!

Maybe we're OK, so far... still walking on the appropriate side of "acceptable sanity."

But let's dial it up a notch: I also believe that these patterns I see/experience during meditation are some form of "language" or symbols/messages from the universe. And I can't really explain it beyond that, other than to say that whatever message may be contained within a given pattern becomes part of the painted image on the stone.

This group symbolizes the four elements: Air, Fire, Water and Earth

Genius or Whackjob, Part II

In case it is not evident yet, I feel a little hesitant and conflicted about this... reason being that I tend to be a pretty logical, scientific and analytical person, and most of what I "do" in life exists within the confines of the pretty cut and dry business world, and the world of being a technical writer.

What's so interesting is that "Spiritual Art" also sets up different expectations in people, and redirects your potential audience. We experienced that not so long ago when we were vendors at the UFO Paranormal Summit, a large annual gathering in Ocean Shores, Washington.

Instead of a "craft show audience" — where the questions usually sound like "what kind of paint do you use?" — this was a very "alternative" and open-minded audience. I don't think I had a single person ask what sort of paint I use, but dozens asking about the messages in the symbols.

It was an important lesson in throwing away the worries about being perceived as a "Nut Job," and instead choosing to focus on bringing what you do in front of an audience of like-kind individuals.

To wit, I just finished "doing the numbers" on that weekend's show, and my sales for a 2 1/2 day event as a vendor came to $1,214.00 as opposed to the $200-250 a weekend "arts and crafts show" typically brings in.

A "Dream Stone"

To Summarize...

Whatever perception it may convey to others — or not — Alchemy Stones are as much a Spiritual Journey as they are "painted rocks."

And yes, I do believe they have value and meaning above and beyond simple "wow, that's pretty!"

I don't pretend for a moment that I can actually explain how that works, in the context of other people's lives — and maybe it's just a "Placebo Effect" — but fact remains that in the course of the decade or so I have been creating these, dozens of people have reported back to me that "something happened" when they started meditating with the stone, or using it as a pocket talisman while in therapy, or as something calming to look at during stressful situations.

And frankly? That's good enough for me!

Thanks for reading, and have a great day!

2019.03.17 AS-TXT-007
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