Leave No Stone Unturned
By: Peggy Willms
(4 min read)
Being in the sun and on the beach is my favorite place in the world. Floating on my back in 80-degree water, eyes closed, and trusting Mother Nature to hold me gently in her ebbs and flows is bliss. Searching for seashells along the Earth’s edge, such as jewel boxes, sea glass, olives, conchs, lightning whelks, and jingles, is almost meditative for me. Nature’s presents.
Sanibel, Florida, is my favorite place to shell; after all, it is considered one of the top places to shell in the world. But Hurricane Ian has put a pause on visiting this haven. For now, I stroll to other beaches.
Last week was a different experience while searching for shells. There were tons of clam shells but little variety of anything else. EXCEPT for black rocks tossed around in shallow water. I do not have my seashell shovel with me. It is packed away in a climate-controlled pod located in my driveway as my house is restored from the hurricane last September. I like to discover shells in the water, not just those just lying on the beach. I will leave those for all the cute kiddos. I want to work for the find.
Shovelless, I used my hand to scoop up little treasures, but I kept finding rocks. Black rocks. You might not think that is abnormal. Over a decade of shelling, I have never encountered so many black rock clumps. They really stood out as they rolled through the crystal water and danced on the white sand. In the past, I might find one here or there, but we are talking about one flowing at me about every thirty seconds. There were no black rocks on the beaches; just in front of me in the water. How strange.
Usually, the variety of shells is so prevalent that I can select what day it will be. “Today is an olive day or auger day.” Whenever I see an abundance of a certain kind of shell, that shell is the shell of the day. I keep that type and toss the rest. I have each kind separated into display jars. I guess this day was a black stone day.
Were the chunks black tar, oil chunks? Ugh. Yeah, I know. Were they lava or dark coal? Was it aged or dirty coral? Obsidian? Jet stones? Regardless, it was not typical.
Nearly day, we are still reminded of Hurricane Ian’s visible damage. The damage we can see on land, but I never really thought of how a storm affects the ocean floor in the literal sense. Perhaps I would have caught on sooner if I had been snorkeling.
I have seen waters murkier or even clearer than they were before the storm. And we have seen debris wash ashore and beach areas that have disappeared. But I never thought about the effects of animals, rocks, and shells living between the ocean floor and the cresting whitecaps until I held so many black stones. Images of vegetation and animals tossing about consumed me.
As I walked back to our blanket to sit and enjoy the sunset, I realized this day would be the first day I ever walked away from the beach without shells. As I scuffed along, trying to flip tragedy into gratitude, I saw a beautiful tan olive shell. It was about half the size of my thumb. Smiling, I gently picked it up and turned it over. As I did, a little snail pulled his legs back into the shell. It scared the hell out of me. But it made me think—things aren’t always as they appear. There is a whole underbelly of life. There is a top, a bottom, an inside and out.
No stone in life should go unturned. One shouldn’t have to wait for nature’s jumblings for us to see what is in the underbelly of this amazing Earth. Our beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and relationships all have a flipside.
Do you have any “stones” in your life worth picking up and looking at the darker side? Or are you one of those who waits for a huge, unexpected turmoil or event to flip things on their head before you are forced to take a peek?
Sidebar: I took a peek at possible meanings in case I had stumbled upon a mine of obsidian or jet stones. Hmmm.
Obsidian stones are highly-regarded, protective stones known for their ability to block, absorb, and transform negative energy. Obsidian is believed to be a stone of clarity, with the ability to release emotional, physical, and spiritual blockages, drawing out stress and tension. Groundwork or earthly lessons must be learned to expand to new levels of enlightenment. To understand the ying energy, one must experience the yang and vice versa. In prehistoric times, it was used to make arrowheads, spear points, and other cutting tools. It was also used by tribal wise men in the stone age, lightworkers, spiritualists, Native American shamans, and alchemists because of its healing powers.
Jet Stones help to restore the balance and harmony that you have lost. It will make you realize what you truly desire from life and help you achieve just that! This stone can attract knowledge and wisdom to make your life more meaningful and your feelings more profound. It will add more excitement and fulfillment so that you will always have something to look forward to
https://meanings.crystalsandjewelry.com
Peggy Willms
All Things Wellness, LLC
peggy@allthingswellness.com
The information provided is the opinion of the author. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice: diagnosis, or treatment. The author, the business, All Things Wellness, LLC, and its owner Peggy Willms, are not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information in this article or website. We assume no responsibility for tangible and intangible damages such as physical harm caused by using a product, loss of profits or loss of data, and defamatory comments. This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases.
