Tattooed Stones
Symbols of Spirituality
What are Tattooed Stones?
Tattooed Stones are garden sculptures, with inscribed patterns, associated with ancient spirituality, inspired by the carvings or petroglyphs on megalithic stones.
The patterns - circles, spirals, zigzags, squares and other geometric shapes have spiritual significance because of their association with Shamanism.
Find out about the meanings in The Symbols link.
Sun Stone
The Inspiration...
Tattooed Stones are inspired by megalithic art, which exists all over the world.
Newgrange Kerbstone
Eira
The picture above shows the kerbstone at the entrance to Newgrange in The Boyne Valle in Eire - it is perhaps one of the most famous megalithic rock carvings
Passage stones from the Island of Gavrinis, Britany
This picture shows two passage stones from Gavrinis a small island in the Gulf of Morbihan in Brittany, France.
Also described as entoptic art the patterns are encountered in the hypnogogic state - when entering a state of trance. The inter-connectedness of the patterns also gives a sense of the Gaia Hupothesis.
The Origin of Tattooed Stones
Tattooed Stones have their origins in megalithic art – specifically the carved patterns or petroglyphs that adorn places like Newgrange and Knowth in Ireland and Gavrinis in the Gulf of Morbihan off the coast of Brittany in France. These patterns are called hypnagogic patterns and are known from entering or leaving trance. Because of the origin of these patterns, it is unlikely the places where they are found were, in the first instance, built as tombs but rather places used by Shamans for ritual and entering trance.
Using various techniques, Shamans enter trance to seek the wisdom of their forebears from the Akashic Record. The wisdom they seek, on behalf of the tribe, might be information about planting and harvesting times or how to treat an injury, disease, or other condition. This intercession is a spiritual one, which probablty created the desire to record the patterns in the place where they enter trance and commune with God.
There is a lot of information about Shamanism on the internet. Particularly helful are books like "Shamanism the Timeless Religion" by Dr Menir Singh; "Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy" by Professor Mircea Eliade and other books such as "Circle of the Shaman" by Karen Berggren.
Why do you want a Tattooed Stone?
Tattooed Stones cause a visceral /spiritual response in many, many people and have done ever since they were first created in ancient times. The patterns have a deep subconscious effect that speaks about connection. Its why they are seen when entering trance on a spiritual journey.
If this is how they make you feel then, you would benefit from owning one! By decorating your own stone you build an even deeper connection and demonstrate your understanding of how we are all connected. A Tattooed Stone is, in effect, a visual expression of the Gaia Hypothesis.
Tattooed Stones also make excellent memorials and repository for cremated remains.
See Tattooed Stones at Tractors & Cream in Othery, Somerset