Spiritkeepers Stones

Venus of Willendorf Style Goddess Painted on Pebble

2011-12-28T20:36:00.001-05:00

A hand painted ancient style goddess 'Venus figurine' features on this new stone; one of a kind pebble art. The Paleolithic female figure holds a cornucopia, or horn of plenty, in one hand and Her other hand rests on Her belly. Painted on a garden pebble that has unique natural shapes similar to stones chosen by ancient mankind for such purposes. The natural surface has been left to show on the reverse.

Venus figurines is an umbrella term for a number of prehistoric statuettes of women portrayed with similar physical attributes from the Upper Palaeolithic, although they predate the mythological figure of Venus by millenia. These figurines were carved from soft stone, bone or ivory, or formed of clay and fired. Typical features of Venus figurines include the swollen belly, wide-set thighs, large breasts, and pronounced vulva. They are some of the earliest works of prehistoric art and may represent a Mother Goddess concept or a form of Sympathetic Magic to attract abundance.

Paleolithic Goddess Figure Spiritkeepers Stone #sk067

Size: 29mm x 23mm x 14mm thick

$17.00 with shipping included in USA and most locations. Check availability here.

Each Spiritkeepers Stone by Tree Pruitt is unique, individually numbered, and signed with the sigil logo; no fillers or cutting ever used on stones. The reverse side shows the I.D. sigil and number. This piece is intended for indoor display, though coated with a durable clear varnish.

"Venus figurines", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_figurines
"The Venus of Willendorf", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_of_Willendorf

*unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt.

Painted Pony Spiritkeepers Stone sk066

2011-12-28T17:09:00.000-05:00

A hand painted horse runs across this one of a kind stone; a pony painted in symbol. The animal is in a profile Native American pictograph style (like a cave drawing) featuring a spiral and hand print. Display as decorative art, a totem animal spirit guide reminder, or place near your computer workspace to remind you of the magic world of nature! The stone is a light colored quartz from the Pacific Northwest USA -- Mt. Rainer near summit -- and the natural surface has been left to show on the reverse.

Painted Pony Spiritkeepers Stone #sk066

Size: 1" x 1 1/2" x 2/4" inches thick

May be available for purchase. See Spiritkeepers Wildlife Page.

$10.85 with shipping included in USA and most locations.

Each Spiritkeepers is unique, individually numbered, and signed with the sigil logo; no fillers or cutting ever used on stones. The reverse side shows the I.D. sigil and number. This piece is intended for indoor display, though coated with a durable clear varnish.

*unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt.

Art With Stone Collection on ArtFire

2011-12-04T16:02:00.001-05:00

I began my computer day with some "SK" fun, (since I refer to my Spiritkeepers as "SK's"); a fellow ArtFire.com member, SKCreations has picked a Spiritkeepers Stone to feature in a Collection on the site! Titled "Art With Stone", there is indeed a good offering of the types of art that can be done with stone; Paintings, carvings, photography, and more.

My creation that was chosen (see mini gallery below) is the American Bison (or buffalo) scene painted on a naturally holed fossil stone # sk 021. I discovered the forms of bison on the stone while base coating the surface with paint. It's really amazing to me how the mind's eye pulls images from imagination! So I followed the lines that were created by the layers of fossil that make up the stone. Painting it was fun but a challenge. Sealing it was just plain time consuming, but worth the effort of course. I noticed in my listing that I stated something to the effect of it being water washable with cold water and care... HA! In reality there is such a seal of quality protective coating that the stone could be dropped in a lake and have the muck scraped off 10 years later without damage to the painting! :) I still wouldn't want it displayed outdoors though. As a matter of fact, all of my stones are sealed that well. Anyway, I'm digressing, so back to the Collection.

If you're a lover of stone this Collection is worth a look! Grab a cup of coffee or tea, and browse over. It's not just the items shown either, like the stunning mirror or cool reproduction artifact ember pot, check the other items in these sellers stores too. There's a very diverse range of items. I had a good time browsing them all -- lovely creative products. Click on the mini gallery below to see the entire Collection on ArtFire. I hope you enjoy browsing it too!

Art with Stone

Curated By: SKCreations

ArtFire.com

Fine Art Paintings

Sumerian Inanna Spiritkeepers Stone sk061

2011-11-23T22:15:00.001-05:00

The Mesopotamian Sumerian Goddess Inanna, in her chalice-shaped form (circa 800 BCE), she sits in a characteristic breast-offering pose with metallic gold painted jewelry on this one of kind Spiritkeepers Stone. On her lap rests a crescent moon. This flat pebble figure is painted on a brown stone river rock and coated with several layers of protective gloss varnish.

Sized At: 44mm long, 34mm wide, 7mm thick (about 1 3/4 inches long)

Each Spiritkeepers Stone is unique, individually numbered, and signed with the sigil logo on the reverse; no fillers or cutting ever used on stones. This piece is intended for indoor display and surface is water washable.

Sumerian Inanna #sk061 may be available; check at my home site.

*unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt.

Curled Up Grizzly Bear Stone sk034

2011-11-15T01:11:00.001-05:00

Hand painted on this pebble lays a grizzly bear curled up; perhaps awoken from a nap. The playfully detailed image was inspired by bumps and shapes found on the natural surface of the rock. This type of stone is a variety of granite. It was collected by hand from the Northern Pacific Ocean in the United States. Display as home decor or keep as animal spirit guide reminder; Place near computer workspace to remind you of the magic world of nature.

Sized at 28 mm x 35 mm x 11 mm thick

Symbolism of the Bear:

In both ancient and modern cultures bear often represents the Primordial Mother energy. One reason for this is that mother bears are fierce to protect offspring. The bear is also seen as a symbol for Earth energy and dreaming as they tend to travel the depths of caves into the figurative womb of the planet; burrowing deep to hibernate. In spiritual art and Jungian studies the curious bear represents the deepest parts of the inner self consciousness, revealed through introspections self discovery. Bear is a guide to lure the seeker deeper into the portion of “The Hero’s Journey”, (see Joseph Campbell), that requires the Hero to look deeper still within the self.

*Positive Aspects - wisdom, strength, endurance, ingenuity, healing, nurturing, protection, introspection, imagination

*Negative Aspects - poor vision or lack of insight, quick temper, being nosey, indulgence, refusal to back down

Copyright Tree Pruitt

http://www.mysticgriffin.com/spiritkeepers.htm
*unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt.

White Rabbit Pebble sk11

2011-11-06T18:04:00.002-05:00

Alice would have to be very tiny to follow this rabbit down the hole, but you can keep the spirit of the white rabbit with you through this miniature painted stone. The rabbit is a symbol of fertility, and that can apply to attracting an abundance of magical fertility as well as other types. Slight-of-hand magicians use the white rabbit during hat tricks, further embedding it into our collective minds as a symbol for magic. In the story, Alice in Wonderland, the white rabbit is the leader of the tale who guides us along with Alice into the magic dream world of the unconscious.

Sized at just over 1" inch long and 1/2" at the widest, it's amazing how the rock shape actually feels like an animal body including slightly raised areas that feel like leg haunches! This pebble would be a nice fetish addition to a Native American style medicine bag, or simply a light hearted addition to a desk top work space as a reminder of the magic outside of the mundane.

http://www.mysticgriffin.com/spiritkeepers.htm
*unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt.

Upright Nude Earth Goddess

2011-10-31T16:00:00.000-05:00

Like a little statue sits #sk065 Nude Earth Goddess, by Tree Pruitt.

As above so below, this representation of the Earth Goddess seems to be saying. Sitting natural, nude, and possibly pregnant with all that the world has to offer, She holds Her right hand up in a gesture that represents the spiritual world (as Above) being present in the here and now. Her left hand rests upon the ground to show that spiritual realm present on the planet (so Below). One of the messages this Spiritkeepers Stone has to tell is that we live in a spiritual realm at all times. This pebble figure is painted on dark gray basaltic USA river rock from the Cascade Mountains

*unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt.

Spiral Earth Goddess sk046

2011-10-09T01:38:00.000-05:00

Unique pictograph like primitive goddess design with a double spiral (ying-yang) on the forehead, upraised arms, dots for the Four Elements, and Yoni triangle. This originally plain gray stone has been hand painted all the way around with a faux method to resemble lapis lazuli, and makes an excellent paperweight. Coated with durable varnish with a smooth gloss shine.

5" long
2" 3/4 wide
2" at thickest

Spiral Earth Goddess #sk046
http://www.mysticgriffin.com/

*unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt.

Taweret Stone sk057

2011-10-09T01:30:00.000-05:00

Egyptian Goddess Taweret Amulet Stone Blue Hippo
Spiritkeepers™ Stone featuring the head of Egyptian Goddess Taweret, or The Great Female, hand painted on natural granite stone. The natural color of the granite can be seen on the reverse side of the painting. Each Spiritkeepers™ is unique, individually numbered, and signed with the Spiritkeepers™ sigil logo; no fillers or cutting ever used on stones. The reverse side shows the sigil, number, and the natural color of the stone. This piece is intended for indoor display - coated with durable clear varathane - and the surface is water washable with cold water and care.
Taweret Goddess Stone #sk057
SIZE: 27mm high 30mm at widest points 13mm at thickest point

*unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt.

Taweret Goddess Stone sk058

2011-10-09T01:00:00.000-05:00

Spiritkeepers™ Stone featuring the Egyptian Goddess Taweret or The Great Female. She is here depicted standing in profile holding the sa, a hieroglyph of protection similar to the ankh hieroglyph of life. The stone is shaped like a long pyramid triangle and has more detail than the pictures can show.

Taweret Goddess Stone #sk058
size: 48mm long (about 2" inches)
20mm wide
17mm at thickest point

*unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt.

Egyptian Lion Glyph Stone 032

2011-10-08T15:46:00.000-05:00

Spiritkeepers Stone featuring head and paws of kingly Egyptian sphinx style lion on natural basalt river stone from the Cascade Mountains, USA; the volcanic Pacific Ring of Fire. The natural color of the stone can be seen on the reverse side and painting is done with metallic gold and blue. Perfect for desk top display, add to a totem bag, or to grace a personal altar top. The owner may choose to "program" it with the metaphysical energy of courage, to gain a positive royal mind-set as a protection amulet.

SIZE: 24mm high 35mm long 4mm at thick

Egyptian Lion Stone #sk032

http://www.mysticgriffin.com/spiritkeepers.htm

*unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt.

Egyptian Goddess Taweret sk059

2011-10-08T15:27:00.001-05:00

Egyptian Goddess Taweret Hand Painted Blue Hippo Rock; Spiritkeepers™ Stone featuring Egyptian Goddess Taweret or The Great Female. She is here depicted standing in profile holding the sa, a hieroglyph of protection similar to the ankh hieroglyph of life. http://www.mysticgriffin.com/spiritkeepers.htm

#sk059
SIZE: 92mm long (about 2 1/2" inches)
35mm wide
15mm at thickest point
guardian of women and children

fierce protector
fertility
pregnancy & motherhood
childbirth & labor
harvest
female sexuality
magical protection
ward off evil & fight demons or negative ghost spirits
guide to souls of the dead and rebirth
loving household deity

* Taweret (Taueret, Taurt, Toeris, Ipy, Ipet, Apet, Opet, Reret) - The Great Female - was the ancient Egyptian goddess of maternity and childbirth, protector of women and children. Like Bes, she was both a fierce demonic fighter as well as a popular deity who guarded the mother and her newborn child. She was depicted as a combination of a crocodile, a pregnant hippopotamus standing on her hind legs with large breasts and a lion. Unlike the composite demoness Ammut, her head and body were that of the hippo, her paws were that of the lion, and her back was the back of a crocodile.

-- Taweret, British Museum Glossary

*unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt.

Holiday Shopping Specials

2009-11-30T07:14:00.002-05:00

Kokopelli Dancing Hand Painted Spiritkeepers Stone

For a 2009 Christmas holiday special this Kokopelli Spiritkeepers Stone comes with free shipping in the USA and bonus a free Kokopelli necklace, as shown at left. It's adjustable by pulling the knots apart and features a laser engraved pendant charm of golden natural horn. The figure form has been filled in with a gold tone. Keep for yourself, add to a gift, or add to your own jewelry creation.

Painted stone art images & totem animal text, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt.

A Dogs Thanksgiving Story

2009-11-28T21:30:00.008-05:00

My old bullmastiff pal, Harvey, was a great talker. From a very early age we worked on building animal and human telepathy. Each of our three dogs at the time were excellent at mind communication, but since Harvey didn't know any better -- having started much younger than the other two -- he became a conversational pro! Months before he crossed the Rainbow Bridge we began a blog together. Before he passed I promised him I would continue to share the character of his words. The following light-hearted story is told from the perspective of a dog.

A terrible thing happened for dogs one Thanksgiving. It can certainly be a terrible thing when your people learn something new -- if you happen to be a dog. My people were being visited by the extended pack. Tree was talking with another people and I overheard the whole aweful story.

There once was a dog who went with her people to visit other people who happened to have a dog too. The dog in this story was very happy to visit the other dog. They ran together and had great fun with toys, but the other dog was much younger and stronger than the dog in our story so it sometimes made our dog very sad; She kept trying though, in the hopes that one day she'd be just as good at something as the younger dog.

Then one night, during the visit, a new thing happened. While getting ready for bed the other people patted the top of the bed -- and the other dog jumped up! Our dog in the story had never seen anything such as this before. Her people always slept alone way up on the bed. The dog in our story was never allowed on the bed. She wanted oh so very much to be just like the other dog! She ventured a little whine and offered her best cute puppy face to her people. To the surprise of the dog in our story her people patted the top of the bed too; She too was going to be allowed on the bed! SHE would finally be just like the other dog in our story! Her bottom side began to wiggle before her feet could even move. The dog in our story was so terribly excited as she jumped onto the bed! She wagged and wagged her tail in joy. She rolled on her side and wagged her tail in happiness. The dog in our story wagged and wagged her happy tail hard.

Suddenly the dog in our story let out a huge YELP! She jumped down to the safety of the floor. She tried to be happy again. She tried to wag her tail, but each effort made her yelp again in pain. Then the dog in our story tried NOT to wag her tail, but it wouldn't hold still, so she cried. Her people jumped out of the bed and rushed her to a doctor. Being very worried, they told the doctor what had happened. The doctor gave the dog in our story medicine to make her feel better and heal. In time, the dog in our story would be just fine. The the doctor then gave a good natured laugh. He explained that he'd never seen a dog get so happy that it wagged too hard; The dog in our story had sprained her tail!

My own people learned that too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. Thanksgiving turkey makes my tail wag because it's so good, but I won't wag too hard unless maybe they remember I'm thankful for leftovers!

-- written November 25, 2006 by Harvest "Harvey" the bullmastiff, with the help of his people Tree Pruitt.

*Please consider visiting the American Bullmastiff Association Rescue to make a small donation or give a loving forever home to a darling in need! :)

copyright Tree Pruitt

Buffalo and Calf Holey Stone

2009-11-26T07:59:00.007-05:00

This new large Spiritkeepers Stone comes with an upright brass display stand for one of a kind home decor. It features a unique landscape painting of a mother Native American Bison with morning mist steaming from her mouth while her baby buffalo calf stands by her side. It was inspired by the shapes found within the natural surface, formed by fossils & fossil imprints, so it has a great deal of texture. In some areas, especially the calf, the image seem 3-D! I painted it with washes of color and careful dry brushed layers of acrylic paint.

The type of stone is limestone, known to generate metaphysical energy, and shale created from ancient swamp silt in the Ohio Valley. The presence of fossils is said to increase creativity with the surrounding environment. Being naturally holed, this rock makes a perfect totem animal amulet.

A naturally holed stone, or holey stone, is also known as the Witches Amulet or Witches Dream Shield. It is the most powerful protection amulet for the witch because it IS the presence of the Goddess Herself. The opening in the stone is the Sacred Womb of the Earth. When strung with a red string or ribbon & placed over the bed it acts as a shield against bad dreams, much like the Native American dream catcher. A holey stone may also be used for Full Moon magic by gazing at the moon through the hole.

Buffalo and Calf Holey Stone Spiritkeepers #sk021

- 8 1/2" long

- 6 3/4" at tallest points
- 1/4" to nearly 1" thickness varies
- included brass stand is 3 1/2" high w/ rubber covered feet to protect surfaces

Each Spiritkeepers™ is unique, individually numbered & signed with the Spiritkeepers™ sigil logo; no fillers or cutting ever used on stones. The reverse side shows the sigil, number & natural color of the stone. This piece is intended for indoor or protected outdoor display. Coated with durable clear varathane varnish, so the surface is water washable with cold water and care.

Click here to shop ArtistTree at

Painted stone art images & totem animal text, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt.

Egyptian God Thoth

2009-09-22T17:43:00.013-05:00

The ancient Egyptian God Thoth (or Toth) was thought to be a self-begotten 'One' of his own making, and held many important attributes. It was believed that the gods would not exist without the words of Thoth, as he was the scribe of the gods and the Underworld, thus his power was nearly unlimited. Being the creator of writing he was seen as the author of all works of science, religion, magic, philosophy, and was the master of all forms of law. Thoth was a record keeper for the Underworld, wise counselor, and persuader to both humans and gods.

Usually depicted as a man with the head of an ibis, or simply the head of the bird, he was sometimes depicted as a baboon holding a crescent shaped moon because it was Thoth who directed the motions of heavenly bodies; the curve of the ibis' beak is similar to a crescent moon and baboons were observed as intelligent nocturnal creatures. This deity was associated with the moon due to its significant importance in early astrology, astronomy, and many of Egyptian society's important events were governed by the cycles of the moon. Perhaps Thoth, like the moon in the dark of night, provided illumination in the darkness of ignorance. The moon itself eventually became associated with another god and Thoth was more often associated with wisdom and writing, thus becoming the patron of scribes (writers). However, Thoths connection to the moon sustained in that magic, measurement, regulation of events, and of time itself remained associated with this most important of Egyptian deities.

Spiritkeepers™ Stone #sk056 shown above.

The wearing or carrying of an image of this ancient animal deity certainly could call upon totem animal like aspects to gain assistance from a "Higher Power" for a wide variety of us simple humans living today. Thoth may be called upon by modern Pagans, Wiccans, and witches for assistance in writing ones own spells or rituals, especially having to do with moon magick. An author or poet of any faith may find inspiration in an image of Thoth as a simple good luck charm. Through meditation upon His image, those having legal difficulties, or social issues, may find helpful counsel from Thoth in discovering how to persuade an opponent to see things your way... if you stand in a place of truth. Modern astrologists and astronomers could also gain important insight through meditating upon an image of Thoth. Those working in the fields of personal organiser, construction, mathematics, or any field of the sciences could improve skills with the help of this god.

*Referenced http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoth

*Referenced and recommended reading...

Budge, E. A. Wallis. Egyptian Religion. Kessinger Publishing, 1900.

Budge, E. A. Wallis. The Gods of the Egyptians Volume 1 and 2. New York: Dover Publications, 1969

* Free images of Thoth for you to print and color http://karenswhimsy.com/ancient-egyptian-gods.shtm

Painted stone art work images, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt. Totem animal text information may not be used for profit.

About Anubis

2009-09-21T18:19:00.020-05:00

Learn about Anubis and discover some ways this ancient deity can remain relevant in modern life through symbol and analogy.

Ancient Egyptian text states that Anubis silently walked through the shadows of life and death, lurking in the dark places. It was he who deemed the deceased worthy, or not, to cross into rebirth; resurrection, enter a heavenly place. Anubis was the guardian of the dead, who greeted the souls in the Underworld, protecting them on their journey. He was watchful by day as well as by night.

Anubis is the Greek name for the jackal-headed God of the Dead. In ancient Egyptian mythology his hieroglyphic name is more accurately spelled Anpu (also Anupu, Anbu, Wip, Ienpw, Inepu, Yinepu, Inpu, or Inpw). He's nearly always depicted as a man with the black head of a jackal or in the form of the jackal animal itself, especially in hieroglyphic writing; However, at the Temple of Ramses II in Abydos he is shown in the rare form of total human, devoid of animal characteristics. The color of Anubis' head likely served to visually link him with mummification because an embalmed body would turn black in color. Interestingly, black also represented fertility to the Egyptians, so the color choice probably serves to express Anubis' connection to rebirth in the afterlife. During the later Ptolemaic period, because their function as messenger of the gods were similar, Anubis came to be identified as the Greek god Hermes, becoming Hermanubis. Anubis was also sometimes associated with Sirius the Dog in heaven, and Cerberus in hell because even the Egyptians often thought of him as a dog, rather than specifically a jackal. Prayers to Anubis have been found carved on even the most ancient of tombs in Egypt, as He is one of the oldest deities of that great land.

No public procession in Egypt would be conducted without a figure of Anubis to march at the head, as the "go-between" of gods and men. The ancient Egyptians swore "by the Dog" when making oaths they would not break. When pet dogs died they were mummified and buried in temples dedicated to Anubis. The reason for Anubis' canine form likely stems from behavior the ancient Egyptians themselves observed; dogs and jackals often haunted the edges of the desert, especially near the cemeteries where the dead were buried. One of the reasons such care was taken to preserve the dead with sweet smelling herbs was the belief that Anubis would check each person with his keen canine nose, and only if they smelled pure would he allow them to enter the Kingdom of the Dead.

It was thought that Anubis invented the process of making mummies, so he became the overseer of embalming and mummification, as well as escorting the deceased through the procedures for entering the underworld as the 'Opener of the Ways'. Modern day persons working in paranormal or parapsychology fields may be able to seek the assistance of this ancient deity to help guide a ghost or unwanted spirit "into the Light". Awakening the dead was also one of his functions, as he was said to appear near a mummy to rouse the soul. It may also hold true that a bold modern necromancer or Medium might be able to gain assistance from Anubis in awakening the dead, allowing them to speak for a time. Anubis was the one who purified the body of Osiris through mummification after Osiris was murdered, so it is likely at this time that Anubis gave over the title of THE "God of the Dead" as an honor to Osiris. Anubis tests the knowledge and faith of the every day mans soul by placing the heart on the scales of justice for judgment. If the heart weighs heavier than the feather of Maat (or Ma'at, the goddess of truth) Anubis feeds the soul to the demon Ammit, who destroys it utterly. This is important symbolism because, though we may have done deeds in our lives that cause a "heavy-heartedness", we can make atonement before death to literally lighten up! If an individual soul carries too much remorse or regret it cannot cross into a heavenly realm; this is doctrine found in many religions active today.

Anubis was also a warrior god, opening the way to victory for pharaoh. Modern Pagans and witches may find it helpful to call upon this aspect of the God when seeking to win legal battles, clear a path through difficult situations, or even to overcome personal difficulties. In His many forms, and indeed through many types of media, the energy of Anubis remains an active part of modern life in many countries today.

The wire wrapped necklace pendant, shown at the right, was the first item I'd sold on Etsy.com, a while back now. I thought it should be shown here, and even though it's already sold it certainly deserves honorable mention. On the stone the God is shown more like a symbol used in the writing of Egypt, rather than the more realistic dimensional style of other Anubis Spiritkeepers Stones (see blog Categories at the right side for other Anubis stones). It's a good example of how I depict Anubis, and how smaller Spiritkeepers™ pebbles can be created into jewelry.

Anubis Resources...

*Print and color an image of Anubis yourself at http://www.edupics.com/en-coloring-pictures-pages-photo-anubis-i12444.html

*Another coloring page http://www.coloring.ws/t.asp?b=m&t=http://www.coloring.ws/egypt/egypt5.gif

* Anubis & other deities free to use, print & color
http://karenswhimsy.com/egyptian-gods-goddesses.shtm

*Information http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anubis

http://www.theequinest.com/anubis/

*The Book of the Dead, by Sir E. A. Wallis Budge
Download ebook for free from Project Gutenberg Literary Archive http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7145

Painted stone art work images, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt. Totem animal text information may not be used for profit.

Egyptian Goddess Taweret

2009-09-21T16:14:00.014-05:00

A friend recently brought up the subject of fertility issues in the aspect of motherhood, not just abundance in life, so I was inspired to paint some unique Spiritkeepers™ Stones featuring the Egyptian Goddess Taweret, or The Great Female. Usually I pass my hand over a selection of rocks seeking the feel of energy for the image I want to create and will be lucky to find a single stone that's right for the job; in this case the blessing was a total of three pebbles volunteering to become representations of Taweret!

"Taweret (Taueret, Taurt, Toeris, Ipy, Ipet, Apet, Opet, Reret) - The Great Female - was the ancient Egyptian goddess of maternity and childbirth, protector of women and children. Like Bes, she was both a fierce demonic fighter as well as a popular deity who guarded the mother and her newborn child. She was depicted as a combination of a crocodile, a pregnant hippopotamus standing on her hind legs with large breasts and a lion. Unlike the composite demoness Ammut, her head and body were that of the hippo, her paws were that of the lion, and her back was the back of a crocodile." -- British Museum Glossary

Some of the many aspects associated with this Goddess are as follows...

guardian of women and children

a fierce protector

giver of fertility

pregnancy & motherhood

guide & protector through childbirth & labor

a good harvest

help with female sexuality

magical protection

ward off evil & fight demons or negative ghost spirits

a guide to souls of the dead and rebirth

a loving household deity

This Goddess is a lesser known feature character in the famous Egyptian Book of the Dead, but I've most often seen depictions of Her on everyday items a woman might use such as vanity mirrors and drinking cups. She was also an important symbol to be included on birthing blocks; wood or stone blocks women stood upon while in labor to ease delivery of the baby. Lucky babies and children in Egypt would have some sort of amulet or talisman featuring a depiction of Taweret near the bed or on worn jewelry because being comprised of both the hippopotamus and crocodile Taweret is fiercely protective of offspring! When depicted standing in profile, She's often holding the sa, which is a hieroglyph of protection similar to the ankh hieroglyph of life. She was an important deity in Her day, and I feel that Her energy if called upon today could offer comfort and magical assistance to a woman in need.

The Taweret Spiritkeepers™ Stones I painted are currently available in my Etsy.com Curio Castle store, but if you're opposed to becoming a member of a shopping site you are welcome to contact me for direct purchase (Contact link tab). Make sure to include a return email address when contacting me so that I can get back to you with ease. If you stop by the store, I do hope you'll enjoy browsing the Taweret and many other one of a kind stones I have to offer!

* Taweret & other Egyptian deities to print & color yourself
http://karenswhimsy.com/egyptian-gods-goddesses.shtm

* The Book of the Dead, by Sir E. A. Wallis Budge
Download ebook for free from Project Gutenberg Literary Archive http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7145

Painted stone art work images, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt. Totem animal text information may not be used for profit.

Painted Goddess Fossils & Pebbles

2009-08-28T16:39:00.010-05:00

I've had a lot of fun painting several new stones featuring representations of the Goddess. The example shown at the left is stone #sk048, and the image includes a pencil to show how perfectly sized these new pebbles are for tucking into a pocket, pouch or medicine fetish bag. I've also painted some that are not fossil, and some of those come with a hand sewn leather storage pouch! As always, each is unique and only worked on when the energy is positive for best metaphysical flow. They make wonderful amulets for fertility, to increase creativity, or to rest upon a personal altar top as a symbol of feminine goddess energy; Some could even be wire wrapped as your own jewelry supply! Being tiny and affordable they also make great additions to a gift for a Pagan or Wiccan friend.

These stones, and others, can be purchased at my site, Realm of the Mystic Griffin, where there are special pages just for Spiritkeepers™ or my Etsy.com Curio Castle Shoppe. I'll be adding more varieties soon, such as realistic full nude Earth Mother Goddess and two very special miniature paintings of the historical Moon Goddess Inanna, so please do browse by again!

All art work images, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt. Text information may not be used for profit. Information about hand painted Spiritkeepers™ stones & shells by WWAO artist, Tree Pruitt.

Witchy Totem Visit; American Toad

2009-08-22T02:18:00.009-05:00

I've a new neighbor, and perhaps a familiar friend or "toadem" animal, as well. A large American Toad has taken up residence in the back yard my wee apartment has to offer. At first I'd only occasionally see a small toad on the back patio taking shelter from a hard rain, but one night there were two toads. The second was much larger than the first, and since its arrival the smaller toad is absent; likely having been consumed by the new comer. Now, nearly every evening the big toad comes right up to the screen to crawl safely under the door ledge. It's a calm confident creature and has allowed me to pet it; stroking between the eyes being careful to avoid the toxin glands on either side of the head.
I couldn't help myself to interfere with nature, so I began to catch some of the numerous moths that gather at the patio lamp in the hope of hand feeding my new pal. I've had a lot of experiences with wildlife, both exotic and indigenous, but had never spent time with a simple toad until now. It thrilled me when that quick tongue flash out to grab a moth from my finger tips! A relationship of a sort has developed, without a doubt, because when I make a deep hum noise Toadie walks out from under the door ledge to come right up to my hand. I still feed him (I think it's male because the colors are very dark) moths by hand but also chase crickets his way so his hunting skills remain sharp. In truth, I doubt my offered snacks could dull his hunting skills; a toad of this size is bold and opportunistic, taking whatever moves and fits in his mouth.

In Western lore the toad often gets a bad reputation as a wart giving ingredient for evil witches' to brew into curse potions, but the toad has a variety of meaning as a symbol. Because they often burrow into the ground and produce abundant numbers of offspring, the toad can be viewed as a symbol for the Earth Goddess. Just as the Earth can both give and take life in a flash, the swift deadly tongue of the toad also makes it a representation of death or transformation. Death itself is merely a transformative change, not always a bad thing, so Toadie making friends could signal a deep change in my life is approaching (though I've already had quite a few). For unstated reasons, toads are also thought to be signs of good luck and near future prosperity; Perhaps this is because of that opportunistic nature, patience, and quick hunting skills they have. Toads do NOT cause or give warts, but they do produce a toxin from the fat lumps on either side of the head. It's mostly harmless to humans unless it comes in contact with an open cut, is swallowed, or comes in contact with the eyes. It's a good idea to always wash your hands thoroughly after handling toad to be kind to yourself and wash before handling to be kind to the toad so you don't pass any bacteria or pollutants onto the toads thin skin. Perhaps persons with a Life Totem (not a Temporary Totem) of toad might seem a little "thin skinned", being easy to irritate others, and may even have a tendency to seem toxic during stressful or social situations? To understand what an animal means as a symbol we must look at the animal traits and how it lives, but also how it makes us feel when coming into our own lives individually.
Personally, I'm happy with my new pal Toadie. As long as I keep the dog from eating him, Toady is doing good work keeping the insect population in check and offering me childish chuckles from exploring his company. He's welcome at my door, and I'll be keeping my witches eye out for a stone to offer itself to be painted as a toad Spiritkeepers! ;)

*American Toad (Bufo americanus) graphic provided at http://ian.umces.edu/discforum/index.php?topic=151.0

All art work images, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt. Text information may not be used for profit. Information about hand painted Spiritkeepers™ stones & shells by WWAO artist, Tree Pruitt.

Egyptian God of the Dead Anubis #060

2009-08-20T01:11:00.011-05:00

This stone may currently be available in my Curio Castle Shop, or you may contact me for direct purchase information. See also my blog entry About Anubis.

I love the variety of inspiration mysterious Egypt has to offer a modern crafts-person! With the head of a jackal (dog like animal), Anubis comes to life on this Spiritkeepers pebble in an original hand drawn hieroglyph like design. It can take some time to find a stone with the right shape to create His long muzzle and towering ears, but as you can see this one is nearly canine shaped without a painted image! It can be carried as a pocket pal, an addition to a mo-jo medicine bag, used as a deity figure on a Pagan altar top, and even as a light paperweight to keep spell papers in place. The stone has been sealed with several layers of durable clear varathane, so it's safe for display on most all surfaces and should be able to withstand being housed with other stones or abrasive things an owner might collect.

Reverse side showing natural stone color and sigil.

All art work images, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt. Text information may not be used for profit. Information about hand painted Spiritkeepers™ stones & shells by WWAO artist, Tree Pruitt.

Contact the Artist

2009-08-20T00:57:00.003-05:00

Need to contact Spiritkeepers artist Tree Pruitt? Use the email link above, send a message through one of the social networking sites listed below, or send a 'convo' through Etsy.com to either user name ... 'mysticgriffin' or 'curiocastle'. You'll receive a reply as soon as possible.

Tree's Facebook Artist Fan Page http://artist.to/tree/

Tree's Myspace http://www.myspace.com/paintedraven

'Email' graphic provided by Ambrosia's Realm of Graphics http://emergraphiks.tripod.com/

Spiritkeepers Squidoo Lens updated

2009-07-28T03:42:00.002-05:00

I've just updated the Spiritkeepers Lens at Squidoo.com and finished another lens on totem animals and spirit guides. I'm pleased with the lenses and hope you'll stop by to learn and enjoy browsing the photos and products the page has to offer.

Spiritkeepers Squidoo Lens
Introduction to Animal Helpers and Spirit Guides Squidoo Lens

All art work images, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt. Text information may not be used for profit. Information about hand painted Spiritkeepers™ stones & shells by WWAO artist, Tree Pruitt.

About Animal Totems and Spirit Guides

2009-06-17T20:00:00.009-05:00

Spiritkeepers are stones hand painted with images of totem animals. OK, so what is a totem animal? How is it different from an animal helper or spirit guide? I've prepared the answers to those questions, and many others, at my home site, Realm of the Mystic Griffin. There, you'll find a free section devoted to teaching about the metaphysical symbols animals can become for us, including a working list of animal meanings you won't find from any one else; unique original content. Discover the magic within!

You may now also visit my new Squidoo.com informative lens at http://www.squidoo.com/animal_totems

All art work images, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt. Text information may not be used for profit. Information about hand painted Spiritkeepers™ stones & shells by WWAO artist, Tree Pruitt.

Shop for Spiritkeepers to Adopt

2009-06-17T14:51:00.004-05:00

Currently available Spiritkeepers may be purchased in my Etsy store, The Curio Castle, where they have a shop section all their own; see Spiritkeepers Art Stones. If you'd prefer to purchase direct, without becoming a member of the Etsy site, select stones are available at my home site, Realm of the Mystic Griffin.

You're also welcome to contact me to request a direct purchase or special request. Be sure to visit the FAQ's section to learn more about requests.

Scroll down to see a sample of the curios items in my Curio Castle

Diverse Rockin Etsy Treasury of Pebble Art

2009-04-08T15:00:00.011-05:00

"A pebble upon the sand inspires so many unique creations", states the opening of the latest Etsy Treasury to feature Spiritkeepers Stones. Username Wandering Whimsies has gathered a wonderfully creative selection of pebble rock related art, including my Spiritkeepers Emperor Penguin Set. The entire collection is very diverse, with everything from traditional painting, glass work, to an impressive textured quilt; beach stone buttons are very cool! Don't miss out -- because Treasuries are only temporary galleries -- and roll on over to see all of the images full sized and learn about these art forms. Lots of folks clicking each image in the Treasury could get us placed on Etsy's front page, and that would be very cool indeed, so help us out if you can. I had a good time browsing the new-to-me sellers and seeing their rock expressions. This Etsy Treasury will expire Friday April 10th @ 2:53, so you won't be able to view it directly any longer.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=49823

Wolf Holey Stone Pendant #045

2009-03-28T19:42:00.010-05:00

With life-like details this bust of a red brown timber wolf on stone has been wire wrapped to make a most unique necklace pendant. With golden eyes, the fur was created by dry brushing many layers of paint over the texture of the natural stone. The white stone came from the Pacific Ocean; the Ring of Fire, and so the water of the sea created the natural hole. Wire is silver plated copper, and is strung on an adjustable satin cord, but will accept most chains. Perfect addition to a Spiritkeepers collection, ritual jewelry, or could even be used as an ornament for a small Wiccan Yule holiday tree! Can be worn by both men and ladies alike, (unisex).

Go to the Spiritkeepers Home at Realm of the Mystic Griffin to purchase & for more information.

All art work images, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt. Text information may not be used for profit. Information about hand painted Spiritkeepers ™ stones & shells by WWAO artist, Tree Pruitt.

Emperor Penguin Family Set

2009-03-28T03:08:00.011-05:00

Hand painted realistic wildlife details!

The new Emperor Penguin Family Group is a set of 5 painted rocks; four beach pebble (jasper, agate, basalt) birds rest upright for display in natural grooves in the flat silica background stone. The baby Penguin is the world's smallest Spiritkeepers Stone to date at only 1/2" long by 1/4" wide! The largest bird in set is 1" by 2/4" and they are fun to play with because the scene can be changed! The set is a true unique creation of 3-D art. Each piece is individually signed with the Spiritkeepers sigil and numbered.

The shapes of the tiny pebbles inspired this set. I'd collected an interesting group of flat little stones, and had them together for quite some time. One day they caught my eye as a "family" and should stay together; hence the first Spiritkeepers set of any kind. I'd been saving the flat background rock for a long time. I thought of it right away as a perfect setting for the birds to rest upon. The scratched up surface the stone had to begin with reminded me of the way penguins will scratch out a walking path. It's a lot of fun playing with the pebbles, moving and changing the scene, and I think the set would be great stress relief at the office desk; certainly a unique conversation piece, and a perfect way to keep the spirit of a personal totem animal with you in the real world!
Visit my home site, Realm of the Mystic Griffin, to read original totem animal meaning for Emperor Penguin.

Slide on over to my Curio Castle Etsy store to see different photos and purchase this set at this time.
*Curio Castle Shoppe http://www.curiocastle.etsy.com/

All art work images, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt. Text information may not be used for profit. Information about hand painted Spiritkeepers ™ stones & shells by WWAO artist, Tree Pruitt.

Sandstone Wolf Holey Stone Featured in Etsy Treasury

2009-03-14T16:46:00.009-05:00

How happy I am that this Spiritkeepers Stone of mine is featured in a rockin' Etsy Treasury! I LOVE the cool selection of other rocks that were chosen to be shown along side this holey stone. The special gallery is only available for a limited time, so hurry over to take a look. Be sure to click each of the images to try to get this Treasury featured on the Etsy home page!

You can purchase this one of a kind stone for yourself in my Curio Castle Shoppe and see other photos with different angles. It was a really fun project and I'm happy to be able to share it with you all!

-- artist Tree Pruitt

Shift Happens

2009-03-03T01:00:00.001-05:00

The Curio Castle Shoppe and my Fine Art Store at Etsy are going through some big changes. We're currently relocating our real world location (home), and so I thought it best to temporarily close both of my Etsy shops during this time. If you have a favorite item, you can contact me and still make a purchase provided you can afford some patience as we organise the inventory storage. Good customer service and lovable products are always my priority, so I hope to resolve the situation swiftly.

Ongoing art projects too must sadly be put on hold for a while, and trust me this is the hard one for myself; shift happens, and shift we must. Overall I think the changes will be better for my family as well as my art work out put, but it sorely hurts to put a pause on things for now.

All art work images, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt. Text information may not be used for profit. Information about hand painted Spiritkeepers ™ stones & shells by WWAO artist, Tree Pruitt.

Smallest & Biggest Spiritkeepers Stones Ever

2008-09-09T20:16:00.005-05:00

In a previous post I wrote about the largest Spiritkeepers Stone to date; the Giant Wolf Holey Stone (#sk043). Sized at 12" wide, 10" tall, and 2" at the thickest point, it's sure to impress guests with the size alone but also has a great amount of realistic detail. I've recently listed, in my Curio Castle Shoppe, the smallest Spiritkeepers Stone ever and it too has realistic wildlife details!

The new Emperor Penguin Family Group is a set of 5 painted rocks; four beach pebble (jasper, agate, basalt) birds rest upright for display in natural grooves in the flat silica background stone. The baby Penguin is the world's smallest Spiritkeepers Stone to date at only 1/2" long by 1/4" wide! The largest bird in set is 1" by 2/4" and they are fun to play with because the scene can be changed! The set is a true unique creation of 3-D art. Each piece is individually signed with the Spiritkeepers sigil and numbered.

Slide on over to my Curio Castle Etsy store to see different photos and learn more.
*Curio Castle Shoppe http://www.mysticgriffin.etsy.com/

All art work images, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt. Text information may not be used for profit. Information about hand painted Spiritkeepers ™ stones & shells by WWAO artist, Tree Pruitt.

Emperor Penguin Spiritkeepers Fossil Shard

2008-09-03T10:03:00.009-05:00

Spiritkeepers Stone #sk040

SOLD

A realistic, depiction of an Emperor Penguin graces this new Spiritkeepers Stone. It is a hand painted, unique original design created from the natural forms of the rock itself. This piece can be displayed as tiny decorative art, carried in a pouch or medicine bag, added to a personal altar, or used as jewelry supply for a wire wrapped pendant. Sized at 2" x 1 1/4" x 1/4" inches. (Details show much better in person; it was difficult to photograph due to the varied forms and reflections.) Comes with printed certificate; check my Etsy Curio Castle for availability. See the listing also for original metaphysical totem animal information.

*HISTORY OF THIS STONE:
Spiritkeepers are generally rocks that are whole and unbroken, mainly so that it's clear I don't changes the natural shapes, (my own little rule). This particular piece of stone was a bit different. Being a conglomeration of fossils, the stone was whole at one time. Nature, however, found an interesting way of altering the shape when my former studio was rocked by an earthquake. Having been in my personal collections, the stone was broken by falling household debris. In my metaphysical opinion there was, at that time, a shift in the energy of the now stone shard. There seemed to be an electric like spark, near to an excitement, to the energy. Indeed, there is a heavy amount of quartz in the stone, a known energy generator, and the crystals of fossilized creatures can be seen along the broken edge in lovely tones of blue gray.

*About the Animal:
The Emperor Penguin is perhaps best known, recently, for the animated motion picture, "Happy Feet", involving the metaphysical concept of soul-mates. Emperor Penguins make a sequence of journeys, as adults, each year in order to mate and to feed their offspring. Emperor couples are known to court each other and recognize one another by their unique calls, having a wide range of vocalizations. The Emperor Penguin is the tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species and is found only in Antarctica. Like all penguins, it is flightless, with a streamlined body and flipper like wings for a marine lifestyle. The lifespan is typically 20 years in the wild, but some individuals may live to as much as 50 years of age.

The following was referenced for Emperor Penguin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Penguin

All art work images, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt. Text information may not be used for profit. Information about hand painted Spiritkeepers ™ stones & shells by WWAO artist, Tree Pruitt.

NEW River Otter Stone Is Very Realistic

2008-08-28T21:22:00.007-05:00

River Otter Profile Bust Spiritkeepers Stone #013

Unique, One of a Kind Hand Painted Totem Animal Art

I'm excited to release this new river otter into the wild! The unique shape of the rock begged for a sleek animal, and being that the stone is a river rock made otter a perfect choice. I never really know what the final animal is going to look like when a piece is finished, and I was rather surprised by the details of this critter. This river otter wears a somewhat serious expression, watching with alert senses. Realistic details bring the face to life, in the more difficult to manage 3/4 profile position. A slight bit of color hints at a lush river background, adding a vivid contrast to the red-brown fur of the otter. The fur colors are rich natural tones with creamy highlights; a personal favorite color combination.

The entire stone is about half the size an actual otter head would be in nature, and wraps around the form of the rock. On the back of the stone some of the natural color of the rock can be seen. I always try to leave some of the natural surface showing so it's new partner (aka owner) can be aware of that connection to a thing of nature, and not just decorative art.

As of now, this stone is currently available in my Curio Castle Etsy Shop (mysticgriffin) but if it has already found a home you can still read the details and see other photos by looking in the "Sold" section.

New Stones Listed; Fox, Eagle, Bear, Dolphin

2008-08-22T05:43:00.016-05:00

Just yesterday the garden yielded a few rocks that called out to be painted -- to do a little spiritual work perhaps. That brought to mind several Spiritkeepers that hadn't been listed yet for sale in my Etsy store. So based upon that inner guidance, I've listed several brand new stones! Some familiar favorite animals have popped up this time. I'm not entirely thrilled with the quality of my photographs, in all cases, but I am sure you'll be thrilled with the detail and care an in-person look will reveal.

Grizzly Bear #034 is curled up watching out for you from a granite pebble, Red Fox #031 and Bald Eagle Feather #030 are both painted on branch coral fossil, and Minoan Dolphin #020 on Pacific Ocean basalt would make a perfect paper weight for holding down spells at the altar or enchant bills on the desk top. I've personally encountered a real life example of each of these animals at one point; but my dolphins were in Florida and not Crete.
Some of the smaller stones are excellent to wire wrap as jewelry pendants, and it pleases me to offer them to other artists. Of corse, if a buyer would like to have a certain piece wrapped I can do so in brass, copper, or sterling silver, at this time, for a reasonable additional fee. Those same stones would also be perfect for a mo-jo medicine bag, and psst -- I can make those out of hand sewn leather too! The important thing is that if you feel a certain stone call to you then I'd like us all to be happy; lay away plan is available and custom requests considered.
I hope you enjoy viewing these new rocks in the Spiritkeepers collection!

Below, Brown Grizzly Bear #034

Minoan Dolphin #020

Red Fox #031 branch coral fossil

Bald Eagle Feather #030

Story Time; Painted Stones Get A Telling Honor

2008-05-06T16:56:00.014-05:00

Spiritkeepers Stones have received a friendly and creative honor by having one of the rock pile being selected for feature in an Etsy Treasury! Click the post title here to visit right away or see below for a list of links.

Just what is a Treasury? At the shopping site, etsy.com, a Treasury is a member curated gallery of short lived lists of 12 hand-picked items each. It is intended to acknowledge and share the many cool things for sale on Etsy. Administration often chooses an exceptional Treasury list to promote on the home page. Fellow Etsy member, Deb the storybeader, took the time to artfully hand select twelve items into a temporary collection with the theme of "story". My Peruvian Storyteller with Children Spiritkeepers Stone, looks lovely with the varied other items chosen by Deb for this collection, I must say; it's special for me to get to see my image with all of the wonderful and artistic designs on that page! I think it's a magickal Treasury list, BUT... you can visit this Treasury ONLY for a short time; remember, they are temporary images and the items themselves may not be available for purchase any longer becaues many are one of a kind. Read comments left by others on the page, or leave one of your own too if you are an Etsy member. Everyone would love to hear from you!

~ Story of the Stone in the Treasury; Peruvian Storyteller with Children ~

This rock had been a member of my studio space for a few years before I felt called to paint the unique (OOAK) Peruvian Storyteller design. Warm earth tones accent the friendly charm of this heartwarming Ayacucho storyteller and her young friends, including the white bird. Wearing traditional clothing of Peru, the expressive characters bring the design on the stone to life. It's hoped to be an inspiring piece reflecting family values, togetherness, and showcasing the age-old legacy of storytelling. Sized at three inches wide, three and a half inches long and standing at about one and a half inches high this one of a kind hand painted rock makes a perfect desktop paperweight or addition to any home decor.

The design is totally unique to this piece, and there is no pattern that exists. It was drawn directly onto the stone, then painted with quality acrylic paints. When I work with materials, especially rocks, I often get impressions or mental images. I feel that I tap into the energy of a stone, and we seem to exchange waves, or communicate. I interpret that energy, in combination with natural marks and bumps on the surface, to create the spiritual images that are Spiritkeepers Stones. I'm fully open to the concept that this process is simply my active imagination alone, but through my own experiments, I'm satisfied that I am communicating with the stone, or object, in most cases; my experience with this spiritual energy is perhaps akin to Remote Viewing. Some stones seem as if they've been assigned, or chosen, a spiritual job to do, and may need to find the person they are to do work for; That's where someone like me enters the picture. I am a helper to the stone along its path.

Now, this particular stone told me that it was very old and had journied far. Once it had been a giant boulder high up in the mist covered Olympic Mountains. It had slowly begun to shift its location on the mountain until it reached the river. Boulders and stones do this by altering the energy waves and weakening the soil structure around them. It doesn't damage or effect the health of the soil, but simply changes the energy waves; like giving a wiggle. Tiny wiggles eventually create a full move. It doesn't matter to most rocks how quickly the move occurs; time is a different matter to stone. By the time this particular stone reached the place where I found it, there was not more than a handful of the original boulder left; having been worn down from the river. I knew the slightly triangle shaped rock was more of a storyteller than most other stones, so decided upon the Native Peruvian storyteller woman as a motif. There is a strong connection to the heartbeat of the Earth inside her. Someone is in need of the gifts this stone has to offer ... is it you?

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~ LINKS ~

See The Feature Tresury http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=42912
Buy the Peruvian Storyteller stone http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6609257
About Etsy Treasury Lists http://etsytreasurydemo.blogspot.com/
Shop for Spiritkeepers Hand Painted Totem Animal & Spiritual Stones http://www.mysticgriffin.etsy.com/
Painted Stones; the Spiritkeepers Blog http://paintedstones.blogspot.com/
Storybeader's Shop at storybeader.etsy.com, BLOG http://storybeader.blogspot.com/

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~ Other Storyteller Spiritkeepers Stones by Tree ~

* Kokopelli Dancing Spiritkeepers Stone #skko07 (currently available for purchase) http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8195085

Patron of music, dance, creativity, storytelling, and abundance. Kokopelli compares somewhat to the Lakota Heyoka medicine person, or Sacred Clown, in that through entertainment and shock the people are distracted into learning lessons to take right action.

*Lord Ganesha Writing Spiritkeepers Stone (SOLD, image not available),

I'll soon finish another original version of the Hindu elephant headed God, Ganesha (Ganesh) painted on a hand sized pebble. This creative Deity was once so inspired to poetry that, when He found he had no pen, broke off one of His own tusks with which to write! Now that's serious dedication!

* Primitive Goddess Hand Painted Fossil Rock Amulet #019b (currently available for purchase)http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7423310

From a metaphysical view, being a fossil, this stone is a link to ancient knowledge -- the Akashic Record. It is thought this type of stone can accelerate the transfer of said knowledge into one's "being". Telepathic abilities may develop or increase. Creativity may be increased simply by the presence of fossil stone in the environment. (based upon information from Melody's Book Love is in the Earth)

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~ Other Storyteller links ~

*Tim Sheppard’s Storytelling Resources for Storytellers http://www.timsheppard.co.uk/story/index.html

*A traditional tale from Peru, "The Fox and the Mole," from Latin American Tales, by Genevieve Barlow http://www.globaled.org/globalLiteracy/handouts/glHandout23A.html

*More about storytellers http://www.towson.edu/csme/mctp/StudentProjects/Storytellers/TitlePage.html

Sea Otter Playful Painted Stone

2007-12-15T14:50:00.003-05:00

SOLD

This was my fourth otter stone I've painted, and the most playful by far! I really had fun working with this stone and the wonderful texture of the surface. See the pictures below that show how this little critter came together.

*About this stone: A detailed form of an adorable sea otter playing with green kelp graces this Spiritkeepers. It is a hand painted original design created from the natural forms of the rock itself. The shapes of the little toes are actual dips in the surface of the stone! Fur is created from hours of carefully dry brushing acrylic paint over the surface. Finished with a durable indoor/outdoor protective varnish. Sized at 4 inches long, 2 inches wide, and 1 inch thick; palm sized. It makes a perfect desktop paper weight or home decor curio shelf accent. Each Spiritkeepers is unique and individually numbered. No two are exact, each is unique OOAK artwork; no fillers or cutting used in making this totem animal fetish stone.

Photo 1: The Birth of a Spiritkeepers
Base coat of paint with rough outline of features. The size and shape made it easy to decide upon an otter. But which kind of otter should it be?
I remembered back when I used to live in the Pacific Northwest and the sea otters would visit. About the time of the salmon run, sea otters would creep up the mouth of the river and play in the churning mixture of salt and fresh waters. Sometimes they'd drag in kelp or sea weed from the deeper ocean as if it were clothing wrapped around plump little bodies. Actually, when one is up close it can be noted that the sea otters are fairly good sized critters! When my husband and myself would take breaks, from our shared place of employment, we were often blessed by a visit with the otters. Few things take away the stress of the day like watching Nature's clowns putting on a show! This stone was painted in honor of those little stress helpers. :)

Photo 2: Taking Shape
The natural bumps and cracks in the rock actually made the texture of the fur and details of the tiny toes, through careful bry brush painting.

Photo 3: Face of a New Friend
All finished and up close.

Photo 2: A side view

All art work images, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt. Text information may not be used for profit. Information about hand painted Spiritkeepers ™ stones & shells by WWAO artist, Tree Pruitt.

Two New Polar Bear Hand Painted Stones

2007-12-06T04:51:00.003-05:00

Metaphysical ABOUT POLAR BEAR - Being the most outstanding hunter of the bear family also makes the polar bear the most aggressive of the bears. They have very keen hearing, listening for sounds under the ice from above. When polar bear hears a seal bubbling to the surface it patiently waits for the favorite prey to come up. They pounce on the seals to drag them from the water. This indicates that polar bear knows when to wait and when to act on an opportunity. These bears have a playful side too, sliding on ice and playing with cubs, indicating that though they're serious about the task at hand they know when to relax and nourish the soul. If you think that polar bear is a totem animal for you then be sure to also examine the animals it chooses as prey; there'll likely be a second totem in there for you.

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* Polar Bear Sleeping Hand Painted Stone

This item is actual natural rock and a one of a kind design.

A hand painted polar bear taking a nap, with head on paw, graces this unique hand painted stone. The image is unique to this piece; one of a kind, and created from the shapes found within the natural surface of the stone. This modern wildlife folk art piece can be displayed as decorative art, used as a large medicine bag or pouch item, or kept as a totem animal spirit guide reminder on decorative display; either way, this collectable Spiritkeepers stone makes a lovely sculpture of nature or Yule time gift. Sits safe for most surfaces at 2" inches tall and is 2 1/4" inches at the widest point, and 1/2" thick; palm of hand size. Place near your workspace computer to remind you of the magic world of nature outside of technology. Hand Painted Rock Folk Art.Each Spiritkeepers is unique and individually numbered. This piece is intended for indoor display though surface is water washable with cold water and care. Stone #sk025

Available at my Etsy shop. Click title to visit.

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Polar Bear Scene Hand Painted Basalt Stone This item is actual natural rock and a one of a kind design SOLD.
A hand painted polar bear standing in the ice fields, with mountians beyond, graces this unique hand painted stone. The rock material is a volcanic basalt from the Pacific Northwest ocean water. Basalt is known metaphysically to absorb negative energy. Use as a meditation devise to focus. The image is unique to this piece; one of a kind, and created from the shapes found within the natural surface of the stone. This modern wildlife folk art piece can be displayed as decorative art, used as a paper weight, or kept as a totem animal spirit guide reminder; either way, this collectable Spiritkeepers stone makes a lovely sculpture of nature or Yule time gift. Sits safe for most surfaces at 3 3/4" inches wide and is 1 1/4" inches at the thickest point; stout and heavy. Photos are a bit dark; colors are rich blue, purple, and white with brown. Acrylic paint well coated with environmentally friendly varnish. Place near your workspace computer to remind you of the magic world of nature outside of technology. Go for a late night walk with the power of polar bear! Each Spiritkeepers is unique and individually numbered. This piece is intended for indoor display though surface is water washable with cold water and care. Stone #sk44 Certificate of Authenticity included.

Big Wolf Painting Double Naturally Holed Stone

2007-12-03T14:32:00.003-05:00

This item is actual natural rock and a unique, one of a kind, design painted on 450 million years old "canvas"!

Each Spiritkeepers is unique and individually numbered hand painted stone or shell. This piece is intended for indoor display, though surface is water washable with cold water and care. Sized at 12" wide, 10" (two inches) tall, and about 1 1/2" at the thickest point, it will require a display easel or space to lean -- not recommended as a wall hanging due to weight between 7 to 10 pounds.

This is without a doubt the largest Spiritkeepers Stone to date; A special DOUBLE NATURALLY HOLED STONE! Part of an underground rock layer at one time, it was shaped by nature rather than being broken out of the ground, and was discovered resting peacefully in the magic of running water. It caught my eye as I passed by this stone, seeming to demand attention. Despite the rugged texture I knew it had to become a painting, so I lugged its weight back to my studio by hand. I never go out on "hunting trips" when I collect, to load up a truck or wheel barrow with random stones. I just simply go for a walk and see what speaks out to me, if anything at all. The triangle shaped piece here, with its two natural holes, seemed to want to become something new. I was glad to oblige.

It was a tough job for me and my paintbrushes, working with the rough texture of this stone -- working "with" and not hiding the natural surface. Note the areas where actual brachiopod fossils shells can be seen. On the back you can see them unpainted, in the natural fossil colors darkened slightly by varnish. It had to be painstakingly hand cleaned of creek bed debris before being painted as a highly detailed bust of a red brown timber wolf. The entire piece took a year to craft, from cleaning to the final protective varnish layers.

Golden eyes shine out from fur created by dry brushing many layers of paint over the natural texture of the stone. Washes of pale blue sky, and vivid greens, make a slight background with trees. The new owner of this stone will be amazed to feel the facial details of the wolf in the actual surface, which was sculpted by an ancient underground river. The ears and mouth especially are created from dry brushing thin layers of paint over the natural shapes in the rock. The entire nose is actually a brachiopod fossil shell. This stone is a striking piece for home decor and specimen collections for the office space; Sure to impress guests with the size alone.

The painted surface is a limestone and shale fossil cluster, with very well articulated half shell brachiopods and other fossils. Location is from the Southwestern Ohio Valley, USA -- the Appalachian Basin on the pinnacle of the Cincinnati Arch. These fossils are found predominately in a large strata of thinly bedded, but dense fossiliforous, limestone approximately 450 million years old! The most recognizable of these fossil species are Brachiopods, Trilobites, Cepholopods, Bryozoa, Crinoids, Eurypterids and Horn Corals. This particular stone is replete with specimens.

From a metaphysical view, being comprised of fossil, this stone is a link to ancient knowledge -- the Akashic Record. It is thought this type of stone can accelerate the transfer of said knowledge into one's "being". Telepathic abilities may develop or increase. Fossils in general, from a metaphysical understanding, may bring quality & excellence into one's surroundings. It may raise the level of, and add to one's achievements in the business world. Creativity may be increased simply by the presence of fossil stone in the environment.
*A naturally holed stone, or holey stone, is also known as the Witches Amulet. It is the most powerful protection amulet for the witch because it IS the presence of the Goddess Herself, the opening in the stone being the Sacred Womb of the Earth. When strung with a red string or ribbon and hung over or near the bed it acts as a shield against bad dreams, called Witches Dream Shield -- much like the Native American dream catcher. A holey stone may also be used for Full Moon magic by gazing at the moon through the hole.

Kokopelli Dancing Spiritkeepers Stone

2007-12-01T21:47:00.004-05:00

Being a Deity of Considerable Potency, the Kokopelli figure has been found as early as 200 A.D in ruins of pithouse people. Many different tribes through time, including the Hopi, tell tales of this mysterious figure. His legend is so widespread that some even think Kokopelli may be an Ancient Hindu God! He was a wandering minstrel who played his magical flute from village to village bringing fertility of all types, as well as song. Patron of music, dance, creativity, storytelling, and abundance. Kokopelli compares somewhat to the Lakota Heyoka medicine person (Sacred Clown), in that through entertainment and shock the people are distracted into learning lessons to take right action.

Pronunciation: koh-koh-pell-ee
Also Known As: Magical Flute Player, humpback or hump-backed flute player, fertility god, prankster, healer and story teller

Each Spiritkeepers is unique and individually numbered hand painted stone. This piece is intended for indoor display though surface is water washable with cold water and care, as it is coated with environmentally friendly protective varnish. Sized at 3" (three inches) long, 2" (two inches) wide, and nearly 1" (one inch) at the thickest point; palm of hand sized. Painted on Ohio silt stone from an ancient fossil bed, making it a link to ancient knowledge -- the Akashic Record.
Kokopelli Dancing Spiritkeepers Stone #skko07

All art work images, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt. Text information may not be used for profit.

The Spiritkeepers Rune Symbol

2007-10-23T04:00:00.002-05:00

Someone recently inquired about the symbol painted on the back of the Spiritkeepers rocks and shells. I created this rune like symbol as a representation of the initials SK with four dots to honor the Four Directions and the Four Sacred Elements. Any one with enough intent can find further meaning to this character, I'm sure, but I intend nothing metaphysically more than vibrant energy and good will.

Below you can see an image of the Spiritkeepers sigil like logo. Generally I include the image of the painted white buffalo stone, as seen to the left side bar. Both versions are available on all CafePress t-shirts and other products, on request.

And now for something along the lines of an update ... I've created a home for the Spiritkeepers and myself at Etsy. Check the Updates section of the side bar for more info. Summer and Fall have turned into a very busy time for me and I haven't had the chance to post new stones here. I have several I can hardly wait to show.

All art work images, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt. Text information may not be used for profit, copyrighted Tree Pruitt. Metaphysical suggestions are intended as entertainment only -- I/we make no claims as to the ability of the action of stones, spells or advise.
Information about hand painted Spiritkeepers ™ stones & shells by WWAO artist, Tree Pruitt.

Polar Bear Running in Moonlight

2007-08-13T02:00:00.004-05:00

SOLD

A hand painted polar bear running in the light of the full moon graces this naturally holed stone, which is also covered with fossils! Limestone and shale filled with fossil specimens from the Southern Ohio Valley (Cincinnatian, Devonian Periods perhaps), such as brachiopod and even fossil algae. Connecting one's self metaphysically with that ancient wet land environment can call upon the Akashic Record and open inner doors to the knowledge of humanity; revealing secrets lost. The image is unique to this piece; one of a kind, and created from the shapes within the natural surfaces of the delicate stone. Includes brass display stand as seen in photos. Sits at 5" inches tall and is 4 1/2" inches at the widest point. Place near your workspace/computer to remind you of the mundane world outside of technology and work. Go for a moon light run with the power of polar bear! Each Spiritkeepers is unique and individually numbered. This piece is intended for indoor display though surface is water washable with cold water and care. Stone #sk026 has SOLD.

Polar Bear - Being the most outstanding hunter of the bear family also makes the polar bear the most aggressive of the bears. They have very keen hearing, listening for sounds under the ice from above. When polar bear hears a seal bubbling to the surface it patiently waits for the favorite prey to come up. They pounce on the seals to drag them from the water. This indicates that polar bear knows when to wait and when to act on an opportunity. These bears have a playful side too, sliding on ice and playing with cubs, indicating that though they're serious about the task at hand they know when to relax and nourish the soul. If you think that polar bear is a totem animal for you then be sure to examine the animals it chooses as prey; there'll likely be a second totem in there for you. Read more about totem animals at the artists web site page for
Animals Totems http://www.mysticgriffin.com/animaltotems.htm

From a metaphysical view, being comprised of fossil, this stone is a link to ancient knowledge; the Akashic Record. It is thought this type of stone can accelerate the transfer of said knowledge into one's "being". Telepathic abilities may develop or increase. Fossils in general, from a metaphysical understanding, may bring quality & excellence into one's surroundings. It may raise the level of, and add to one's achievements in the business world. Creativity may be increased simply by the presence of fossil stone in the environment. (some portions of above paragraph from Love is in the Earth by Melody)

A naturally holed stone, or holey stone, is also known as the Witches Amulet. It is the most powerful protection amulet for the witch because it IS the presence of the Goddess Herself. The opening in the stone is the Sacred Womb of the Earth. When strung with a red string or ribbon and hung over the bed it acts as a shield against bad dreams; called the Witches Dream Shield -- much like the Native American dream catcher. A holey stone may also be used for Full Moon magic by gazing at the moon through the hole.

Peruvian Storyteller with Children

2007-06-26T20:17:00.006-05:00

Warm earth tones accent the friendly charm of this heartwarming Ayacucho storyteller and her young friends, including the white bird. Wearing traditional clothing of Peru, the expressive characters bring the design on the stone to life. An inspiring piece reflecting family values and showcasing the age-old legacy of storytelling. Sized at three inches wide, three and a half inches long and standing at about one and a half inches high this Spiritkeepers Stone makes a perfect desktop paperweight or addition to your South American decor.

Great links of interest

*Tim Sheppard’s Storytelling Resources for Storytellers http://www.timsheppard.co.uk/story/index.html

*A traditional tale from Peru, "The Fox and the Mole," from Latin American Tales, by Genevieve Barlow http://www.globaled.org/globalLiteracy/handouts/glHandout23A.html

*More about storytellers http://www.towson.edu/csme/mctp/StudentProjects/Storytellers/TitlePage.html

*Shop for Spiritkeepers http://www.mysticgriffin.com/

___________________________________________

ABOUT THIS STONE

This rock had been a member of my studio space for a few years before I painted the Peruvian Storyteller design on it. A great friend had taken me to a river in Washington State to explore for the day. That's where I gathered the stone.

We had a wonderful time splashing around in the cold mountain water. It was salmon run season so we stayed close to shore; Some of those fish are nearly as big as myself and powerfully strong, so I had plenty of incentive to stay clear. At one point, I was standing in the water remembering all of the stories I'd read of magic fish raising up out of the waters surface to speak or even grant wishes, (wishes from fishes)! My imagination played with the idea of being a character in one of those stories. As I thought of the fish, a large shape to my left suddenly rushed at me! I squealed and ran for the shore as if in a Jaws movie. I thought one of those big salmon was coming to get me, so I ran for my life! I lost my footing on the rocks and went face first into the cold water! My friend was laughing at my "green horn" behavior and literally smacking his knee. You see, the sun had peeked out just enough to cast a cloud reflection in the water. The shape that came at me was a cloud reflecting in the rippling water! Of course I felt a fool, but I had to laugh too.

Before I pulled myself up out of the water, a single stone seemed to whisper to me -- "take me!", it called. I picked it up to have a look at my find. Well, some people say that true beauty is more than skin deep; it's deep inside. This was a plain white-ish stone; no crystal sparkles, no fossils, no scratches or breaks. I noticed the sort of triangular shape, and again the stone seemed to whisper, "yessss". So I opened myself to test the energy of the stone; the spiritual and/or physical energy it puts out. The rock seemed to tell me this was what it wanted.

My experience with this spiritual energy is somewhat akin to Remote Viewing, I think. As I tap into the energy of the stone, we exchange waves and I get impressions or mental images. I'm fully open to the concept that this process is simply my active imagination alone, but through my own experiments I'm satisfied that I am communicating with the stone or object in most cases. Now, this particular stone told me that it was very old and had journeyed far. Once it had been a giant boulder high up in the mist covered mountain. It had slowly begun to shift its location on the mountain. Boulders and stones do this by altering the energy waves and weakening the soil structure around them. It doesn't damage or effect the health of the soil, but simply changes the energy waves like giving a wiggle. Tiny wiggles eventually create a full move. It doesn't matter to most large rocks how quickly the move occurs; time is a different matter to stone. Some smaller stones might have care about time if they've been assigned a spiritual job to do. They may need to find the person they are supposed to work for; that's where someone like me enters the picture. I am a helper to the stone, and because I try to discern what it is they might like to do they reach out to me.

So this particular stone had been worn down from the move down the river. By the time it reach the place where I had found it there was not more than a handful of the original boulder left. The slightly triangle shaped rock was more of a storyteller than most other stones. I knew this stone had even more to tell. It has sat in my collection for some time now. I became sure that it was a storytelling stone so then decided upon the Native Peruvian storyteller woman as a motif. The feeling of someone calling is out there. Someone is in need of the gifts this stone has to offer. Is it you?

Big Otter Spiritkeepers Stone sk022

2007-06-13T15:31:00.001-05:00

This item is actual stone, hand painted by artist Tree Pruitt.

A highly detailed form of an adorable otter graces this large Spiritkeepers stone. It is a hand painted original design created from the natural forms of the rock itself! See, in the photos, how the back leg actually has dimension.

Fur is created from hours of carefully dry brushing acrylic paint over the surface. Finished with a durable indoor/outdoor protective varnish. Sized at seven inches long, nearly three inches tall, and with a depth of two inches at the hind quarter, it makes a perfect desktop paper weight or home accent. Sits upright by itself on a level surface. Each Spiritkeepers is unique and individually numbered. This piece is intended for indoor display though surface is water washable with cold water and care. Smooth bottom is safe for most all surfaces. Stone #sk022, check my website for availability.

The playful otter is filled with curious feminine energy. Each of us, regardless of gender, has both a feminine and masculine side. One of the lessons of otter is the balance of feminity; to avoid catty, jealous behavior and delight in sharing with others. The otter can help awaken your inner child, and show you how to release yourself from the things in life that may be a burden or bind. Be comfortable in your own environment. Stop clinging to the rocks, and go with the flow of the river of life in joy, as does the otter.

TOTEM ANIMAL KEY NOTES: playful, feminine energy, curiosity, balance, wisdom to use knowledge learned

Spiritkeepers Early Summer UPDATES

2007-06-09T18:14:00.001-05:00

* I'm setting the animals loose! Spiritkeepers will no longer be available from just a single auction site. Everyone will be able to purchase them directly from my website, from my Etsy Curio Castle Shoppe, or through an occasional e-Bay auction (see links), so keep your eyes open.
- at Etsy

- at Realm of the Mystic Griffin

- at eBay (username "pruittarts")

* Find out about new items first. Sign up for the new SPIRITKEEPERS newsletter! (see side bar)

* I'm making a new section at my Mystic Griffin Arts site for Spiritkeepers. You'll be able to purchase available SK's from there at retail price through the safety of PayPal shopping cart. You are always welcome to email me with questions or possible requests. http://www.mysticgriffin.com/spiritkeepers.htm

* NEW ITEMS - several new Spiritkeepers stones will soon be available including wolf, raccoon, dolphin, polar bear, otter, bison, and several inspired by Native American stories. Another new feature is an increase in sizes. Some of the new Spiritkeepers will be much too big for a pocket or medicine bag but they'll be right at home on display.

* The critters are coming to CafePress! I've opened a CafePress store for Spiritkeeper related items. Have you adopted a Spiritkeepers in the past? Perhaps you'll find a matching journal or t-shirt hosting your pal atop. Soon you'll be able to find digital paintings and photomanipulations of the wildlife and spiritual symbols that make Spiritkeepers come alive on all sorts of great products! http://www.cafepress.com/spiritkeepers

Timber Wolf Holey Stone #018

2007-06-08T21:15:00.003-05:00

This item is SOLD.

Description:

A highly detailed bust of a red brown timber wolf. Golden eyes shine out from fur created by dry brushing many layers of paint over the natural texture of the stone. A wash of a pale blue sky and green makes a slight background. The new owner of this stone will be amazed to feel the details in the actual surface! Sculpted by an ancient underground river. The ears and chin, especially, are created from dry brushing thin layers of paint over the natural shapes in the rock. Being naturally holed, and sized at two inches high and two wide, this rock makes a perfect totem amulet or Witches Dream Shield. The thickness is about one fourth of an inch. Since this timber wolf Spiritkeepers can be worn as a necklace or pendant it comes with a light tan satin cord. Each Spiritkeepers is unique and individually numbered. This piece is intended for indoor display though surface is water washable with cold water and care. Stone #018

Wolf SpiritKeepers™ Holey Stone - A naturally holed stone, or holey stone, is also known as the Witches Amulet. It is the most powerful protection amulet for the witch because it IS the presense of the Goddess Herself. The opening in the stone is the Sacred Womb of the Earth. When strung with a red string or ribbon and hung over the bed, (Witches Dream Shield), it acts as a shield against bad dreams -- much like the Native American dream catcher. A holey stone may also be used for Full Moon magic by gazing at the moon through the hole. **NOTE: Information and suggestions intended as entertainment only. I make no claims to an items magickal abilities. Meditate at your own risk!
All art work images, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt. Text information may not be used for profit. Metaphysical suggestions are intended as entertainment only -- I/we make no claims as to the ability of the action of stones, spells or advise.
Information about hand painted Spiritkeepers ™ stones & shells by WWAO artist, Tree Pruitt.

Raccoon Spiritkeepers Pocket Pebble

2007-04-04T02:39:00.001-05:00

SOLD

Description:

A highly detailed raccoon curls up on this palm sized stone as if caught in the act of mischief. Perfectly sized for a pocket or pouch yet large enough to stand out in home decor display at one and a half inches at the widest, a half an inch thich, and nearly two inches at the longest point. This stone is from the greater Ohio Valley and is most likely a combination of limestone and quartz. I discovered it while digging in the garden. The spot of grass I was sitting on is a favorite place for a local coon to eat his prey. Each Spiritkeepers is a unique hand painted work of art and is individually numbered. The smooth protective coating creates a bottom that should be safe for most surfaces. This piece is intended for indoor display though surface is durable, water washable with cold water and care. Stone #015

Detail Image of face.

The bottom of the stone showing the natural colors of the surface.

Information about hand painted Spiritkeepers ™ stones & shells by WWAO artist, Tree Pruitt.

Timber Wolf Bust

2007-04-03T21:30:00.003-05:00

SOLD

A highly detailed bust, (head and shoulders), of a red brown timber wolf. Golden eyes shine out from fur created by dry brushing layers of paint over the natural texture of the stone. A wash of a pale blue sky makes a slight background with white of the natural stone showing as clouds.

This piece makes a perfect artful paper weight for any desk or a wonderful addition to home decor due to the overall size. The weight is a reasonable one pound and eleven ounces -- sturdy enough to hold a stack of papers still on the highest ceiling fan setting. The smooth protective coating creates a bottom that should be safe for most surfaces. At four and a half inches at the widest and also at the longest point, this Spiritkeepers is in the shape of a triangle. It stands nearly three inches high. This stone is from the greater Ohio Valley and is most likely a combination of limestone and quartz.

Edge view showing triangular shape.

The back edge showing Spiritkeepers mark and number.

The bottom of the stone showing the natural colors of the surface.

Timber Wolf Bust Stone #014

All art work images, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt. Text information may not be used for profit. Metaphysical suggestions are intended as entertainment only -- I/we make no claims as to the ability of the action of stones, spells or advise.
Information about hand painted Spiritkeepers ™ stones & shells by WWAO artist, Tree Pruitt.

WOLF Giant Holey Stone: In Progress

2007-02-10T02:16:00.002-05:00

This wolf holey stone will be the largest Spiritkeeper to date, when it's finished, at nearly a foot wide and an inch and a half thick. I feel this stone was certainly a special find, in itself. Being in the shape of a triangle, having three natural holes and being loaded with fossils, this stone nearly screams "Sacred" to any Wiccan, witch or Neo-Native American, (as if any stone were NOT sacred in the first place). I'm taking my sweet time with painting this one. I want the natural forms in the stone to create the image of the wolf, and it's working well! Some areas, such as the lower muzzle, are created by dry brushing over actual brachiopod shell fossils in the surface! I don't want to hide the natural form of the stone so dry brushing over certain areas allows those forms to show. The side of the face near the hole has deep grooves in the stone and will feel like carved fur to the touch. Several layers of paint may be applied until I feel the resulting image reflects a true personality of a timber wolf -- the character of the creature. When finished it will be well coated with a protective varnish.

(Nose is an actual fossil shell!)

I found this large naturally holed stone while camping with my family in Southern Ohio. For anyone interested in the specific fossil record information I'm sure I can supply a reasonable account of location and layer, but this is intended as a piece of artwork rather than a fossil specimen offering. For the spiritual account, know that the energies were quite high when this rock was gathered! A huge summer electric storm system was providing a wondrous light show -- from a safe distance -- a meteor shower graced a lovely view, and loving family bonds were strengthened through sharing.
When I was asked to attend the camping trip I had that familiar feeling of "Spirit" calling me to work, so to say. I knew it was to be more than just a get away. I enjoyed my time with my loved ones, I learned many things metaphysically and personally, and came back with several future Spiritkeeper stones. Family bonding was the main focus of the camping trip, so I feel the wolf on this stone, as a symbol of the power of family -- of the pack -- is a perfect balance of spiritual energies. Fossils connect us to the oceans of the past and can aide psychic ability, intuition, and the creative drive. Those energy influences will seep from the fossils, in a positive way of course, without the owner needing to do a thing. I hope this wolf Spiritkeeper will not only be a loved piece of art for someone but will become a home for Spirit to dwell with happiness.

All art work images, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt. Text information may not be used for profit or personal gain. Metaphysical suggestions are intended as entertainment only -- I/we make no claims as to the ability of the action of stones, spells or advise.
Information about hand painted Spiritkeepers ™ stones & shells by Tree Pruitt.

Gathering Oyster Shells

2006-11-26T13:31:00.004-05:00

Many of the small buildings scattered along the steep banks are painted blue. I imagine that's due to our forefathers instinctual knowledge of color theory. Maybe that's true, because the shadows on those buildings glow thalo mysteries under the orange flamed sky. Even on the most oppressively overcast of days Gray's Harbor stood alive with color contrast. Rich, earthy browns and royal reds of moist wood on a pallet next to plants that scream yellow from the water hanging in the air filled my eyes -- so bright and so dark at the same time!

We'd stepped off the road a ways because I'd spotted logs piled in the water. They waited there for their turn in the cedar mill. Hoquiam ... the very name of the river means, "hungry for wood", in Native tongue. The fresh water river for which the town is named flowed passed my feet and into the salty incoming tide. One of those magickal places of in between here nor there was where I was standing. A bald eagle or osprey, I could not tell which, circled lazily above the distant hillside.

I breathed in the fresh air and felt as if the Goddess Herself were filling my lungs! As I stretched in the sunlight I caught a flash of white out of the corner of my eye. The girls had wandered down the bank to the waters edge. They too had been attracted to the pearly white piles along the shore. Like effigy mounds scattered among the rocks stacks of oyster shells sparkled in the sun. It was one of the most odd sights I'd ever seen. The dark logs pushed and shoved against each other like teeth chewing at the air, while the delicate looking shells bobbed here and there in the water as if they were little fairy boats. The jagged rocks along the bank, black and silver with wetness, seemed like predators waiting to pounce on the piles of oyster shell that had invaded their territory. There must have been thousands of shells! They were big too -- the nearest I estimated at ten to twelve inches long! The girls were having a good time chasing sea gulls, so I started to go to work.

It wasn't exactly easy to gather the shells. Tide was coming in fast. The water flowing in from the river mixed with the tide making it a bit like standing in a washing machine, and let us not forget the 75-100 large cedar logs that seemed intent on crushing my bones! The bank was steep and I had to use one hand to hold on to a scotch bloom root jutting out of the large basalt rocks. I marveled at my dogs who maneuvered the rough terrain with such ease! They had four feet to maneuver on whereas I occasionally had but one. I reached for a shell and hoisted it onto the top of the bank. I performed this move over and over again until my arm wore out. I climbed up and gazed upon my prize. Barking dogs woke me from my daze. The girls warned me of the approach of a stranger. A weather worn man with a face right off a box of Gordon's frozen fish walked up to me.

"Are you madd, girl" he exclaimed at me. "Them logs'll eatcha up if they gitta holda ya!"
"Well," I ventured, "These shells were just laying there and I couldn't bear to see them get crushed up -- they're so big. I've never seen oyster shells get so big."
"Yep," he said more relaxed, "don't see 'em that size just a layin' around too often. They brought in a deep sea one and cleaned 'er off right here. Gonna stink to high heaven for a month, it is!"

I assumed, rightly, that he meant a small deep sea-going vessel had pulled into this little inlet to scrape it's hull clean. Apparently it was a greater benefit to risk the mash of logs than it was to go to a proper place for cleaning. I don't know the details of the shipping industry well, but I was able to gather that the action here hadn't been exactly legal. The inlet sat close to the residential area. The smell of the rotting oysters and algae would soon be carried to the town. It was a shame all the way around.

"I'll tell ya what", the turned to me and said, "I promise you all the shells you can take if you promise me to keep otta them there logs. I woulda had go look fer the stink if you and yer dogs haddinta found it fer me. We'll take care of it from here."

With that he motioned to a pick-up truck of men I hadn't even seen. The noise from the crashing logs had covered the sound of the engine approach. They all worked for the lumber company and had been out scouting for illegal activity from foreign boats, unneeded hazards and such. Blessedly the company is very tolerant of peaceful trespassers, as we didn't know we were on timber company property. One of the men gave me a plastic bag from the truck so I could load up the shells I had rescued from below. The guys chuckled at me as I loaded my catch. They enjoyed the sight of a little girl loaded down with stinking, dirty shells. My knees were covered in sandy mud, as was my face I'm sure. With the bag nearly overflowing I gave a whistle for the girls who promptly ran to my side.

"Go on now and let us git our work done. Don't you worry about a thing, the treasure will still be here when ya come fer more." They all chuckled again as I waddled off with my prize.

It was a fair walk to get home with about ten pounds of calcium and mother of pearl in my arms. There were no roads most of the way so the girls were safe being off-leash. They're very well behaved. When we reached the house I discovered, thankfully, that my husband was not yet home from work. I set the bag on the kitchen floor and went to work myself. The shells had to be cleaned and sterilized before I could use them and it wasn't going to smell pretty.

A combination of methods, including lots of elbow grease, yielded shiny results. I had to take special care to preserve the delicate barnacles where I could. The thick green algae was a tough character to remove, I tell you! There were some lovely oyster cluster formations. One cluster of shells even had a bit of bright yellow rope seemingly growing right through the center! Oh, it was worth the effort though, for a crafty girl from Ohio to get her hands on a pile of Pacific art materials! I managed to get the mess cleaned, and myself, before my husband came home, but he was accustomed to expecting quirky things in the kitchen by now.

The next day I returned to the bay with my car. I had ropes and buckets -- everything I thought I might need to safely gather more shells. I hoped some good ones had survived the men's clean-up effort the day before. I parked. To my amazement they shells were piled neatly on the side of the little blue building. The weather worn man emerged from the other side. He greeted me warmly and looked with pride upon the near mountain of oyster shells.

"Think we saved ya a good many of 'em Miss," he said as he tipped his hat like a living cliche`.

It seems the shells only had to be removed from the water to avoid the odor issue. The smell mainly comes from the algae, I suppose. Once they dry a bit it dissipates. But left alone the algae would have gone crazy on the large amount of shells and buried the water surface. This causes environmental issue that are bad for the water and anything in it -- an imbalance, dis-ease. So the shells had to go away.

Those fine, nice men had been as careful as they could, with whatever equipment they use, in pulling out the shells. They liked the idea of the shells being used for something by me instead of just being crushed into the fill dirt, (the entire area is made of filled in false earth). It seemed more natural, he told me. I thought that was fairly ironic because we were standing in a place made by man but formed by nature. The very ground under my feet had been placed there by mankind and twice everyday the ocean tries to wash it away. The man helped me load up the back of my car with shells and a few large driftwood pieces I couldn't resist. Then I drove away thinking.

I had come to this part of the country thinking of man as the invader of nature, ready to rape what he could from the land. The history of the entire Pacific Northwest was made from natural resource industry of one sort or another. But I had seen the look of care in the eyes of those men I'd met. They weren't worried so much about the logs being alginated and rotting. They were concerned for the quality of the water. They understood on a deeper level than most that what we do affects where we do it. Birds, insects, fish and other aquatic creatures -- creatures we in many cases depend on as food -- live in those waters. Those men had a fine understanding of cause and effect. They didn't do their job because they wanted a paycheck only. The folks who work in such wild places are stewards of the land and sea. I drove away with more than crafting treasures. I drove back to town with a better understanding of humanity as a whole.

A quiet understanding of the place of mankind in the Pacific Northwest was creeping into my heart. For the time, that understanding sat next to the spotted owl -- the Greenpeace guru inside me wasn't ready to let go of the "us" and "them" attitude just yet. But I was one step closer to understanding how the people who work the special wild places are, in truth, stewards of both the land and sea. They use the resources, but must care for them too. There's more than job security involved -- it's pure love.

Orca - Killer Whale - Spiritkeepers Shell

2006-11-26T09:30:00.002-05:00

An actual Pacific ocean oyster shell hand painted with a playful orca, also known as killer whale and the wolf of the sea! This Spiritkeepers™ hangs on the wall by a hand shaped coated copper wire. Brass table top display stand available on request. See home site for purchase details. 5½ " long x 3" high(back of shell)

It was a wonderful day when I gathered this oyster shell. I had taken our two dogs, the girls, for a walk to the bay. We lived in coastal Washington State and the ocean sky had painted a brilliant scarlet scene for us to walk under. Many of the small buildings scattered along the steep banks are painted blue. I imagine that's due to our forefathers instinctual knowledge of color theory. Maybe that's true, because the shadows on those buildings glow thalo blue mysteries under the orange flamed sky. Even on the most oppressively overcast of days Gray's Harbor stood alive with color contrast. Rich, earthy browns and royal reds of moist wood on a pallet next to plants that scream yellow from the water hanging in the air filled my eyes -- so bright and so dark at the same time!

... read the entire story in the entry, "Gathering Oyster Shells".

Orca Sea Shell #SKo03, 5½ " long x 3" high

Polar Bear Holed Pendant Stone

2006-11-25T00:40:00.003-05:00

(SOLD)

A naturally holed stone with an adorable polar bear upon the front. Painted in acrylic and coated with heavy duty varathane. I'm pleased to say this Spiritkeepers has been voted into Art Wanted.com's Top Ten images numerous times. The stone is formed from silt deposit in the Cascade Mountain region of Washington State (USA). The natural color of stone is visable on the back side. The opening of hole is a near perfect circle and overall size is perfect for a pendant. About 2" inches at widest point. Excellent detail of this piece is hard to capture in a photo due to the slight pearled shimmer -- this is cute & unique! No pattern exists for this bear -- the image was found within the natural shape of the rock.

A naturally holed stone, or holey stone, is also known as the Witches Amulet. It is the most powerful protection amulet for the witch because it IS the presense of the Goddess Herself. The opening in the stone is the Sacred Womb of the Earth. When strung with a red string or ribbon and hung over the bed it acts as a shield against bad dreams -- much like the Native American dream catcher. A holey stone may also be used for Full Moon magic by gazing at the moon through the hole.

The bear is a symbol for Earth energies, as they tend to travel the depths of caves and burrow deep in ground to hibernate. According to Ted Andrews in, "Animal Speaks", (Llewllyn Publications), bear medicine can teach you to go deep within so that you can make your choices and decisions from a position of power.

Grizzly Bear Holey Stone Amulet

2006-11-24T23:14:00.003-05:00

A naturally holed stone, made from silt deposit from the Cascade Mountain region of Washington State (USA), with a hand painted grizzly bear curled up. The small 3 inch by 2 inch stone has an unusual bump that creates a 3-D effect to the bears head! The natural hole is covered in this photo by the red ribbon. Painted in acrylic and coated with heavy duty varathane. The back of this rock was signed with only the words "Earth Blessings" and shows the natural color of the rock. No pattern exists for this bear, so it a one of a kind -- the image was found within the stone. You can read comments from other artists about this stone in my fine art portfolio. This Spiritkeepers stone now resides in a private collection.

A naturally holed stone, or holey stone, is also known as the Witches Amulet. It is the most
powerful protection amulet for the witch because it IS the presence of the Goddess Herself. The
opening in the stone is the Sacred Womb of the Earth. When strung with a red string or ribbon and hung over the bed it acts as a shield against bad dreams -- much like the Native American dream catcher. A holey stone may also be used for Full Moon magic by gazing at the moon through the hole.

The bear on this hand painted rock is a symbol for Earth energies, as being a feminine symbol, the bear tends to travel the depths of caves and burrow deep in ground to hibernate.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License. Spiritkeepers Blog 2005 Contents of Spiritkeepers blog text originally written by Tree Pruitt.

* FAQ -- Spiritkeepers™ Questions & Background

2006-11-24T21:17:00.006-05:00

What are Spiritkeepers? How can you get your own? Who makes them and why? Find answers about these one of a kind, collectible, unique paintings on real natural stone. Learn totem or spirit guide animal messenger meanings from original text written by the artist. Spiritual symbol, mythology and deity figures, wildlife art, witches' amulets, fun pocket pals to ride in a medicine bag.

Spiritkeepers™© name and sigil logo have been publically copyrighted and trademarked by Tree Pruitt, 1997. Others using this name (as one single word) and/or design are in direct violation of Federal and International law.

Friends & Followers Jewelry Discount

*What are Spiritkeepers™?

Since 1997 artist and mystic Tree Pruitt has been hand numbering her unique painted rocks as Spiritkeepers; later adding pebble stones & sea shells. Each Spiritkeepers is a unique expression inspired by the natural Spirit world. Designed from totem animal spirit guide meanings & symbols from mythology, they are created to be a personal amulet. Stones are generally pocket or medicine bag sized, and many are paperweight size or naturally holed; known as the Witches' Amulet or a Witches Dream Shield. Each rock or shell is hand selected by the artist, often based upon the spiritual energy felt within. The images are discovered within the natural surfaces, and enhanced with quality paint. Tree never uses putty, fillers or cutting tools for Spiritkeepers.

This blog will serve as a catalog of my hand painted rocks past and present. Each stone comes from my personal rock collection and is gathered by myself either from nature or hand picked purchased. I think of them as individuals and treat them respectfully as spiritual beings. Some stones may have been in my collection for up to thirty years before being painted! As of 2006 all Spiritkeepers are individually numbered and signed with the rune like symbol seen on the logo design.

I've always been stone crazy. As a small child I braved the hot summer sun for hours to remove my first fossil specimen; I still have that fossil too. I've also been an avid painter my entire life, so it was only natural for the two loves to combine. The stones I collected seemed to call out to me -- wanting to be picked up -- showing me pictures within the surfaces. I began to follow the lines I'd see on the rocks with paint strokes so that I could show others what I saw, at about the age of five. The pop culture craze of the Pet Rock that swept America in the later 1970's only served to encourage my feeling that stones are alive and do communicate. As my Earth based spirituality developed later in life it occurred to me these rocks have messages to share just like a spirit guide.

In Native American spirituality stones are often believed to hold spirits. In the Inipi, or Lakota Sweat Lodge Ceremony, heated stones are thought to be Grandfathers and given great respect. Ancient peoples went to great effort to place pictures on rock outcroppings and cave walls. Modern Neo-Pagan, Wiccan practices encourage direct communication with nature and the exchange of energy with things in nature. I could no longer resist the urge to share the stones in my collection so I began to sell, or adopt out, these creations titled as Spiritkeepers™ in 1997.

Because I'm so anthropocentric in my treatment of the stones, it can sometimes hurt when it's time for them to go to new homes. They become like friends over time. But I feel as if I'm doing a spiritual duty of a sort when I'm called to paint a Spiritkeepers and offer it for sale. In my eclectic Wiccan belief I have given my life over to service to the Gods, (I do as I feel I am asked by my personal deity figures in service of humanity and nature). Stones and rocks call out to me with a spiritual voice or energy vibration almost like a psychic sense. That sounds heavy and serious -- and it is -- but it's always great fun discovering the final image hidden inside these stones!
Because I think of them as metaphysical, spiritual objects I only work on Spiritkeepers in a positive frame of mind and do my best to imbue them with positive energy. I only create Spiritkeepers when I feel I am called to do so, making them somewhat rare.
I am a serious artist and a serious mystic. But I never take anything too seriously! The energy of Divine Spirit often moves through laughter.

**Learn about the Spiritkeepers logo sigil that each stone is signed with upon being finished.

*What is a totem animal or spirit guide?
Click to learn about it.

*Where do you get the stones you use to make Spiritkeepers™?
I get my stones from a variety of sources.

I've collected rocks and minerals all of my life. It's almost as if I hear them call out to me. Some of the stones used for Spiritkeepers have been in my personal collection for up to thirty years! I've been known to travel often through out my life too and so have collected rocks from road sides and truck stops all over America. There are places to go on vacations where I could mine or pan for gems, and I did quite well! Some of the rocks were collected by other folks on vacations. Due to the location of my home I can simply dig in my garden to find interesting fossils and stones. But through the years I've attended many rock and mineral shows to make purchases to add to my collection. I've scoured many a flea market and yard sale for that perfect find. Now, with the technology of today I can also scour the Net when the mood strikes me.

I've never knowingly obtained stones from illegal methods. If you go out collecting yourself know that most state parks prohibit the collecting of fossil and plant specimens. It's also a no-no to pocket treasures from private property. Usually though you can knock on the door of the property owner and they'll let you in with a smile. I once braved a lone bull in a pasture for a stone with a lovely shape. The owner stood by, just in case, but he wouldn't go in after the stone! He thought I was nuts! Maybe so. :) Learn about gathering rocks & stones by visiting my main web site, Realm of the Mystic Griffin.

*How do you decide what to paint on a stone or rock?

I can have a general idea what I want to do at the start of one of these rock paintings, but I remain open to guidance -- from whatever the source -- and allow the images to evolve naturally. I often use the natural lines and bumps in the rock to create the picture on the stone, never filling in spaces with wood putty or other fillers. Sometimes the shape of the stone already looks like something. It could have the outline of an animal so clearly that anyone could see it. Or the lines on the surface may make a picture. I'll follow those lines with paint and sort of fill in the blanks. There are other times though where it seems as if the stone tells me what it wants to become. I may see the shape of a wolf and begin to paint one, but if the stone is whispering that it wants to become a cougar there's nothing I can seem to do to stop a cougar from emerging.

*How do rocks talk to you?

*How can I own a Spiritkeepers™ of my own?
I offer my Spiritkeepers™ creations through my Curio Castle Shoppe at Etsy. Items will also be added to this blog for direct purchase in the future.

*Do you take special requests?
Yes I do. But please understand that this this is an individual process and may take some time. The individual stones dictate what images they will portray. I couldn't just pick up any 'ol rock and paint a raven or a spider on it because someone said they'd like to have one. It is my belief that the stone tells me it has the energy of a raven totem inside it or I can see the image of a spider on the natural surface of the stone. If I don't have a stone on hand that matches the spiritual energy of your request all I can do is tell you so and then keep my eyes out for the right one. Contact me for more information.

*Can I have a portrait of my pet done as a Spiritkeepers™?
No. I'm sorry, but the individual stone decides what it wants to become, in my mind. As fine artists my husband and myself are both willing to do more traditional pet portraits, but the stones are never treated as a merely a painting surface. Please visit our main web site, Realm of the Mystic Griffin, for information on pet portraits.

*All art work images, unless otherwise credited, copyright Tree Pruitt. Text information may not be used for profit, copyrighted Tree Pruitt. Metaphysical suggestions are intended as entertainment only -- we make no claims as to the ability of the action of stones or advise. Meditate at your own risk! Information about hand painted Spiritkeepers ™ stones & shells by artist, Tree Pruitt.