Collecting Grandfather rocks 🪨/ mishomis asin!
For a sweat-lodge it is important!
Over the past thirty years I have attended many lodges in different places. One of the most important tasks for the fire-keepers is to gather Grandfather rocks.
Firstly!
They have to be the right ones to assure a good lodge with no MISHAPS! It is NOT just a matter of going into a field to gather stones! In my experience, as is true with many other fire-keepers, volcanic rocks, basalt are the best for a sweat=lodge. It can often be found in old stream beds or in deposits near old volcanoes.
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| Running stream in New Boston, NH |
So! How do you find an old stream bed and where are the rocks?
A stream out of hill country usually has what you are looking for. Over years and years the water has carved it way down to stone beds. Many stones have washed down into the bottom of the stream from up stream in storms and winter run offs. Often these stones will build up around curves in the stream to form large beds of stones that are easy to access when the streams are running shallow.
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| Digger looking for good stone bed |
Make sure you pick the right stones!
When I gather I go to the bed and offer my tobacco, asemaa. I ask for the grandfathers I need and only take what I need to. Enough for two or three lodges. Then I stand on the bed of rocks and wait. Soon my eyes will be pulled to one stone or another as if it is asking to be taken. Only then do I take that stone.
There are different kinds of stones in the mix along the bed. You want to find basalt, granite or really hard sand stone. These stones will look solid and dark gray to black in color.
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| Digger checking the for the right stones |
Please don't take schist or limestone.
Schist will heat up and break down to dust and limestone can explode if there is too much heat. Field stones often have a lot of schist stone in them. I never gather field stone!
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| Digger is looking for the right stones |
These are the stones I gathered from a near by stream. Basalt, sand stone, and granite.
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| Basalt, sand stone, and granite. |
James Beard aka Noodin
Walking Spirit in a Native Way
James Beard is a speaker on topics such as traditional living and natural spirit teachings. His topics address many concerns to do with wellness and balance in life. He is a student of native teachings from Ojibwe Elders, Algonquin language based people, living throughout the Great Lakes Region of the US and Canada. The audiences for his presentations vary from youth to elderly.His work is dedicated to telling anyone who has interest about his native brothers.-- James B. Beard
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James Beard aka Noodin
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Walking Spirit in a Native Way shares timeless teachings from Native Elders that remain as meaningful today as ever. For over thirty years, Jim has learned from Ojibwa/Chippewa Elders, presenting their wisdom to schools, communities, and Native tribes across North America. Respected for his knowledge and dedication, he walks the red road to honor and carry forward the original teachings of all people.
James B. Beard, Author of: Walking Spirit in a Native Way
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