Why Three Stones…

It started out many years ago, after my second child was born, after my divorce. I would travel around the world and pick up three stones from each meaningful location I visited. Over the years I have brought home pebbles from beaches in South Africa, stones from the jungles in Uganda, sediment from the Sacred Valley in Peru, rocks from the red canyons of Sedona. Always in groups of three.

But I am not alone. Three stones are symbolic in many cultures around the world. Like a small Cairn of three stacked stones of the Gaelic tradition. For Romans three stones portrayed the past, present, and future, a visual reminder of the passage of time. Ancient Egyptians believed it symbolized life, death and rebirth. The Gīkūyū women of Kenya cook on a hearth of three stones representing the basic needs of food, health and shelter. In Christianity three stones signifies the father, son, and the Holy Spirit. Some say three stones reflect love, peace and harmony while for others it expresses fidelity, love and friendship.

For me it represents my family.