The Spiritual Practice of Painting Rocks

As you know from my Monday Meditation this week, I love collecting rocks, and much to my surprise discovered a few years ago that I am not alone. When I ask a group of people “who likes to gather rocks?” probably half of the hands in the room go up. We pick them up on the beach, beside streams, along a trail. They remind us of friends, past experiences, places we love.

Unfortunately most of us don’t know what to do with the rocks once we gather them. There are only so many that we can display, and a lot of them look pretty ordinary anyway. I have containers full of rocks that are probably not good for anything at all.

About 10 years ago, however I started using my rocks as part of my spiritual observances. I paint pictures or crosses on them – what I call poor man’s icons. Or I write on them and circle them with designs, then use them to decorate my Advent, Lenten and summer prayer gardens. We have even created a small cairn of rocks in the back yard. Slowly I am creating a collection of meaningful decorated rocks that I can return to for inspiration time and again. This is not about art. None of my rocks ever look perfect. It is more about the connections we make with the earth, with our imaginations and with our souls.

I find that participants at retreats and workshops also love to write and paint on rocks. I often send participants out to collect a rock or a leaf or some other object from nature and then invite them to paint them. People love it, as I think the collection above shows and I thought some of you might like to give it a go too.

Materials:

• 1 packet paint pens – fine tipped

• 1 pencil and eraser

• note paper or computer paper.

• 1 rock – smooth as possible

• Acrylic sealer

Wash the rock and allow to dry.

Hold the rock in your hand, close your eyes and sit quietly in the presence of the Lord. Is there a special word or phrase that comes to mind? Write it down. Say the word several times slowly. What images come to mind?

Make a rough drawing on your note paper.

Now mark out the pattern on your rock with the pencil. You might want to skip this step if you feel confident in your drawing ability but I have found that marking it both adds to the reflective experience and also produces a better painting.

Now have fun with the paint pens. Use plenty of colour. Make this a dramatic statement that will catch your attention when you see it again. Once it is dry coat it with the acrylic sealer to keep its appearance for longer.

Put it on your desk or in your sacred space and use as a focus for your prayers over this next week. Write in your journal the impressions you have each day as you reflect on the rock. You may like to add to the painting as God prompts you as I did with the cross below.

Reflections around a Celtic cross

I will probably be painting rocks quite a bit in the next few weeks as I get ready for Advent and create a new meditation garden. perhaps you would like to join me.