Why stone stacking?

Stone stacking (also stone balancing, or rock balancing)  is a form of recreation, spiritual, or artistic expression in which rocks are piled in balanced stacks, often in a precarious manner. Used widely across the globe as a meditative practice, stone stacking has grown in popularity in recent years. Maybe you have seen the famous neon rocks in Nevada called Seven Magic Mountains (https://sevenmagicmountains.com/), or possibly at a local spa or yoga studio will have an assortment of soothing stone arrangements placed for helping the relaxation of its clients as pictured below.

Either way, the sometimes spiritual/meditative activity is here to stay and for a good reason. By stacking the stones one on the top of the other

Held together only by the earth’s gravitational pull. Many people seek the spiritual or serene sense of  balance this activity offers. There are many reasons why people gravitate toward practicing stone stacking, both for the mindfulness or meditative practice, or even simply for the value of creating a work of art using only natural materials.

Some history about rock stacking dates back to ancient Gaelic celebrations in which stones were stacked to celebrate the equinox and measure the sun for the solstice. The Gaelic tradition, known as Cairn, translates literally to “stack of stones”.  From Maine to Mongolia, rock piles mark paths, tombs, monuments, ceremonial spaces, and create art.