“Touching the Spirits”

Cracks and crevices found in nature were often locations for sacred petroglyph images. Ancient shamans reverently etched figures and symbols within and around these places of shadow, because they knew them to be doorways to the spirit world. This open doorway is bridged by a carefully etched spiral. Spirals are common petroglyph images that symbolize transition or a journey in both the physical sense and the spiritual. Spirals also mark a place of spiritual importance, such as the location of an active vortex. A vortex is like a whirlpool, swirling around and drawing prayers into it as well as bringing answers and spirits forth.

This place is flowing with the magic of ancient prayers and the requests of those that have passed through this world long ago. The source of magic that keeps this doorway open, lies within the handprints. Handprints create a strong human bond to the spirits. Placed upon the stone thousands of years ago, this magic endures. When a shaman etches or paints the shape of his hand upon the rock, he has identified himself to the spirits in a very personal way, and this simple act creates a lasting prayer request to the spirits that reside there.

All of this imagery adds to the complex spiritual nature of this site and with all these elements in one place, it becomes easy to understand this place as a doorway to the spirit realm. This doorway is slowly becoming obscured by lichen, but this ancient and simple life form can only hide the spirits from the eye of an unsettled observer. The spirits will always be present here… waiting for the reverent to call upon them, and for those who seek… the touch of the spirits.