Shaman stones have been used for centuries by Shamans and other mystics and are considered sacred among the Shamanic members of many ancient tribes. The stones were used in rituals to contact extra-terrestrials, for spirit vision quests and for astral journeys.

Unlike most crystals, Moqui balls don't need any special care. They are thought to realign the energy centres, relieve energy blockage, stimulate Chi energy, ground, centre and protect a person who wears one on their body or carries one or more on their person. The stones are equally balanced between grounding and energising and can act as a connector to the Earth's energies.

 

Mystic Lore: Intuitive sources say Shaman Stones are deeply connected with the Earth, and are both grounding and energising. They are said to be useful in connecting with one's animal guides, and to provide psychic protection and the purification of negative energies. Use on the third eye is said to enhance psychic abilities.

 

These stones consist of an outer shell of hematite (iron oxide) congealed around a sandstone centre. The sandstone centre may be stained red or yellow from the iron oxides leaching into the sand. Occasionally there are extra rings of hematite in the center. Moqui marbles are also known as navajo cherries, indian marbles or just plain balls.

Moqui Marbles formed in the lower part of the Navajo Sandstone Formation found predominantly in Southern Utah and Northern Arizona. Part of the Navajo Sandstone Formation was laid down approximately 190 million years ago at the commencement of the Jurassic era. While we know when, where and what they formed form, this is yet little geological information to provide an explanation on how these stones are formed. It is highly likely that they formed at a time when the original sand dunes, now the Navajo Sandstone formation, were underwater.

The iron in the moqui marbles may originally have been a substance called Limonite. This is a hydrous ferric iron oxide, which is known to form a gel when under pressure. The sand in the Navajo formation ranged between 300 - 600 metres (1000-2000 feet) deep with a sea above it. At these depths there would have been a tremendous amount of pressure produce; enough to cause the limonite to form a gel. It is also known that heat can change Limonite to Hematite, a stable form of Iron oxide. This then solidified around a core of compressed sand.