Petrified wood is a beautiful gemstone that symbolizes the power of time and the importance of patience. It’s been around for millions of years and serves as a welcome reminder that no state of being is permanent in our universe. Just like time can transform wood into stone, it also has the power to transform our own lives. By remaining steady and flexible, we can outlast any difficulties that come our way and grow beyond our current levels of awareness.
What is Petrified Wood?
Petrified wood is not a crystal so much as it is an organic gemstone-- a fossil of wood that fell millions of years ago. Petrified Wood is created when the original wood is slowly replaced over time by other minerals (such as Chalcedony, Agate, Opal, Pyrite, or Calcite) to leave behind a stone representation of the wood. This process is called mineralization, and can result in a wide array of natural colors. When the organic material of Petrified Wood has specifically been replaced by Chalcedony or Agate, it is sometimes called Agatized Wood, and may feature clouds or splotches of color rather than sharply visible woodgrain.
What are Organic Gemstones?
When we say that Petrified Wood is an organic gemstone, what does that mean? When a gemstone was originally living material, or the byproduct of living material, and becomes fossilized or mineralized over time, it is considered an organic gemstone. Other organic gemstones include Amber (fossilized tree sap), Pearls (created by oysters), and Ammolite, which forms on fossil Ammonite shells. These organic gemstones can provide a fascinating glimpse of the way living creatures work, whether today in the case of oysters, or millions of years ago in the case of fossil Ammonites and Petrified Wood. They provide a connection to the Earth and can help us build a wider understanding of our place in the world.
Petrified Wood Meaning and Properties
The spiritual meaning and metaphysical properties of Petrified Wood give this gemstone strong ties to the Root Chakra and Third Eye Chakra, as it is a stone that assists in grounding as well as personal growth. Petrified Wood is known for its soothing presence, encouraging feelings of security, balance, and comfort. It's from this sense of stability that an awareness and appreciation for the world around us can unfurl and expand, like branches ever reaching upward. This is why Petrified Wood is often used as a focal stone for those who want to attain wisdom, communicate with nature spirits, and learn to endure difficulties with calm patience. Petrified Wood is a fantastic grounding stone, but it is also known for helping us roll with the punches, keep an open mind, and move through the world with pragmatic flexibility.
Spiritual Uses of Petrified Wood
Petrified Wood stone slabs, tumbled stones, or palm stones are often used when meditating in order to root oneself to the Earth element and impart feelings of calm. They can be fidgeted with during moments of fear or anxiety, helping to release negative, chaotic energies and bring ourselves back to center. While holding your piece of Petrified Wood, take deep and slow breaths, envisioning your feet connecting to the ground through strong, healthy roots. Visualize thick branches laden with fruit stretching upward to the sky from your shoulders and head, swaying easily in the breezes of life. Stretching your arms outward and upward, remember that you are steady, you have time to think things through, and that you are cradled by the Earth. Feel yourself as a vital being, intrinsically linked to the world's rhythms, and breathe out your worries, doubts, and anxieties.
Channel the Earth’s Energy
Whether you’re feeling anxiety over the passage of time or holding yourself back because of a fear of change, the vibrational energies of Petrified Wood make it a perfect stone to push you in the direction the universe wishes you to go.
If you are searching for a piece of Petrified Wood for your crystal collection, take a look at our listings in the Petrified Wood Collection!