The returning
Several years ago (between 10 and 15) I found a greenstone treasure in a second-hand shop in Patea. It seemed to be a trophy of some sort, with the polished greenstone mounted onto a kauri board, which depicted the same shape as the piece of greenstone, which was that of a sail, or perhaps a whale tongue or fin. The greenstone was exquisite, measuring about 18cm high, by eight centimetres across and about 2cm wide, but the board on which it sat did nothing to enhance the piece. There was no plaque to show what it represented. I couldn’t bear seeing this beautiful stone tucked away at the back of the shop, uncared for and gathering dust. So, I bought it.
That stone has accompanied me to my new home in the Far North, but something inside me knew that it was not mine to keep, rather, at some stage, it had to be returned to its rightful owner.
The trophy was placed at the very top of the wall unit Stephen and I purchased a couple of years ago, which in itself, is a beautiful piece of craftmanship. Somehow, it had become out of sight and I had almost forgotten that I had it.
On Saturday, Chiara brought Jamie, her new friend, out to visit, a man she had met when they both visited the Solomon Islands a few weeks ago, she to find out more about the cacao growing and he to film the group Chiara was part of. There was an instant recognition of each other and connection between these two and plenty of synchronicities to indicate their union was meant to be. We had lunch together, then spent some time in the treatment room before returning to the sitting room where we talked for an hour or two. Then something made me realise that the piece of greenstone I had, actually belonged to this man. It was strange, because my mind went blank. I could not see the piece in my mind nor could I even remember where it was or what it looked like. I just knew that I had something that belonged to him. I knew I would recognise what I was looking for when I found it. I didn’t need to look far, because as I said, ‘’I have something for you,’’ Jamie immediately nudged Chiara and pointed up to the top of the cabinet, even though the trophy wasn’t visible. And sure enough, that was where it was.
Two things were going through my mind. One was, do I have Alzheimers that bad? And the second was, why was that beautiful piece of greenstone hiding up there and not in full view? Chiara had only asked me a couple of days ago if I ever gave my crystals away and I replied firmly ‘’no’’, because I never did. I haven’t been able to part with any of them. Even taking one little crystal out of the room changes the energy. And yet I always knew that this one was never mine to keep.
I was pleased when Jamie confirmed what I had felt all along, and that was that the wood actually devalued the stone, even though it was a nice piece of kauri. He had plans to separate the two and do something else with the wood. I would never have had the confidence to have done that myself, as I didn’t want to interfere with any blessing that may have taken place, yet once Jamie said this, I could see that that would be the perfect thing to do. It was a magnificent piece of greenstone and on its own, would return to its former glory.
Jamie’s roots go back to the Waitaha people; he was born in Wanganui, nearby to where I bought this stone. Since I have given it away, my thinking has been that the stone was mounted in this way to showcase it, rather than being a trophy. Maybe it was found on the land and done this way by the finder, I don’t know. Jamie’s spiritual journey is taking him to places and people where he is uncovering much of the hidden ancient knowledge and he says, his life has become full of synchronicities.
Since the trophy has left the house, there is a massive depletion of energy. I look up to where it sat and it feels empty up there, yet I hadn’t seen that stone for a long time. It was obscured by a bus that Stephen had bought. There is a sadness within me at its loss, and the pieces of greenstone I have remaining, are nowhere near as magnificent as that piece. But I know this stone has gone to the right person. I was only ever its caretaker.