The Fairy Stones of Virginia
Fairy Stone State Park is home to the mysterious cross-shaped “fairy stones.” For generations people have held these Fairy stone crosses in superstitious awe, firm in the belief that they protect the wearer from witchcraft, sickness, accidents, and disaster. The stones are most commonly shaped like St. Andrew’s cross, an “X,” but “T” shaped Roman crosses and square Maltese crosses are the most sought after. Fairy crosses are found only a few places in the southeastern United States, one of these places is an old Cherokee meeting Place in Virginia that is called Fairy Stone State Park. At 4,868 acres, Fairy Stone State Park is the largest of Virginia’s original six state parks. Recreational facilities include lake swimming, non-gasoline powered boating, guided nature and history walks, picnicking and nine miles of trails with parts of the Little Mountain Falls system and all of the Stuart’s Knob system, reserved for pedestrian use only.
The Cherokee Nation in the 18th century (1700's) claimed most of the land in what is today Southwest Virginia. The western part of Patrick County, Virginia belonged to the Cherokee at this time. In the Treaty of Hard Labor signed on October 14, 1763, The Cherokee Nation gave up their land from the top of the Blue Ridge to the Holston River.
To the eastern Indians of the United States, the Little People were the fairies or dwarfs that lived in caves and under streams in the forests. They were about two feet tall, had long black hair, and spoke Indian languages. Loving music and dancing, it was believed that they taught the Indians about medicine and spirits. The Little People were usually friendly towards humans and could be helpful and kind. It is said that they often found lost children in the woods and returned them home to their parents. They also helped people by working in their cornfields at night, guarding their houses, and watching over their families. The Little People loved to eat cornbread and strawberries, and the Native Americans would set food out for them. They could be very mischievous, and if angered they would throw rocks at you.
The Chiltoskey family of Cherokee, North Carolina has preserved this Cherokee Legend of the Stone Crosses.
Early one day long ago from time out of memory the people of a Cherokee town awoke and faced east to say their morning prayers to the Creator in heaven (Ca-lun-la-ti). In the distance could be heard the cry of an owl, a sign of death and bad luck. The eastern sky began turning many colors, and it looked as if a storm was about to take place. Indians from other villages joined them and there was a feeling of sadness. Soon, the Little People (Yun-wi T-suns-di) who lived deep in the forest appeared to the Cherokee, they were only two feet tall and often brought messages to the people. They spoke first to the tribal elders and then to everyone who had assembled in the town.
They told a story of both greatness and sadness. Many Years ago, a new star (no-t-lu-si) had appeared in the eastern sky beyond the big salt water. A special boy-child had been born to a tribe chosen by the creator He had grown into a man of wisdom and had taught his people the ways of the Creator and the straight white path of peace. He was a man of kindness and brought strong medicine (nu-wa-ti) to his people. Although he taught purity and harmony with the creator, he had many enemies who would not hear his message of peace They would not believe that his medicine made sick people well. Thus, on this day, they would torture and kill this wise man, and he would walk towards the nightland (death).
As the sky grew dark, the Indians sang a death song to honor this beloved man of peace whom they called the Son of the Creator. All of the animal nations of the forests soon came and stood by them, Because of their sorrow, the Cherokee began to cry. Their tears soon covered the ground. When their weeping had ended, they looked down and saw that their tears had been changed into small stone crosses. For the Indians, the cross design had always represented the cardinal points or the four directions. Now it had a new religious meaning. The Creator (E-do-da) had heard their prayers and songs and had given them a gift. The Cherokee kept these stone crosses and always honored them. Many Cherokee Indians still possess these stone crosses and treasure them. It is a blessing from the Creator to find one of these sacred objects.
There are many legends and tales about staurolite throughout the ages. One Gaelic legend states that when the Tuatha de Danann and the fairie races were defeated in ancient Ireland, and subsequently sent to live underground, the remaining fairies around the world wept tears of iron. The iron was representative of the Iron Age, which began with the defeat of the Tuatha de Danann.
Another legend originating in Georgia, US offers this take, that fairy crosses are the tears of the Cherokee, shed during the great exodus of the “Trail of Tears.” Yet another states that staurolite was in fact a “good luck” gift made to John Smith from Pocahontas. There are reports made that many well-known figures in modern times carried staurolite, including but not limited to President Theodore Roosevelt, President Wilson, Charles Lindberg and Thomas Edison.
Later tales of Richard the Lionhearted place staurolite front and center as a healing stone. Some stories place Richard as suffering from malaria and that staurolite helped heal him, while others report that his healers used staurolite to aid their wounded during the Crusades in the Middle East.
No one really knows for sure how the mysterious fairy crosses came to be. Even scientists cannot agree on their origin. One theory estimates that the cross-shaped rocks are as much as 500 million years old and were formed when a meteorite broke apart upon entering the earth’s atmosphere. Another theory suggests that the reddish-brown crystals came from deep within the earth and were gradually forced to the surface by seismic activity over thousands of years. Found imbedded in rocks that have been subjected to great heat and pressure, fairy stones are staurolite, a combination of silica, iron, and aluminum. Together, these minerals sometimes crystallize in twin form and appear on the stones in a cross-like structure.
Staurolites are very grounding. It is this grounding, this connection to the earth, that is the basis for the belief that staurolite is a tool for communicating with animals and other entities of the natural and fairy realm.
They are said to make you feel more calm and relaxed, relieve stress and help dissipate fear and anxiety. The staurolite grounds you, connecting you to the earth, which also helps you to be less fearful, and to stay calm during situations that would normally make you anxious. It is said to bring you back into your body, should your mind tend to “float away” on you. By bringing the body to a place of calm and balance, staurolite improves the entire condition of the mind and body, improving overall health.
Many sources cite that staurolite is an excellent tool for assisting in overcoming addictions. Its grounding, calming effects lend strength to those seeking to stop smoking and release other addictive behaviors. The energy of staurolite can be enhanced and strengthened by using it in conjunction with amethyst, iolite or sugilite… which all lend their potent support to those wishing to put an end to self-destructive habits.
It is said that staurolite can help you find lost objects, and can boost the clarity of your dreams. All legends and modern day sources agree that staurolite is an overall good luck stone, and this good luck quality is the most common reason it is worn or carried.