Obelisk — Moss agate · 5 cm

A translucent chalcedony in which green dendrites draw patterns of lichen or fern caught in ice.

An obelisk with even faces, polished along every edge — a form inherited from Egyptian architecture, where it marked the passage of the sun.

What tradition attributes to it. Called the "gardeners' stone", tradition links it to plant cycles, to patience and to the fertility of projects.

Use & upkeep. It sits as well on a bookshelf as on a ritual tray; its verticality alone creates a visual anchor. Dust with a dry cloth. Sharp edges mark if knocked.

• The green patterns are not moss but iron and manganese oxides crystallized into branching forms.
• Indicative size: 5 cm
• A natural piece: shade, veining and dimensions vary from one example to the next

A decorative object for personal practice. It is no substitute for medical advice or treatment.