Mystery Formation at Penn Bluff: Resonance with Eastern Woodland Cosmology (Mystery Stone Formation, #3)

This work documents an interesting stone formation at Penn Bluff in Addison, Alabama. This formation, with at least 200 unique features, challenges our imagination in its beauty and complexity. This outdoor "kiva" with sandwiched layers and a unique "sculptural element" at its heart, looks like a cave turned inside out. We are invited to look at portrayals of the formation and consider their resonance with Eastern Woodland Cosmology. Arrowheads have been found atop the bluff and Indigenous mounds are a few miles away, suggesting a potential connection. With Indigenous Cosmology as a tool, we are asked to view and reflect upon this amazing landscape feature and be stirred to mystery.

The author, who holds a degree in Philosophy and a Masters in Counseling Psychology, has taught courses on Indigenous symbolism. As a child he loved exploring stone formations in his native state of Alabama. Over 50 years later, he follows the suggestion of an artist friend and explores a site in a remote area of rural Alabama. There, he experiences a strong sense of presence which he feels impelled to share.