The Shadow Seekers’ Dispatch, edition 8
Index
This One Starts in the Dark
I’ve been on an absolute tear with the pen lately—something relentless keeps pouring out. The Shadow Desires Series is shaping into something I’m genuinely proud of. Each piece is a deep look, a dare, a mirror. They’re not feel-good pieces. They’re feel-honest.
If you haven’t read the first one yet—Shadow Desires: Secret Fantasies, Sacred Longings, and What They’re Really Trying to Tell You—it’s a hell of a place to start. And if something in you stirs while reading, especially something uncomfortable—I’d love to hear about it in the comments or in a reply to this Dispatch.
In this issue: an artist who lets the rocks tell the story (and has something to say about aliens, Thundereggs, and what it means to leave your last rock in the saw vise), two new power-infused creations in the store, and some shadow-leaning stone and herb pairings if you’re looking to support what’s unraveling within.
Story Stones™ : Dale Bertram and the Art of Letting the Story Speak
When Dale Bertram cuts open a rock, he’s not just looking for patterns—he’s listening for a story.
His work, which he calls Story Stones™, began with what he describes as a visual epiphany: “At Quartzite I watched a guy cut a huge chunk of Landscape Jasper on a big slab saw. When the cut was finished, the cut surface revealed an awesome desert mountain scene complete with a sunset. There was a story in that scene just waiting to be written.” That moment lit a fire. Dale didn’t only want to make something beautiful—he wanted to unearth meaning.
And unearth he does. His art is part geology, part philosophy, and all soul.
Dale sees creativity everywhere—in coral reefs, in the Amazon, in the “night sky over the islands of Palau.” It’s no surprise that he sees it in rocks too. But he doesn’t try to force meaning onto the stone. As he puts it, “God is an artist, it’s everywhere, just look around you… In light of all that, what is an artist to do, but ‘create’!”
That belief—equal parts reverent and irreverent—runs through every piece he touches. He blends biblical texts with alien lore. He crafts sculptures that reference scripture and sculptures that house visitors from beyond. When asked about the spiritual thread through his work, he says simply: “Art tends to be very spiritual for me.”
But perhaps the deepest layer of Dale’s work is how it connects him to the people he loves—especially his daughter, Rachael. Born with what he describes as “special needs,” Rachael has her own way of being in the world: “Rachael is a ‘teacher’. Come and cut some Thundereggs with us sometime. Rachael will teach you what Love is. It’s simple, pure, uncomplicated, it keeps no record of wrongs, just like Rachael.”
Family, wonder, and storytelling all converge in his shop—and he’s thought about the day when he’ll cut his last stone. “… I always leave a rock in the saw vice when I am done cutting. There is one there now.” It’s not morbid—it’s mindful. It’s a reminder: our time here is limited, but the stories we reveal can outlast us.
Dale’s Story Stones™ remind us that meaning isn’t something you invent—it’s something you uncover. One cut at a time.
Now Haunting the Shop
You can also grab a paperback copy of The Art of Confidence: A Guide to Trusting Yourself on Life’s Creative Battlefield over on Amazon. It’s a 6×9 softcover—just the right size to toss in your bag next to your journal.
From the Shadow Seekers’ Journal
How to Integrate Your Shadow Without Fearing What She Holds
The Dark Mirror: What Jealousy, Cringe, and Obsession Reveal About You
Erotic Energy and the Dark Muse: How Desire Fuels Creativity
Healing Through Art: A Guide to Creative Expression, Emotional Processing, and Personal Growth
Shadow Desires: Secret Fantasies, Sacred Longings, and What They’re Really Trying to Tell You
Energies for Shadow Work
Shadow Revelation and Stabilization
This combination is for Seekers who are ready to confront buried truths, trauma, or difficult realizations head-on, needing both protection and intuitive access.
Obsidian grounds spiritual energy, shields against negativity, and helps surface hidden patterns and truths.
It’s the knife that cuts through illusion, sharp but protective.
Labradorite is linked to transformation, intuition, and surfacing repressed memories.
It strengthens you to see what’s been hidden.
*Valerian Promotes calmness, supports dream work, and protects psychic space.
Ideal when truth starts showing up in unexpected places—like your sleep.
*Substitute valerian with chamomile, passionflower, lavender, or lemon balm. Substitution recommended if you take sedatives (natural or prescription), are pregnant or breastfeeding, or undergoing surgery in the next two weeks. Do not allow children 3 or younger to access valerian.
‘Til Next Time
I hope you enjoyed this edition of the Shadow Seekers’ Dispatch. I’m scaling back on social media to keep my focus where it belongs—on the work that matters. But you can still follow along on Facebook or Pinterest for updates, new releases, and a steady dose of shadow-drenched creativity throughout the month. The buttons to click are right below my signature. I’ll see you next time.
Warmly,
Kellie Jo Close
Artist & Author
Transforms Shadows into Light