In the autumn of 2020, we completed the Cosmic Egg. The concept of this special project came from a vision that my partner Zach Johnson, artist, and stonemason, had years ago. Through good fortune, the vision came to life – in a beautiful location with the ideal client.
An Underground Meditation Chamber
The Egg is a small space in the shape of an ostrich egg. It is built with Cottonwood limestone from the Flint Hills of Kansas. The enticing but inconspicuous entrance is through a 3’ high crawl space opposite a sunken fire pit.
Collaboration
Zach explains, “After sitting with the energies of the property, discussions with our client, and logistical planning, we began building. This was such a great endeavor. We worked closely with the property owner to create a space that is a perfect fit.”
Connecting to the Heart of the Earth
The Cosmic Egg is a meditation chamber that connects you to the heart of the Earth. It allows you to feel safe in a cocoon-like space. The Egg is designed so that when you are inside looking out, the fire pit is a central focal point. The sound of the fire resonates and amplifies inside the egg. When sitting within the Egg, you feel an amazing effect of being “inside” the fire.
Sense the Vibrations in the Meditation Chamber
Another wonderful feature of the egg is the sound! When you sing or hum in it, you feel held by the vibration of the sound waves as they seem to wrap around you. Sing a tone at an E flat, the note fills the space and amplifies, ringing in a way that the other notes do not.
Finding Stillness
As we build our sacred spaces, we pay close attention to the energy of the land. It is imperative that the structure be built properly and in harmony with the physical surroundings. Even more important, the energetic equilibrium is acknowledged and maintained. This is done through deep listening, asking permission from the land and its inhabitants. We work with the stone as an intelligent material – doing so helps to remove blockages and trauma from the land. Once this is done, the natural energy of the earth radiates more freely. The participant feels the stillness from sitting with the earth.
Zach continues, “As with any project, we had challenges and interesting problems to solve. Our construction method of laying stone without mortar has its roots in the ancient world. The precision with which we build made the process that much more exacting.
The dry-laid building technique
We love doing stonework in the dry-laid method. This is a traditional building system that dates back thousands of years. No mortar or binder is used when placing stone upon stone. The structure relies on gravity, following bonding rules, and the friction that comes from stone-on-stone contact. This method, along with our knowledge and experience, made it the obvious choice for the Cosmic Egg construction.
When inside the chamber, you are surrounded by 18” to 24” thick walls of solid limestone. A structure built of substantial stone encourages a more grounded and peaceful state of mind and is beneficial to those seeking stillness.
When it came time to determine the style of building, we chose a corbelled arch approach. This technique provides the most stability for the roof structure based upon the material we chose to work with.
The stone was delivered in large slabs measuring 5’ by 7’ and in thicknesses of 4”, 5”, and 6.” We used a method called feather and wedges or plugs and feathers to split the stone into smaller pieces. From there we used angle grinders, hammers, and chisels to cut the curves and bevels in each stone. Once the stone was precisely shaped, it was lowered into place to make up the walls of the egg.
A Meditation Chamber that Sings
Although this particular style of construction is time-consuming, we are very happy with the results. Each stone required a level of attention to detail so that the final chamber could “sing,” and, in the way it does!
After all the stones were placed, we ground down the interior surface of the Egg so that it had a smooth texture. This allows the person sitting in the chamber to run their hands over the inner walls and feel the care it took to build.
As with any build, we bring our combined four decades of experience into play, and our clients get the best of what we have to offer. We engage fully in the project with our imagination, deep listening, presence, and the skill that we have learned and practiced over the years. That, coupled with the enthusiasm, joy, and deep love that we have for the craft, make the building experience transformative for all involved.
Speaking for both of us, Zach enthusiastically declares, “We are delighted with the finished temple, as is our client! With the combination of energy work, conscious dialogue with our client and the land, we have created a space that opens and transforms one just by being in it.”
Listen to the beautiful music of the chisels!
Video (below): Creating Sacred Space – Building the Cosmic Egg Meditation Chamber
