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How to Find a Wishing Rock

Many tales and traditions feature wishing, from wishing on a star to Aladdin's lamp with its wish-granting genie. Certain kids' movies feature adventures with wishing rocks. Wishing expresses a deep desire and focuses your attention on what you want. A wishing rock might be a rock you're drawn to, a rock from a place that's important to you or a rock with a stripe around it. Finding a wishing rock offers an imaginative learning activity for children. Choose a setting where you have permission to remove a rock, such as your own back yard or a relative's property.

Things You'll Need

Shovel or trowel, optional
Container of water

Instructions

- 1
  Look for a wishing rock in a place that you enjoy. This could be where you grew up, a creek bed on a friend's property or your back yard. Areas where the ground has been disturbed by running water or digging often supply a rich source of small rocks.
- 2
  Sort through the stones. Focus your thoughts on finding your wishing stone. A rock that fits comfortably in your hand works well as a wishing rock, although you can pick a bigger rock if you prefer. Pick one or more rocks that appeal to you.
- 3
  Look underground if the area doesn't have loose rocks above ground. Dig out embedded rocks, or dig in a disturbed area, such as where water runoff flows or near a garden plot. Loosen the earth with a shovel or trowel.
- 4
  Run your fingers through the dirt to find a wishing rock. If the soil has a lot of clay in it, break the soil up gently with the shovel or trowel to make it easier to find rocks. Repeat the digging in a different spot if you don't find a rock you like.
- 5
  Rinse the rock in a container of water. This shows the rock's colors and textures better. If you have more than one rock to choose from, close your eyes and hold each one. Choose the one that feels best to you, the one you like having in your hand. This is your wishing rock.

Rocks & Minerals