Cairn Making – A Meditative Activity That Can Bring You Closer to the Earth and Your Community

Cairn making is a surprisingly meditative activity that can bring you closer to the earth and your community. It’s a great way for you to get your mind off of the cairn as a therapy by data rooms everyday and focus more on balance and permanence.

Various cultures have used cairns for many purposes throughout history. They may have been used to mark out a route, to indicate food sources, or to warn people of danger. In North America Native Americans also made cairns to serve as burial places, a tradition known as inukshuk.

The word cairn is derived from a Gaelic phrase that means “heaps of stones”. They are typically built in the shape of a hill. They can range in size from tiny rock sculptures to huge man-made stone hills. Some are comparable to kistvaens or dolmens, but built out of stone instead of ephemeral Earthworks.

Cairns are used by many people, but they are most commonly used by hikers. They can guide hikers home after a long day’s hiking, or help them navigate in remote areas.

A well-placed, properly-marked cairn may save lives by guiding a group of lost hikers. Some people claim that cairns do not belong in the environment and violate Leave No Trace principles.