Stone of Destiny

The stone in question is no ornately carved megalith, just a simple oblong block of red sandstone, measuring some 650mm in length by 400mm wide, and 270mm deep: with chisel marks apparent on its flat top.

Celtic legend has it that the Stone was once the pillow upon which Patriarch Jacob rested at Bethel (later called “Bet-El”) when he had a vision of God and His Angels going up and down stairs leading to Heaven (significance of the dream has been debated), and in the morning, he used that 'Stone Pillow' as a memorial (Genesis 28:10–11). It was also known as 'Jacob's Pillow.

The Stone is presumably sentient, and has various magical abilities, such as teleportation. However, it can only be convinced to use these abilities by the answering of a riddle. When active, the Stone glows blue. A powerful Stone for grounding light energy in the physical body. As its name implies, 'Prophecy Stones' help those who seek guidance from higher realms regarding the future.

Later, according to Jewish tradition, it became the pedestal of the 'Ark in the Temple'. The Stone was brought from Syria to Egypt by King Gathelus, who then fled to Spain following the defeat of the Egyptian army. A descendant of Gathelus brought the Stone to Ireland, and was crowned on it as King of Ireland. And from Ireland, the Stone moved with the invading Scots to Argyll.

It has been contended that was used in ceremonies to inaugurate new Monarchs for almost a thousand years.

What is sure, is that the 'Stone of Destiny' (also known as the, the 'Hebrews' Sacred Stone', the 'Lia Fáil' and the Stone of Scone) remained at Scone (a small town in the neighborhood of Perth, situated in Scotland northern UK) until it was forcibly removed by the King Edward I of England (“Hammer of the Scots”) after his Scottish victories in 1296, and taken to Westminster Abbey in London.

Still another interesting legend surrounding this mystical Stone suggests that as King Edward I approached the palace, the Monks of Scone hurriedly removed the Stone of Destiny and hid it, replacing it with another stone of similar size and shape. And it was this which the English King carried off in triumph back to London and had it built into a new Throne at Westminster.

Perhaps this legend is not so far-fetched as it could help to explain why the Coronation Stone is so geologically similar to the sandstone commonly found around Scone.

The current Coronation Chair was made to house the Stone by Walter of Durham (x 1297–1300), and was first used at the coronation of Edward II, and thereafter to Crown every subsequent King and Queen of England.

A further twist surrounds the abduction of the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey in London and took it back to Scotland by four Nationalist Scottish students from the University of Glasgow (Ian Hamilton, Gavin Vernon, Kay Matheson and Alan Stuart) on Christmas Day 1950. Although the Stone was eventually returned by the ‘Stone-nappers’ in the following April, when it turned up at the high altar of Arbroath Abbey in the Scottish town of Arbroath.

Modern myth questions whether it was the actual Stone of Destiny that they returned? Many contend a yes…

Food for thought!