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COURIER photo/Gabriel Fenoy
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| Kindred Spirits’ owner Persis Newland holds a crystal skull, similar to Solar Ray, inside her Claremont store. |
The tale of the missing skull
A mystery suitable for an Indiana Jones thriller has unfolded right here in Claremont. A large crystal skull with alleged healing powers went missing from new-age shop Kindred Spirits, and storeowners are stumped over its whereabouts.
The store, located at 813 W. Foothill Blvd., has been running for more than 15 years. The skull was on display atop an altar in Kindred Spirit’s meditation room and was stolen roughly 2 weeks ago.
“I just looked up one day at it and it was gone,” said storeowner Persis Newland.
Writer Don Marr purchased the stone, called Solar Ray, in 2001 from a crystal dealer in Orange County with hopes to make it a leading prop for a film manuscript he plans to develop. The original cost was $500. His manuscript is set in the lost city of Atlantis, when power-hungry leaders sparked the downfall of the civilization. The plotline is supposed to mirror contemporary American government and society, Mr. Marr said.
According to legend, crystals were heavily used in Atlantis. Several crystal skulls were sent around the world from the kingdom before its downfall. The skulls contain the secrets of Atlantis and, whoever posses the skull, will learn of these secrets.
Ms. Newland said that she suspects the skull was taken as a result of mounting hype over the latest Indiana Jones movie. Opening in theaters May 22, the forth installment of the series is called Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
The film is inspired by another skull legend stemming from the Mayan civilization. It is believed that when the 13 crystal skulls of the Mayans are brought together, their united powers will save the earth.
The skull, Solar Ray, is much smaller and younger than the originals from the Mayan or Atlantis civilizations. It weighs only 2 pounds and is about the size of a grapefruit. (story continues below)
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COURIER photo/Gabriel Fenoy
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| A photograph of Solar Ray, a large crystal skull with alleged healing powers, sits on display inside Kindred Spirits in Claremont. The skull was stolen approximately two weeks ago from the store. |
According to Kristen Nestor, a “spiritual teacher” familiar with crystal skulls, Solar Ray is some 400 years old and originally crafted in Brazil. It has been on loan to Kindred Spirits for the past 4 months.
The skull has a distinctive gash on the back of its head when it was once dropped off a table. Mr. Marr hopes the thief develops a guilty conscience and brings it back to the store.
Ms. Newland said dozens of customers visit her shop each night to take part in meditation, healing and energy classes. Because of the nature of the store, shoplifting has never been a problem at her store, Ms. Newland said.
“We work a lot on trusting people, and we really don’t have a lot of shoplifting,” Ms. Newland said. “It’s pretty nonexistent because people look at this as their spiritual center and treat it pretty well.”
Although optimistic about its return, Mr. Marr said the crystal may have been stolen for its healing powers or its monetary value. He said he has scanned the web for any crystal skulls up for sale, filed a police report and sent out news releases to local papers.
“I think whoever has him has got a tiger by the tail and doesn’t know it,” Ms. Newland said. “Their life will start to change with something that good is in their presence.”
Crystals are popular items in folklore and have been used by healer, aroma therapists and acupuncturists for their unique energy, Mr. Marr said. Solar Ray’s owners are hopeful that it will soon be placed back on the altar where they feel it belongs.
“We really miss him,” Ms. Newland said. “And it’s really bad karma to steal from your spiritual center.”
—Tony Krickl
