There are millions of people around the world who collect different crystals for purposes including courage, love, and prosperity. But while most collections include amethyst, rose quartz, and tiger's eye, Sheila Humphrey has taken an alternate route – hers is mainly made up of gravel and glass found in different parking lots.
The assembly began in 2009, when Humphrey attended a St. Louis Cardinals game.
"I had just had an amazing day. I'd been tailgating since eight that morning and was just heading back to the parking lot after a big win when I noticed a green shard. The way it caught my eye, I just knew that its energy must've radiated through the ballpark all the way to me, so I picked it up," said Humphrey, who says she is not familiar with Heineken.
From there, the Missouri resident knew to keep an eye out.
"A few weeks after that, I was heading to Target, but was having a battle with myself over whether I would get a basket or allow myself a cart. Right when I walked through the door, there were several pieces of gravel on the tile. It's like a voice was saying 'Sheila, like this gravel that made its way inside from the parking lot, this isn't where you usually are. Take advantage.' So you better believe I got the cart and spent $300 on candles and plants that day," said Humphrey, beaming.
Sometimes, new pieces find her when she least expects it.
"One day, I was walking into my go-to Dollar General. Only this time, there was a man sitting by the door drinking out of a paper bag — next to him, there were many pieces of brown glass," remembers the hair salon receptionist. "I rightly assumed that this man was a keeper of the glass, so I politely asked him if I could take just one. He looked at me, almost confused for a moment, then said I could have it in exchange for a pack of cigarettes. It was clearly his way of communicating that this object was to manifest generosity."
The collection contains 87 objects to date, and Humphrey says she's not going to stop looking anytime soon.
"Empty corn fields, dangerous streets, busy children's playgrounds — I search where divinity leads me."
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Photo courtesy of Maatpublishing via CC BY-SA 4.0
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