The Celestial
Artifact Experience
Ancient Stones · Cosmic Mystery · A Journey Beyond Time
Featuring the enigmatic Nomoli stones of West Africa
November 14 | 11 AM – 6 PM
An extraordinary one-day exhibition
An encounter across time
For one extraordinary day, step into an exhibition where ancient history, sacred practice, intuitive exploration, and the mysteries of the cosmos meet.
Experience rare Nomoli stones and artifacts from the Shirley and Bennett J. Vonderheide Collection, a collection that has been exhibited at the African Art Museum of Maryland.
“Hold history in your hands. Enter the mystery. Journey beyond the known.”
Enter the mystery
The story and the questions
Originating in West Africa, particularly Sierra Leone and surrounding regions, Nomoli are enigmatic carved stone figures surrounded by centuries of cultural tradition and mystery.
According to material published by the Vonderheide Collection, Nomoli have been associated with traditional practices involving chiefs, medicine men and women, divination, protection, prosperity, and the search for diamonds. The collection has also attracted attention because of unusual interpretations surrounding some of the figures and has been connected with programming exploring ancient-astronaut theories.
Those extraterrestrial interpretations remain theories rather than established archaeological conclusions—and that mystery is part of what guests are invited to explore for themselves.
THE MYSTERY OF THE NOMOLI
a personal encounter
Hold an ancient artifact
This is not simply an exhibition to observe from a distance.
Guests will have the rare opportunity to personally hold select Nomoli artifacts and meditate with them.
Feel the weight of the stone in your hands. Become still. Explore what arises through your own awareness—imagery, sensations, intuitive impressions, memories, emotions, or simply silence.
For a moment, step away from ordinary time and enter a contemplative encounter with an object connected to another culture, another place, and another era.
More then an exhibition
Meet the artifacts in a different way
Take time to observe, hold, reflect, and discover what arises through your own awareness.
From the Vonderheide Collection
Discover a piece that speaks to you
Throughout the exhibition, guests will be able to view, experience, and purchase select Nomoli stones and artifacts from the Vonderheide Collection.
Each piece is unique and individually priced according to its rarity, provenance, and significance.
Come experience the collection in person and discover the piece that speaks to you.
Choose your experience
Go deeper into the mystery
Explore a guided journey with Anya Shanti or experience a quieter, one-to-one meditation with a selected artifact.
Ancient Earth· Celestial Worlds · Beyond Time
Hold History in your hands. Enter the Mystery. Journey beyond the known
The exhibition
Exhibition Admission - $55
Admission provides access to The Celestial Artifact Exhibition from 11 AM–6 PM and includes light refreshments.
Space is limited. Advance reservations are recommended.
A private experience
Private Artifact Meditation
15 Minutes | $25
Experience a private guided meditation while personally holding a selected rare artifact.
Settle into the energy of the space and explore the images, sensations, emotions, memories, and intuitive impressions that may arise as you meditate with the stone.
With Anya Shanti
Join one of two sacred guided shamanic journeys while holding selected stones and artifacts. Through meditation and shamanic journeying, explore ancient consciousness, Pleiadian and other stellar traditions, intuitive awareness, remembrance, and realms beyond ordinary space and time.
Allow the artifact to become your point of focus as you journey inward and explore your own connection with the mysteries of the ancient and celestial worlds.
Sacred Guided Journey to the Stars
Sacred Guided Journey To The Stars with Nomoli Stone
1:00 PM & 4:00 PM | $50
