Shells, pebbles, sand and driftwood in the shape of a mandala represent the universe. Mandalas stand for completeness and direct attention away from the external, materialistic world and toward the core of existence. For many of us, we have collected shells through the years and given them special places in our homes where they resonate a particular power. When you use seashells to decorate your homes and sacred spaces, you might not know it, but shells have healing properties, just like the beautiful jewel-quality healing crystals we place on our altars and carry in our medicine bags. Seashells offer another level to our self-healing practices.? Because of the moon’s strong influence on the ocean, seashells hold the energy of the moon phases and some of them have more power at various times of the moon cycle. Many shells, particularly sea snails and the nautilus, form on a center spiral, and actually grow outward with the passing of a full moon pull. I say pull, because the gravitational pull of the moon on water enhances the inhabitant's natural ability to build another section of its spiral shell and expand into it. Think of this wisdom connection, moon to mollusk. Because of this deep, deep connection to the planets, the water tides, and the sharing of sacred geometry, seashells are a powerful symbol of the Universe.