noun \ ˈkern \
: a heap of stones piled up as a memorial or as a landmark. Stonehenge is a cairn.
The word cairn comes from the Scottish Gaelic: càrn [ˈkʰaːrˠn̪ˠ]. Cairns have been and are used for a broad variety of purposes, from prehistoric times to the present.
Rock cairns are often used as hiking guides on trails. A cairn is a beacon to hikers to stay on trail, and cairns act as a guide through rough terrain when there are no other markers, signs, or maps. When the trail seems unclear, and there are many possible paths to travel, the cairn points you in the right direction.
More recently cairns have been used in pop culture or business marketing to symbolize balance and Zen.
Cairns represent peace, calm, meditation, center and grounding. They are sometimes used as a spiritual token of gratitude — as a prayer altar where each rock can signify an intention of grace for thankfulness, or be offered up for another in need.
Sauber Legal Services LLC provides holistic legal representation — acting as a cairn or guide during life’s difficult transitions, and providing clients and their families with peace of mind and direction when the paths are uncertain.