The Power of Objects: How Psychometry Connects Us to Memory, Presence, and Possibility

We all have an object we can’t quite let go of — a ring that once sat on a loved one’s finger, a mug still holding the faintest trace of their favourite tea, a scarf carrying the memory of their scent. These simple, everyday things become more than just possessions; they become vessels of connection, holding fragments of time, emotion, and essence.

This is where the concept of psychometry comes in — the intuitive practice of reading or sensing energy through objects. Psychometry is based on the idea that our emotions and experiences leave subtle energetic imprints on the material world. In the same way that a photograph can freeze a moment in light, an object can absorb and preserve the emotional resonance of its owner.

Holding On to Presence After Loss

When someone we love dies, it can feel as though they vanish entirely — sound, scent, and warmth disappear all at once. But through touch, an object can bridge that unbearable gap between absence and presence. Holding a pendant, a piece of clothing, or a worn tool that once belonged to them allows the body to remember what the mind struggles to comprehend: that love, energy, and memory don’t end with death.

Psychometry isn’t just a psychic ability; it’s also an emotional language — a way of feeling rather than thinking our way back into connection. Even without mystical belief, we all experience this instinctively: the comfort of clutching a keepsake, the sudden rush of memory it brings, the warmth that rises unexpectedly in the chest. Objects can act as portals — not to the supernatural, but to our own deep remembering.

The Object as a Guide to the Future

While some objects connect us to those we’ve lost, others help us reimagine what lies ahead. The act of creating or choosing a new object — something handmade, found, or gifted — can become a powerful ritual of hope.

In moments of transition or uncertainty, these objects serve as anchors for intention. They hold not only memory, but potential. A hand-moulded worry stone, a piece of dyed fabric, or a pebble from a meaningful place can remind us of our own resilience. When we invest care, attention, and story into an object, it begins to reflect back our capacity to grow.

Material Memory and Emotional Healing

There’s a quiet intelligence in the materials we surround ourselves with. Clay remembers touch. Fabric remembers warmth. Metal retains fingerprints and temperature. The process of making, handling, or even restoring an object invites us into dialogue with something tangible — a kind of conversation between body, memory, and matter.

For those moving through grief or personal transformation, these encounters can be profoundly grounding. They remind us that life continues to flow through and around us — not in spite of loss, but alongside it.

Creating Your Own Ritual Object

If you’re feeling called to explore this connection, try this simple practice:

• Choose an object that carries emotional weight — or find something natural, like a stone or shell, that speaks to you now.
• Hold it quietly. Notice how it feels in your hand, what memories or sensations arise, without judgement.
• Set an intention. It could be to stay connected to someone you love, to invite calm during change, or to move forward with courage.
• Keep it nearby. Let it accompany you as a quiet witness to your own unfolding.

Over time, this object may shift in meaning — what once symbolised loss may become a sign of endurance and love renewed.

Objects hold stories — not just of the past, but of who we are becoming. Through the simple act of noticing, holding, or creating, we participate in a cycle of remembrance and renewal. Whether through the sensitivity of psychometry or the mindful presence of ritual, the power of objects reminds us that we are never truly alone; our connections live on, woven into the very fabric of the things we cherish.