Hagstones

Birthstone: N/A
Meaning: N/A
Chakras: Third Eye
Zodiac: N/A
Planet: Moon
MOH’s Scale: Dependent upon the stone
Element: Water
God/Goddess: Virgin Mary, Virgin goddesses, Kurinyi Bog, fairies, elementals, spirits,
Anniversary Gift: N/A
Alchemical Symbol: N/A

HagStones can be any type of stone as long as they possess a natural hole through it and if in your possession, should be considered a sacred object. These stones are often found along the coastal points, beaches, and streams. They have been called by many names over the centuries including Witch Stones, Adder Stones, Snake Eggs, serpent’s eggs, druid eggs, Hex Stones, Fairy Stones, Ephialtes stones, Holy Stones, holey stones, Holeys, key hole stones, wish stones, nightmare stones, witch riding stones, and Eye Stones.

They are called Glain Neidr in Wales, milpreve in Cornwall, adderstanes in the south of Scotland and Gloine nan Druidh (“Druids’ glass” in Scottish Gaelic) in the north. In Germany they are called Hühnergötter (“chicken gods”). In Egypt they are called aggry or aggri. Most are found in dry riverbeds or along the seashore, as the action of running or moving water causes the erosion that result in the unique appearance of the stone. Next time you visit the seashore or a river, keep an eye out for hagstones.

There are a few explanations to the origin of the hagstone. One holds that the stones are the hardened saliva of large numbers of serpents massing together, the perforations being caused by their tongues. The second claims that a hagstone comes from the head of a serpent or is made by the sting of an adder, hence one of its names being adder stone. The third is more modern (and much easier to attain).

It details that the stone can be any rock with a hole bored through the middle by water. When the force of water creates a hagstone, it makes it immune to enchantments. Human intervention cannot be used or it will not retain as many of its magical properties nor will it be as powerful.

The intrigue and uniqueness of these stones has for centuries made them a focus of folk magic, myth and lore for thousands of years. The reason they are so sought after and valuable is because it’s common belief that magic cannot work on moving water, and since the holes in hag stones are made by the force of this element that the stones retain water’s beneficial influence. In effect, a hag stone is an amazing protection amulet. Finding a hagstone is considered good luck and much luck will follow.

Whether you are using your hagstone to arm yourself against fairy enchantment, to grant a wish, or to bless your dreams, you will find its associated rituals are very easy to perform. These stones can be used for new beginnings, connecting to the goddess, cleansing, fertility, protection, opening your third eye. Wear to protect from nightmares, the Mara, to bless holy water, to see spirits, and to aid in hedge crossing and spirit work as well as to protect you while doing so. Hag stones are also used for cleansing rituals and purification. It is also said that if you wish to know the truth and feel you’re being deceived or lied to, that anyone near the stones would be compelled to speak the truth. They’re also used in ceremonies for lovers and vows so a promise is made and cannot be broken.

They have been used by witches worldwide for centuries in both rituals and spell work. They also have been used, ironically, as a toll to counteract a witch’s magic. Legend has it that they can be used to ward off the dead, curses, sickness and nightmares. In John Brand’s Antiquities, it says “a stone with a hole in it hung at the bed’s head will prevent the nightmare. It is therefore called a Hag Stone from that disorder which is occasioned by a hag or witch sitting on the stomach of the party afflicted”.

Hagstones are still believed to have the power to prevent nightmares and also help to ward off then negative effects associated with the evil eye. If you have been suffering from bad dreams, hang a hagstone at the head of your bed. You should clean your dream charm once a month by immersing it in the early morning dew as this will help to remove any nightmares it has caught. Alternatively, string your dream catcher with hagstones to help enhance its power.

They are used to see invisible creatures of the land of the Fae and open up a window to other realms. They are used as protection against spells, warding, and healing. Hag stones can be worn as a necklace, bracelet or anklet; it can even be made as a belt for around your waist for real grounding protection. If you close one eye and peer through the hole of the hag stone, you can see fairies, elemental beings, and spirits.

In medieval times, they were credited with the power of protecting both people and animals from the influences of evil spirits and dark witches, and were often worn around the neck or hung on the key or door to cattle stalls and stables like witch bells. Livestock owners would use the stones to protect their animals from bewitchment or being ridden to the Sabbath by witches. It is believed the stones are powerful against illness, nightmares and diseases. A stone would be suspended by a cord in the center of each stable to protect the horses and other livestock or else a cow would give sour milk and hens refused to lay and eggs.

Fisherman and sailors would often find them on beaches during their travels. They would tie them to their boats to keep off evil spirits and witches from affecting their ships and their catch. It was believed that evil spirits and witches would curse ships to have small catches, but a hag stone would prevent this from happening. This also would safeguard the crew’s voyage as shipping accidents were very common. A few stories speak of them being able to control the winds on the high seas; or more formerly, they could control the weather. Larger hagstones were used for weather magic. A cord was threaded through the hole and tied, and the stone was swirled around the head at arm’s length for dispelling winds and rain clouds.

Hagstones were held in high esteem amongst the Druids. It was one of their distinguishing badges, and was accounted to possess the most extraordinary virtues. There is a passage in Pliny’s Natural History, book XXII, describing the nature and the properties of this amulet. The following is a translation of it:

There is a sort of egg in great repute among the Gauls, of which the Greek writers have made no mention. A vast number of serpents are twisted together in summer, and coiled up in an artificial knot by their saliva and slime; and this is called “the serpent’s egg”. The druids say that it is tossed in the air with hissings and must be caught in a cloak before it touches the earth. The person who thus intercepts it, flies on horseback; for the serpents will pursue him until prevented by intervening water. This egg, though bound in gold will swim against the stream. And the magi are cunning to conceal their frauds, they give out that this egg must be obtained at a certain age of the moon.

I have seen that egg as large and as round as a common sized apple, in a chequered cartilaginous cover, and worn by the Druids. It is wonderfully extolled for gaining lawsuits, and access to kings. It is a badge which is worn with such ostentation, that I knew a Roman knight, a Vocontian, who was slain by the stupid emperor Claudius, merely because he wore it in his breast when a lawsuit was pending.

The Glain Neidr or Maen Magi of Welsh folklore is also closely connected to Druidism. The Glain Neidr of Wales are believed to be created by a congress of snakes, normally occurring in spring, but most auspicious on May Eve.

The Mabinogion, translated into English in the mid-nineteenth century by Lady Charlotte Guest, mentions such stones on two occasions. In the story of Peredur son of Efrawg (Percival of the Arthurian cycle), in a departure from Chrétien de Troyes’ Perceval, the Story of the Grail, Peredur is given a magical stone that allows him to see and kill an invisible creature called the Addanc.[6] In another tale, Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain (Ywain of Arthurian legend), the hero Owain mab Urien is trapped in the gatehouse of a castle. He is given a stone by a maiden, which turns Owain invisible, allowing him to escape capture.

Serpents, not being present in Ireland, don’t often feature in Irish mythology, yet other creatures can form parallels. The legendary druid Mug Ruith was said to have a stone which could turn into a poisonous eel when thrown in water, this may be a reference to a hagStone.

Hagstones are called fairy stones because of their power to aid the user in “seeing.” these stones are ideal for working safely with fairies. If you close one eye and peer through the hole in a fairy stone with the other, you’ll be able to see into the Kingdom of the Fae. You’ll be able to see elementals and other beings from the Fae world. If you look through the holes by the light of the moon, you may see visions and spirits. Wear a hagstone around your neck on a leather thong when out in nature looking for fairies. To enhance your search, father morning dew in a container and pour it through the hole in your hagstone before anointing yourself. With any luck, this will make your senses more finely attuned to finding nature spirits and fairies.

In Russian folklore, hagstones were believed to be the abodes of spirits called Kurinyi Bog (“The Chicken God”). Kurinyi Bog were the guardians of chickens, and their stones were placed into farmyards to counteract the possible evil effects of the Kikimora (The wives of the Domovoi, the house spirits.) Kikimora, who also guarded and took care of chickens, could often unleash misery upon hens they did not like by plucking out their feathers.

It is the stone of enchantment. The most interesting quality that hagstones possess is the perceived ability to enable the bearer to see fairies and be protected from their enchantments. Such a charm would have been especially useful at Samhain, when the veil between this world and the fairy world thins. Wear a hagstone threaded on string at Samhain or make a hagstone charm for your Samhain altar and harness its powers to protect you against the mischief of the fairies at this time of year.

Hag stones are one of those items that work better if you personally acquire them rather than someone giving you one or you buying one. The hagstone is, however, an even older witches’ charm for good luck and averting negative or malign energies, which should never be given away. On the other hand, if you find more than one, it is a very precious gift to give to a close friend or relative. According to folklore, for a hagstone to retain its full power as a charm it needed to be found by the bearer, or be given in love as a gift.

There are some practitioners of Italian folk magic who also believe that fairy stones can be used to see and ultimately bind a faery to their service for a specific length of time; a dangerous practice for sure. If you have a fairy stone, wear it around your neck when you’re out in nature looking for fairies. To “fine tune” your faery attraction skills, gather morning dew in a container and gently pour it through the hole in your fairy stone before anointing yourself. If the fairy stone was found in the ocean, looking at the water through the hole may help you discover Sea Spirits, Mermaids and Mermen.

If your fairy stone was found in a forest, it can help you connect with Tree Spirits. A charm of a hag stone suspended on a red cord is especially useful at Samhain, when the veil between this world and the fairy world thins.

Hagstones make the perfect protection charms. Their watery magic will wash away all evil and negativity from your path. It is a common belief that magic cannot work on running water and as the stones are tunneled by the force of this element they retain its beneficial influence. This makes them very good charms for deflecting away negative energies from the bearer. These stones are considered very auspicious and magical. It is the traditional stone witches carried to enter the otherworld through the hole

The most interesting quality that hagstones possess is the perceived ability to enable the bearer to see fairies and be protected from their enchantments. Such a charm would have been especially useful at Samhain, when the veil between this world and the fairy world thins. Wear a hagstone threaded on string at Samhain or make a hagstone charm for your Samhain altar and harness its powers to protect you against the mischief of the fairies at this time of year.

The hagstone is, however, an even older witches’ charm for good luck and averting negative or malign energies, which should never be given away. On the other hand, if you find more than one, it is a very precious gift to give to a close friend or relative. According to folklore, for a hagstone to retain its full power as a charm it needed to be found by the bearer, or be given in love as a gift.

Hag stones were also used as pledge stones, giving the bearer the ability to know if another spoke the truth. Some believe that hag stones represent the sacred vagina of the Goddess and they can be used to create powerful love spells by inserting a stone or stick that fits exactly into the hole, making a request, and throwing the connected pair into the sea.

Tie them to anything you would like protected. If you’re lucky enough to have several, tie them together for a magical boost to their power. They also regenerate your energy. They refresh your body, mind, and spirit with healing energy when a stone is hung over your bed at night. Hag stones were used as protection against the evil eye

Other uses of the hagstone include warding off the spirits of the dead and fertility magic. – lovers would gift them to each other as a pledge or romantic invitation, with the biggest stones often taking pride of place in their homes. Some believe that Hag Stones represent the sacred vagina of the Goddess and can be used to create powerful love spells. They would insert a stone or stick sized to fit exactly into the hole, make a love request, and throw the connected pair into the sea. What better way to bind lovers for eternity!

To use as a wishing stone, a hagstone is held in the palm of the left hand and rubbed with the thumb of the right hand in a clockwise manner. As you perform this, focus on the intent of your wish. This is a technique of creative visualization. Using repetitive rubbing to focus the mind and to concentrate on the desired result. If you are left handed, you may want to reverse your hands, as the hagstone should be rubbed with the dominant hand.

Use a hagstone to help bring health & prosperity. It is said that someone wearing a Hag Stone around their neck will be cured of ANY disease or affliction. You can also rub a healing stone over a wound or painful area on the body to ease the pain and aid healing. They also help to regenerate your energy. they can refresh your body, mind, and spirit with healing energy.

Hagstones with multiple holes were traditionally used as spell casting stones by medieval witches. A cord or small pebble would be passed through the holes in patterns of 3, a sacred number for witches, while the intent of the spell was repeated each time the item was passed through a hole, usually in multiples of 3. The power of a spell could be further enhanced by using different color cords to determine its purpose. For example, white for blessing, green for fertility, pink for love, gold for money, or blue for health.

In parts of Britain and Europe, it was believed that the protective powers of hagstones could be enhanced by pouring liquids through the hole. This was normally done with milk or with ale such as Scandinavian ale.

Create a hagstone charm. Sting 3, 7, or 9 hagstones on and knot the string between each stone. As you create each knot, concentrate on luck and positivity being bound into the string. Hang the charm at your front door or by your bed.

Easily one of the best pop culture examples of a hagstone was the green seeing stone from Coraline. First of all…. I love that movie with all my heart and if you haven’t seen it yet…. get your life right! It is a magical movie and one of the ones I am most likely to put on just for background noise because I enjoy it so much.

As incredible as it may sound, the book was even better. It is just a bit different from the movie but not too much. But the amount of detail and the way the story is told is PHENOMINAL. I can’t recommend the book enough! I can thank my Bestie for getting me hooked on it years ago.

Back to the hagstone! Coraline is gifted this stone by her quirky apartment neighbors when her parents disappear. She is told the stone is good for lost things. When she realizes her parents are taken by the Other Mother, she brings the stone to the Other World and uses it to be able to see through the Other Mother’s magic.