Fossils Used As Charms, Wicca & Shamanic

 

 

 

 

It has always been a practice of both the witch & the shaman to use in their craft, things which were in some way striking, strange, symbolic & mysterious. In this way they impressed upon the mind strongly with what they were trying to do. Fossils were long considered very mysterious objects appearing, as they did, to be some product of nature turned to stone. For instance the coiled fossils called ammonites were sometimes known as snake-stone which to the witch & primitive peoples world-wide represented knowledge & wisdom of the Divine Presence. Finding a snake-stone was considered a gift from the Gods & it was then carried or left on the household shrine. These fossils were often passed down in families for many generations. Modern witches place them on the altar during rites for they produce strong vibrations & are used as a powerful tool to open the mind to higher wisdom. These fossils are still worn or carried in a putsi today.

A fossil credited with great magical properties is the Shepherds crown, a kind of fossilised sea urchin. These were often a perfect heart shape with a 5 pointed star on top. A closely similar variety but more high & rounded is called fairy loaves. These fossilised sea urchins have been found as grave goods in Neolithic burials & were associated with the ancient Druids. These fossils were placed on the window-sill to protect the home from lightning & the evil eye. Placed on the hearth they were used as guardians against negative influences/evil/bane affecting the food which was prepared there. If some family member was taking a long journey, one of these fossils was placed in a bag with some healing herbs & given to them along with food for the journey. The herbs were for any minor illness or accident, the fossil was a link to the hearth guardian which would then keep them safe from bane.

Modern Neo-Pagans place a collection of these fossils, some shells, seed pods, nuts, corn, holey stones, acorns  & a vase of fresh flowers or herbs, on a small table in a dark corner in the home, above them is hung the glass witch ball & nearby some seaweed is hung. This is a powerful combination to combat negativity in the home. Another fossil that was used as a protective amulet for the home is "the witch stone". This name is also given to flint with a natural hole in it, but the real Sussex witch-stone is a small fossil in the perfect form of a bead, round & white, faintly glittering & with a hole in the middle, these were worn or placed amongst other objects on the shrine & on the altar during magical work. These fossils are also found in Yorkshire & other places, They're actually a fossil sponge, the product of warm seas of millions of years ago. Their correct name is Porosphera globulans. The long pointed fossils called belemites are somewhat phallic in shape & associated with luck, protection & fertility, they are symbolic of the Great God of nature & are recognised as a life sign/symbol. These are some times known as “thunder stones” or “thunder bolts” perhaps from confusion with meteorites which were associated with Sky Gods, dramatic change & weather magic.

The belemite is actually the fossilised internal shell of a cephalopod, some prehistoric ancestor of our squids & cuttlefish. These fossils were sometimes used to strengthen & bring fertility to cattle. They were dipped into their water, along with two rounded pebbles to symbolise testicles. They were also used in fertility rites & during harvest festivals & they too had their place on the altar & window-sill.

Two substances long regarded as magical are amber & jet. Both are fossils, amber is fossilised resin, & jet is fossilised wood. These were time-honoured bringers of luck, health, healing & protection on all levels. Both empower the person & when worn within circle magnify the electrical field. Within the witch Clans of old, it was during the Warrior & First Flowing rites that the young were given their first amber or jet bead.

No self-respecting witch then, or now, does not own a piece of one or both of these magical tools. Coral though not a fossil is used in the same way, for it shares the amber & jet qualities. Large pieces of coral are used to draw luck, health, healing & protection to the home. Jet had another use, it protected from nightmares, aided astral travel by protecting the body while away, & it also cured depression by averting the evil eye from the wearer. All fossils are used in past life working.