Hag Stones and Wishing Stones

Nature provides us with so many gifts. You don’t have to go too far to find foods, medicines and even magical tools. Stones are one of my favourites.

Hag Stones

Hag stones are stones that have a natural hole in them that has been worn through by water. Also known as Holey stones, Fairy stones, Adder stones, Witches stones, Eye stones and many other names. I love hag stones! They are usually found along beaches or in river beds.

Hag stones are sought after as it is believed they have magical properties. I certainly believe they carry the power of the sea or river that created and cleansed them. They have occupied myth and magic for centuries, been used by witches in their spell craft and rituals and by others to ward off witches and their magic. Hag stones are often worn to prevent sickness, nightmares and curses, to see spirits or the fae and to aid in hedge crossing and spirit work. They are used mainly for protection. They can be worn or held whilst carrying out any spell work or rituals or hung near the entrance of your home to deter negativity and bad spirits.

Hag stone folklore

Tie a hag stone to your bedpost if you wish to enhance your fertility.

Fishermen tie them to their boats to keep off evil spirits and to stop witches from cursing their ships and catch. Have a look if ever you get the chance to see fishing boats bringing their catch into port.

Farmers are said to hang them in the barn or stable to protect their livestock and horses. It was believed to prevent a Hag (or witch) from taking an animal and riding it all night, making the animal too tired to work for the farmer the next day.

It is said that if you close one eye and peer through the hole of a Hag stone (fairy stone) with the other eye, you’ll be able to see into the Kingdom of the Fae or Fairy Realm.

They are also used as windows or doorways to see ‘other worlds’, invisible spirits, or how a being ‘really’ looks beyond their glamour.

Wear one on a cord round your neck while you are out looking for fairies, it will help you see them.

Hang a hag stone in the barn above the live stock if you want cows to produce good milk and your hens to lay eggs.

A charm of a hag stone suspended on a red cord is especially useful for protection at Samhain, when the veil between this world and the next thins.

Hang a key and hag stone onto red cord for House protection. It is said this charm will keep your home safe when locked.

Hang one over your bed at night to regenerate your energy. They refresh your body, mind, and spirit with healing energy while you sleep.

Tie a hag stone to anything you would like protected. If you’re lucky enough to have several, tie them together for a magical boost to their power.

Hang one in your window or place on your window sill to evoke the powers of prosperity and protection.

Suspend or place a Hag stone over a wound or patient to help healing or rub the hag stone on the afflicted person’s body to cleanse the illness away.

Use for cleansing of magical tools and in rituals.

What ever you believe, they are beautiful and very tactile objects, from the small (I keep one in my purse) to the large. Although I have one outside guarding my pond that I consider relatively large they can be found on a huge scale, big enough to walk through!! I’m not sure if I found one that big that I would be able to lift it, let alone get it in my car to take home !!!

Wishing Stones

A Wishing stone is a stone that has a line running, unbroken, all the way around it.

Depending on where you live, it is said that making a wish with this stone will make your wish come true. Others believe your wish will not come true unless you give the stone away to someone else.  Some think casting the stone away is what works and some that you should only make wishes for others.

I’m always delighted to find these little beauties. For me they seem much harder to come by than the hag stones. I keep some and give some away. I guess that’s what you call hedging your bets!!