Hagstone

From Traditional Witchcraft Wiki Project

A hagstone, (also known as holy stone, witch stone or earth stone), is a stone that has a natural hole in its center that has been created by a powerful body of water boring through the stone over time.

Some consider the Hagstone to symbolise the womb of what they call the "Earth Goddess", which they hold to give forth all-life. Some also consider it as the doorway, or a key to the doorway, into Elfhame and the fairy kingdom.

It is said that when you put the stone to your eye and look through it on the witching hours, you can see earthly spirits,fairies or even the Earth Goddess herself, the stone can interpret what you see.

Often hag stones were used by farmers to stop milk from curdling, when milking the cows with the hag stone so that the milk passed through the hole in its center.It was also used by prudent Farriers after having a piece of string run through the holed stone and being attached to the door of the stable with the express purpose being to keep the horses within from being hag-ridden.In some cases the hagstone was given to children to be worn around there neck while sleeping, to stop the hag from riding on there chests at night and giving them nightmares.

In stregonerian witchcraft the hagstone's were used for protection against the evil eye, for its likeness of an eye itself.

Acccording to the book, the Gospel Of The Witches(published in 1899), if one finds a hagstone, one thank and ask the spirits to bless the stone, by reciting over it :

I have found, A holy-stone upon the ground. O Fate! I thank thee for the happy find, Also the spirit who upon this road Hath given it to me; And may it prove to be for my true good And my good fortune!