Holey Stones are intriguing naturally occurring stones
and pebbles with a hole through them carved by the ocean and time. They are known by a variety of names: Hag Stone, Adder Stone,
Witch Stone, Serpent's Eggs, Snake's Eggs, or 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. Holey stones can be found along
the east coast, in Britain, Canada, parts of Europe and even as far as Egypt. Most are found along beaches washed up by the passing tides. Some
such stones have been found in fields, unearthed by the plough at planting
time, although this is far more rare.
Known as the adder stone, this particular stone was reputed to be sacred to the Druids
as an amulet, a passage in Pliny’s Natural History, book xix, describes the
nature and many of the properties this particular stone provides. (An amulet (amuletum) is generally
known as any natural object whose primary power is for protection).
"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."
Below is a large holey stone on a shoreline in Dänholm Germany along the Baltic Sea.
Many believed that, like the toad stone, but referred to as an 'adder
stone', it was found in the head of the snake and therefore could be
used successfully to cure an adder's bite.
While others reported that this peculiar stone was formed in the mouth
of the snake from its saliva, and the hole, having been created by the snake's
tongue, could be used for the same purpose.
Holey Stone Properties:
Protection, Defensive, Increases Fertility, Faery Vision, Hedge Crossing, Breaking through
Illusion, Curative (when rubbed on the inflicted part of the body), Psychic Ability, Thwarts the Evil Eye, Protects against Plague and Disease, Safeguards
Luck, Working with Spirits.
Elements:
Earth and Water
Influence:
The Moon
Uses:
Hung above the doors of one's
house or within a barn, holey stones combat the effects of curses. It was, at one time, customary for gentlemen to
carry this type of stone around in their pockets as key-fobs and mother's wishing to protect their children
from the evil eye would, and still so, tie a length of cord through the stone in order that its benefits can be easily worn as a pendant. I personally own a lovely witch stone given to me years
ago by a co-worker; I've made it into an elaborate beaded necklace, adding
amber and agate beads to the design in order to compliment the stone's existing properties.
Night-Mares
As with all things scary when it comes to the 'night' holey stones were and still are hung on
bed-posts to keep away demons such as the Night Hag, the Night Mare (seen in the background) or the infamous Incubus. The incubus in particular was
believed to invisibly seek out their
sleeping victims, steal their strength, have intercourse with them while they
slept and generally cause unpleasant dreams. The feminine counterpart is called a Succubus.
'Hag Stone Knot'
Used by fisherman, this charm
is a length of cord, preferably red, which bears a number of hag stones tied
along its length designed to ensure their catch and protect the ship from
sudden storms. As with the cords tied with nine knots to unleash the wind, also
known as 'selling the wind' by those who made them for those in need, hag
stones would insure a good wind for leaving and returning while preventing evil
spirits from interfering.
My Companion
In addition to the initial photo of stones shown above that I personally own, I have recently acquired what I call a 'companion stone' measuring 3 inches in height and
2 inches across, at its widest point. It is
rough in shape, sun-kissed cream in color, with a large indentation at the stomach, leading inward to a small hole right in its'
center. Resembling a small human-like figure, or fey-like which is more to the point, it has two indented eyes, a rather pronounced nose, stubby arms
and nubby feet on which it is able to stand.
He, as this is the gender conveyed to me by the stone, has his head
turned ever so slightly to the right as though he is contemplating something in particular; something very interesting.
We are building our relationship slowly over time. His companionship centers around my creative projects, magic in particular and when in ritual. I'm very fond of his quiet nature but have no name by which he would like to be known. Although this is perplexing I merely address him as fondly and politely as possible and wait.
My hope was to include him in this post, however, on three occasions my efforts to
photograph my friend have failed. Each
attempt producing only a fuzzy image despite my best efforts, therefore I humbly resign
myself to the fact that he chooses not to have his image included here due to
his very conscious and magical nature I presume. Perhaps as our relationship grows, and with time, hopefully thrives, it
might be possible in the future to do so, but only with his explicit permission of course.
Additional
information provided by::
www.darkdorset.co.uk
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adder_stone
Photo:
Holey stones group photo from the author's collection.
