Although nowadays tad bit forgotten ,
stones of all kind, not just gems
and minerals, but “plain ole” stones played
amazingly important role in magick.
The magick of stones was based on
their grounding and centering power, and
ability to focus, and If need be, restrain or format extremely large amounts of energy. Like
conductors and tanks, catalysts, of
a kind ,
that can store energy and create
energy fields in between one another.
Broke and died who evil-eyed ( N.N. , me )
If they’re male, may his ba*l crack,
If they’re a women, may her t*t ( bo*b ) crack
If they’re a girl, may her hair fall out all other to laugh at her!”
Hugstone charm against nightmares
You can hang hugstone ( or a
holey stone ) above Your bed on a string, along with few feathers of black hen
to fence of Nightmares. Prior to hanging it, bless the charm by sprinkling it
with some Holly water and reading Psalm
91st and 125th over
it. Can substitute conventional
dream-catcher , and will also make a very good protection charm.
Bath to help cure bareness, ease
birth and preserves newborn
Let my fortune, in the time
Appears three times larger grown .
 |
| Poulnabrone dolmen in Burren, Country Clare Irelan, a "gate between the worlds" |
We can divide the stones of power
( in magick and occultism ) in two main groups If You ask me
1)
Natural
stones – stones that were not processed by human, rather only by nature, If
larger those stones are even often
fixed for the surface, and can be considered places of power, thresholds in their own
proprietary way. Example would be large hollowed stones formations
, such as those commonly found at Northern Sea shores, or Mountains etc.
Smaller, free examples would be thumbed
and naturally polished river stones, holey stones , arrow point looking sharp stones etc.
2)
Processed
stones – any stone material affected and modulated by human factor, from simple inscription to hewing and
sculpting. Anything from stones inscribed with runes, to stone temples and dolmens etc ( plenty of
examples can be found later in the
text )
Seemingly barren, stones were
considered even life inspiring in some cultures , and were used in healing
infertility or preventing infants from getting sick and dying, in older times , when such events were not a rarity.
Large hollow stones, and other, were particularly good for this.
Mountains , as large stones in essence,
in some culture even represent
embodiment of deities and all sort of spirits. Which is the case in Shinto
tradition/s, with spirit/s embodie d in mountain Fuji, a cultural and
spiritual hotspot of Japan.[1] Navajo Indians even have separate mountain
chains that represent male and female spirit, so for example the body of the
female spirit is the valley before the mountain Navajo, that makes the head of
the spirit.
Mountains , as lifted places,
places that “aspire” to reach the Heavens, ascend towards them are holy places
, reserved in most of the world’s
religions and traditions, as a Holy
place, a sacred space for contacting and communing with the Divine. Moses had to climb the mountain Sinai in
order to receive the ten
commandments. Carefully shaped, carved
and molded through time, mountain chains represent chronological and mineral
treasuries of great spiritual value.
Stones may also reserve and
collect water, accumulate heat or cold,
generate or help generate minerals, and in regards to those, have various planetary and other
kind of influence associated to/ with them.
They have some similar symbolic
ties to the trees, that also correspond to the Element of the Earth , but are
less dense and permanent , but alive and
hence representative of life circles ,
and stones on the other hand , symbolize stillness, and nearly eternal. Stones take part of many myths , and early
philosophies, such as that of Plato’s “Cave” , or cosmology tales , example of
which being Omphalos. Omphalos , also
known as “navel stone” , in ancient Greeks was believed to denote the center of
the physical world, as such stones were erected in several areas surrounding
Mediterranean sea. Allegeldy their position was determined by eagles
sent by deity Zeus. Among the most famous of such stones was the one at the oracle in Delphi. Jerusalem, that
was widely believed to be “navel of the world” once ( and still is hold as spiritual navel of the world even today ,
by many ) holds an omphalos stone of a kind , in the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre. [2]
Another important stone, we
commonly can hear about is The
Foundation stone, which becomes the referent point of all the other stones of
certain structure. It’s a Masonic concept really, that had came to be one of the
most mundane, a-religious rituals of
all. I mean presidents do it all the time ;) and we know how much spiritual
they are lol
Megaliths and phallic stones of Britain, France and Easter island
Head’s are examples of stones which had undergone some anthropogenic modification, meaning they were moved,
erected and/or sculpted ( processed ) by humans. Easter Island head sculptures Maoi, most
likely represent spirits of reverend
ancestors , while the ones with typically long ears Moai-kava-kava represent “ghost man of the Hanau-epe” ( long ears ) [3] Phalic stones of United Kingdom and France, are often
associated with folk cult of fertility,
and is therefore not uncommon , even
nowadays to see women rubbing their
abdomen or even intimate parts (
? :S ? ) on the stones, as a simple form
of folk fertility ritual, or curing infertility ritual. Perhaps one of the most
popular megalith stone formation
worldwide is Stonehenge , which is said to be over 4000 years old,
judging by traces of human factor processing some of the megaliths. Stonehenge is built on one of the major
Uk ley line, and was ( according to most
accepted theories ) erected to celebrate Summer and Winter Equinoxes, for the last rays of Sun on the shortest and
longest day of the year would illuminate specific parts of opposite sides of
Stonehenge’s circle.
Stones , probably due to their
association with eternal and afterlife , had
always played an important role in funerary rites and rites of passage .
Stone were in various European culture,
since the proto-European times considered to have power to “absorb” or even
house a ghost , a spirit of the deceased men, and such stones would often be
referred to as “shadowed” stones.
Anthropologists suggest that this very belief could have been what eventually gave birth to tombstones as
we know them today. Some stones are used in folkloric rituals to set lights (
candles ) on them, for deceased ones, when that may incubate the
dreams of the living, and may thus , become shadowed due to anthropogenic influence ( human factors ) , for such
ritual was supposed to draw, “petrify” the ghost of the individual and bind it
to the stone for as long as they do not decide to “move on”. African people also believe that large stones
contain souls of their ancestors and beloved ones.
 |
| View from "Grianan of Aileach" and part of the circular wall formation |
A nice example of what I referred
as “processed stone”, near the beginning
of this article, is Grianan of Aileach , a group of historic monuments
in County Donegal in Ireland, formed as
a ringfort, with three concentric rings surrounding it. It is believed to originate from 6th
or 7th Century AC [4] , however
it is widely speculated that it could be much older, at least in form of stone circles that
once used to be common in Europe,
forming out-of-door , open
temples. Hence such formations
were ( and still are sometimes )
believed to be marking sacred spaces of great energy, where stones had the role
of constricting and fixing the natural energy or the place , as well as
indicating the reach of given energy
“field”.
Another
example of “processed” stones, that played important role in funerary rites, and were associated with
spirits are dolmen, also known as portal stone, or portal grave. It’s a type of
megalithic , single chamber tomb,
consisting of three or more upright stones
supporting one large, capstone, or flat stone table, covering them. They were often covered with earth or smaller
stone, so to form a barrow, but the time
has caused those to depart , for most of such formations predate names we used to describe them . Most
of them are from Neolith ( 4000-3000 BC ) [5]
A very nice examples can be found
throughout Europe , for example in dolmen in Burren ( Poulnabrone dolmen ,
County Clare ) in Ireland.
In
Egypt , stones associated with death and
tombs were most often “processed”
, or men-made sort of saying. Such example would be pyramidion [ 6]
which was placed atop of the pyramide,
often covered with gold ( so it
could reflect the light of the Sun ) and inscribed with magickal or religious
texts and symbols. Stones associated with death and afterlife in Ancient Egypt
can be seen in small stone figurines, and statuettes placed in the tombs of the
deceased with all sort of different uses. Typical examples would be small marble
figurines with blue glaze ( fayas, or fayans )
representing fertility and supposedly helping to “revive” the dead [7] Another prominent example being funerary
figurine Ushabti , also called shabti They were
used from the Middle Kingdom (around 1900 BC) [8] which sometimes would resemble mummies s, and
were believed to come alive inside the tomb, to serve the deceased in what they
may need.
Stones in Slavic myth, culture
and folklore
All of the above said and mentioned pretty much goes also for cult of Stone of Eastern people ( Slavic
). Some were however, more “popular”
than other . Here are some commonly found in Slavic myth, some originating and
dating back to Celts, and even Proto-european times
·
Alem stone
( originally from Turkish, “alem” or
“halem” ) - was a mythical stone, present in folklore of
primarily Turkish and Muslim Diaspora of Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia . The
stories that describe it differ and vary depending on specific place, and specific person told. The stories
of it are often embellished with fantastic details, some probably just being cunning
“upgrade” of the tradition. It is supposed to be a Stone associated with
Alem-bird ( or. “ptica alemperka” ) a
magickal bird that radiates solar energy, reads thoughts and is capable of
speaking and understanding human languages. Most written records identify Alem-stone
with Garnet, which would make a lot of sense. For both alem-stone and Garnet, are believed to be associated with
the Sun, and both serve , particularly in jelwery and in chaplets, rosaries and
other, to protect from evil eye, crossings, black magick and evil spirits, as
well as to help “all petitions be heard”
when held in hands or worn as jewelry while petitioning. Slavic people
have always held Alem-stone as empower-er of the warriors and hunters,
which is another tie to the Garnet .
Garnet is also often used on Cross pendants, where the five stones were
used, marking so symbolically Christ’s Holy Blood, and thereby forming an amulet / relic of untold
powers in hand of faitful folk.
·
Stand-alone-stone
( my best attempt to translate , while still capturing the essence of “kamen
stanac” term , used in Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro and Croatia for this
particular stone ) – is another example of stone that falls under “natural
stones” category I’ve been referring to
through this text. It is simply a lonely large stone that appears somewhere,
where seemingly no stones should be, such
as clearings, woodland groves, meadows and such. So it’s larger, higher
lonely stone, whose one side is often flattened, and large enough to sit
on. Standing on such stone, and shooting
and arrow , was alleged to secure
hitting the aim. Such stones are believed to held the mysterious power to stop the strake of miscarriages in women, or
stop their children from dying young. For some reason, this was not a rare
occurrence up until not so long ago, in remote parts of Balkan peninsula. We
could theoreticize on why, however the
folk would not care, as they had the
cure. Water poured on such stone and the collected in a vessel as it
drips down , was much like in the case of megaliths believed to cure bareness , and in this case also repels evil
spirits, If they torment one.
·
Large hollowed stones – stones occurring with a hole in them naturally, were believed to possess curative, healing and
uncrossing properties, activated upon
passing through the hole three times, or placing hand of head in it three
times. For prosperity, small metal currency was thrown through the hole, or the
stone was sprinkled with seeds in the nights when the Moon would rise. Gazing through them would often enable
seeing invisible, and sending messages to people who were at point otherwise unreachable. Such
stones w ere considered to be sacred and dear to Fae in Russia and Balkan, also
in Western Europe.
·
Crossroad
pile stones – are simple medium size (
hand held size ) stones commonly seen at
some crossroads in Slavic countries. They are simply leftovers of a ritual, in which community
members will throw a stone cursing a person who had done the community great
evil and got away with it . Bypasers were know to contribute , regardless of not knowing details, for this was
believed to be done only in order to
harm very dangerous criminals, tyrants and so on. Piled stones would serve here
something like ancient Roman curse tablets. Just that, instead of inscribing the stones
with barbarous names, curses and curse words in general were spoken upon
throwing the stones on a pile, while
directing them, at loud and mentally to
the “victim”
Stones in Bible
Stones are mentioned in Bible
various times, representing all sort of
things, being symbolic to many things. They marked the place where people Hebrews came to Jerusalem, and where the
Jordan was temporarily dried up, so they can pass, the stones represented
foundations, corner stones, base of given building, structure or temple, an
obstacle, and so on.
The stone was used to make vows
apparently, as we see in Genesis
28-18:22 [9]:
“ So early in the morning Jacob
took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and
poured oil on the top of it. He called the name of that place Bethel, but the
name of the city was Luz at the first. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God
will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread
to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father's house in
peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone,
which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that you
give me I will give a full tenth to you.” “
Stones also prominently represent
obstacles, or blockages, also a heart that is not open and is a stone heart
“And I will give you a new heart,
and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone
from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel
27:22
“He has blocked my ways with
blocks of stones; he has made my paths crooked.” Lamentations 3:
The Lord Christ is often compared
to cornerstone, foolishly neglected by
those profane and shallow, he had become the cornerstone of the humanity and
the world:
“This Jesus is the stone that was
rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.” Acts 4:11
“Jesus said to them, “Have you
never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become
the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given
to a people producing its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone will be
broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” “ Matthew
21:42- 44
 |
| Moses strikes water from the rock |
Thought the stone is dry and
seemingly lifeless , through G’d’s will and His Divine aid, Moses made it
produce water by simply touching it with
his staff
“I will stand there before you by
the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come
out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of
the elders of Israel.” Exodus 17:5-7 [9]
The stone that concealed tomb of
Lord Christ was rolled over by an Angel, despite it’s heaviness and density, and sat on it, which
can be seen as triumph of intangible over tangible, and freedom from death.
And since this is a
practical blog after all, just a few simple spells to
illustrate how the stones can be used in magick:
Stone evil eye removal , traditional Balkan witchcraft spell
The following spell/folk ritual
is well known is certain parts of
Bulgraia, Serbia, and Roamnia. The
spell employs power of smooth rounder river stones to destroy the effect of
glance of malice, or evil eye. Now I apologize for the given incantation, I
translated it as to stay true to the actual version , hence the use of
inappropriate words. You need to
understand that the cunning folk In remote parts of Balkan are not terribly concerned with etiquette and such, and are more “down to
Earth” than the urban practitioners
Some versions of ritual require
three simple beeswax, or pure white
candles lit on the altar, or the table where
will be working spell, others versions do not mention candles. What You
will require is a
white, rounded river pebble,
place it on a table, altar, in front of You, and while You touch it with
thumb and pointing finger of both
hands at the same time say the following incantation three times:
“Came flying white bird,
from white sea,
Carrying white milk, in white
beak,
Poured it on a white stone,
Broke and died the white stone,Broke and died who evil-eyed ( N.N. , me )
If they’re male, may his ba*l crack,
If they’re a women, may her t*t ( bo*b ) crack
If they’re a girl, may her hair fall out all other to laugh at her!”
The ritual is done each morning
or evening, at approximately same time, each day until the relief comes, three
weeks most, although the relief in almost every occasion comes already
after the first time performing the ritual.
The spell will also cause person who casted evil eye upon the victim to
be made known, by becoming troubled and illed suddenly, and sometimes even come
and apologize if they did it willingly. [10]
Hagstone second sight spell
Have a hagstone ready for Samhain,
Beltaine or Summer Equinox. Dip it in (
day prior ) in an infusion of Mugwort, Lavender, Thyme and Eyebright,
mixed. Expose it to Moonlight, more so
If crescent. Bless it with words:
“To see what dwells in shadow and
between very fine
May kind spirits bless this
magickal stone of mine”
You could use any other words You
see befitting. I just came up with the above, as an example. Also, alternatively You could make the above suggested infusion into an oil and
dress the stone , on a regular base If
You wish so even J
Bring a vessel containing spring water , form three
different springs , and place it on a
“stand-alone stone” ( see what that is ,
in the text earlier ) on the night of the Full Moon. Then , in the morning pour some on the stone and catch as much as You
can of it, back into the vessel ( let’s say a glass jar ) . Also
scrape just a tiny bit of then stone into the water, and leave some bread or fruits nearby , as a tribute and sign of
respect. The charged water is then used in baths to help cure bareness, ease
birth, and stop miscarriages, and can be used to repel ghosts.
Increase Your fortune
Find a larger hugstone or holey
stone , and during the period when the
Moon grows, throw some seeds, some soil and a coin through the hole
while saying:
With three I have fed thee
And when the Moon full is shownLet my fortune, in the time
Appears three times larger grown .
Or any suiting words alike. They
don’t have to rhyme J as a
Hoodooist I rarely rhyme myself, but when I write spells, I try to write some
from eclectic perspective so anyone could really use them, hence the rhyming
Sacrificial stone spell
It is customary in Eastern
Europe, when two members of the same family die in less than month ( in some
places year is the given framework ) to perform a folk magick-type ritual, or cast a spell to prevent the “departure ” of the third members as well. Similar is done in
case when one of the identical twins die. Among
few methods, the one were the stone is used to substitute the presumable
“next to fall” , is very popular.
The stone is ritually declared
“brother” of the deceased and buried, either with the deceased or nearside,
which was followed by recital of some appropriate incantation such as:
“This stone is brother to
N.N. and is therefore their dear one,
take this stone along with N.N. and none else! May it be so in the name of the
Lord”
In the case of the twins, the
stone is customary dressed in clothes of
the living twin, sprinkled by some of
their blood or urine, and sometimes even a photo is attached, thought
such is obviously an invention of a newer date.
 |
| Stone stacking is a dood meditative exercise, to build and strenghten patience, devotion, power as well as nice grounding tool |
Hope You enjoyed the article and find it informative, all the best, and many blessings
Shadow :)
NOTES: This article was composed and written by myself, so If You wish to use any part of it elswhere online, feel free but add credits: Shadow of Shadows magick place , or Shadow-333@hotmail.com , or a direct link to this post
CREDIT S AND REFERENCES:
[1] about Fuji and Navajo mountain , as stated by
: The Complete
Encyclopedia of Signs & Symbols and Mark o Connell Raje Airey
[2] location of the stones, and about Delphi’s omphalos , according to : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omphalos
[4] according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grianan_of_Aileach
[5]
Dolmens are considered to be old
around 6000-7000 years ( by now ) , as stated on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolmen , however some
theories ( worth considering ) indicate , they might be even older
[6]
according to : Joann Fletcher in “Ancient Egypt”
[7] according to same source ,
listed under [6]
[ 8] Ushabti are described this way at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ushabti
[9] All the quotation used are retrieved
from website www.biblegateway.com
, for explanatory purposes, without any
ill will
[10] Translated and adopted from
magazine “Lek I amajlija ( bakini recepti za srecu )” #90 , April 2013th
edition, by Jasna Jojic Pavlovski ( the
magazine title lit. “Cure and amulet , Grandma’s recipes for luck” ) , the
official website about the magazine : www.lekiamajlija.com Same ritual can be found in
authors book “Cuda Vlaske magije” ( “Miracle s of the magick of the Vlasi” )
IMAGE CREDITS: Dolmen image
is from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Paulnabrone.jpg
used for educational purposes without any ill will, same goes for the image of
Grinian of Aileach view point, which is from retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Grianan_of_Aileach_view.Jpg
Moses striking water from a rock is from : http://www.bible.ca/archeology/water-from-rock-moses.jpg
used without copyrights infringement intention,
for illustrative purposes. Finally, stacked stones image is from http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46281000/jpg/_46281613_stonestack.jpg
used for illustrative purposes without
any ill will. The poster with a Bible quote is done by myself, using Pixlr
online image editor
No comments:
Post a Comment