Hag Stones

I've always had a thing about these, but never been fortunate enough to own one.  I really  love the folk lore that surrounds them and have always been fascinated by how long each hole took to be created and by what it was made.

I have often OMG'd when seeing another person wearing one, and they have looked at me knowing I know what it is and how hard they are to find.

Being a boater I particularly like the association with water that they have, being mostly created whilst being tumbled around by currents and tides, so they say.

I happened to mentioned Hag Stones whilst sipping a pint in a particularly nice canal side pub.  We had just sat down in the beer garden which was covered in loads of pebbles and I happened to say 'I wonder if there are any Hag Stones in amongst this lot?'  

Both Yogi and Eddie looked at me with blank expressions, wondering if I had had too much lager already lol.

So I explained how Hag Stones are very rare as they have a naturally made hole going through the stone and how there was a lot of myth and legend associated with them. 

With that, both of their heads disappeared under the beer table as they started to look for them in the pebbles beneath their feet!!

Whilst they were rummaging through the stones around them I shared the knowledge I had regarding them, which wasn't much, but kept us all amused for the next hour or so. 

I knew that the hole had to have been made naturally and to find one was considered extremely lucky. 

I also knew that if you looked through the hole you were supposed to be able to see through into the fairy realm.  Fishermen used to tie them to their boats and believed that they could help protect from evil spirits and witches.  They were thought to guarantee good winds and haul for the fishermen too.  People used the stones for protection, for their house, animals and from witches.  The funny thing is that witches used them too; for healing, cleansing and fertility.  I find it particularly interesting that these stones could be used by, and protect you from witches.  I like dual purpose lol

The people on the tables around us must have thought we were barmy!  That's what the sideways glances,whispering and friend nudges were telling me anyway.  Hey ho, we were having fun and the guys found me some right nice stones between them.  They will get transformed into pendants at some stage but unfortunately none of them had holes in. So sadly, I was still without my coveted stone :0(.  

Pint glasses empty and pockets full of potential pendants we headed back across the lock to Rae and Chetwynd.  Boys in front and me trailing behind as per usual.  Eddie stopped suddenly and bent down, then arose triumphant, holding his right hand aloft in victory!  He had found one, miles from the pub, hidden in the grass! 

Just goes to show, doesn't matter how hard you look for something, it will appear when it is good and ready and not before.

Both Yogi and Eddie are now my official Hag Stone Detectors and they have been very successful in their efforts to find these elusive treasures.  Thanks to their efforts , I have a small collection of the precious little buggers for sale in my ebay shop. 

The WitchCrafter

Resources 

I particularly like the description on this website: 
http://thewaysofawitch.wordpress.com/2012/02/11/hag-stones/