Hag stones are stones, often flint but occasionally also sandstone and limestone, that have one or more naturally occurring hole(s) in them. They form when stones are moved by water causing them to crash together. Consequently, hag stones can be found close to bodies of moving water: rivers, streams and oceans. The impact of the stones against each other and the water erode the stones until a hole forms. The hole might also be created by a piddock, a bivalve mollusk, boring itself into the stone. It is debated, though, whether stones with animal-made holes count as hag stones.
A hag stones may also be called witch stone, adder stone (southern Scotland), gloine nan Druidh (Scottish Gaelic, literally translating to 'glass of the Druids'), milpreve (Cornwall), glain neidr (Wales, literally translating to 'snake bead'), HĂŒhnergott (Germany, literally translating to 'chicken god') or aggry (Egypt).
How hag stones are created according to myth
Hag stones appear in the myths and legends of several cultures attributing various powers to them and often relating their origin to snakes.
In Germanic mythology, hag stones are created when serpents gather. Their venom or saliva hardens forming the stone, and the holes are made by the snakes' tongues perforating the stone.
Other sources claim that the stone comes from a snake's head.
Similarly, in Welsh mythology a hag stone is the result of a gathering of snakes. This gathering usually occurs in spring (on May eve). As the gathered snakes curl together into a tight ball with a hole a hag stone is created.
In Russia, however, hag stones are thought to be the dwelling of kurinyi bog (the Chicken God). When placed into the farm yard, kurinyi bog will protect the chickens from the kikimora, a house spirit and wife of the domovoy. Like kurinyi bog, the kikimora is a protector of chickens, yet she may take away the feathers from the hens she does not like.
In the Arthurian legend, several stones are mentioned that may be hag stones: In one story, Peredur (Percival) kills the Afanc, a Welsh lake monster, with the help of a magic stone. In another story, Owain (Ywain) is made invisible by stone allowing him to escape the fortress he is captured in. In Irish mythology, the druid Mug Ruith is in possession of a stone that transforms into venomous eels when it is thrown into water.
It is said that if you look through a hag stone's hole with one eye, closing the other, you will be able to look into other realms and see beings that are otherwise invisible to human eyes, such as the Fae. A belief in Italian folk magic is that you can even use a hag stone to bind the Fae to your service for a certain length of time.
Generally, hag stones are believed to open the third eye and help to connect to other realms and their inhabitants. Some say that the location where you find a hag stone determines which spirits it well help you to see/ communicate with. For instance, if you find a hag stone on the beach, it will help you to communicate with sea spirits. Yet, if you find the stone in the forest, you can use it to communicate with tree spirits.
Hag stones are often used for their protective powers. It is said that only good things can pass through a hag stone's hole which may be linked to hag stones being created by moving water and the belief that magic does not work on moving water.
A hag stone can be worn around the neck to protect the wearer from illness, curses and nightmares. It is said that the wearer will also be able to tell if anyone is lying to them. Similarly, hag stones can be hung over the front door or in front of a window to protect the home and ward off negativity.
Placed on or over the bed, hag stones ward off bad dreams and are said to improve fertility. (According to legend, there is a hag stone so big that a human being can walk through it. If a couple has difficulties conceiving a baby, they might be helped by walking through the hole of the large hag stone while holding hands.)
To prevent bad weather or a storm, tie a hag stone to some string and whirl it through the air to break up the dark clouds. If you are out on open water, you can tie a hag stone to the boat to the same effect.
Many believe that it is not you who finds the stone, but the stone who finds you. It will only work for the finder and can therefore not be bought or gifted. But, while some say that you should only ever possess one hag stone at a time, others claim that stringing several hag stones together will amplify their power.
Sources: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [picture]
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