Channelled whelk, I put you down again, but you have set my mind on a journey, up an inwardly winding spiral staircase of thought. ~Anne Morrow Lindbergh
I grew up in Texas. More specifically, west and central Texas, both with vastly different landscapes (flat desert/hills and rivers), but one thing in common: no ocean.
I remember moments staring out into the cotton fields, pretending that the blanket of white buds were waves. And when my family did make it down to the Texas coast, I savored everything and collected memories like tiny grains of sand in a charm bottle.
And of course I combed the beaches for shells, little reminders of a place that felt more like home than the deserts and rivers I was used to.
Little did I know that all that yearning and dreaming would manifest into the life I live now. For nearly seven years I've called the Philippines home and I've never lived more than 10 minutes away from the ocean.
I've collected a lot of shells and sea glass and pieces of jade. And as I've grown in my witchyness, I've learned a lot about how to use the ocean and shells in my magical practices.
Shells can teach us many things and can be used as tools to help you meditate, manifest, and create magic in your life.
Whether you already have a vast collection of seashells or plan on starting one next time you're near the sea, keep these magical uses for shells in mind.
MAGICAL USES FOR SHELLS
I remember moments staring out into the cotton fields, pretending that the blanket of white buds were waves. And when my family did make it down to the Texas coast, I savored everything and collected memories like tiny grains of sand in a charm bottle.
And of course I combed the beaches for shells, little reminders of a place that felt more like home than the deserts and rivers I was used to.
Little did I know that all that yearning and dreaming would manifest into the life I live now. For nearly seven years I've called the Philippines home and I've never lived more than 10 minutes away from the ocean.
I've collected a lot of shells and sea glass and pieces of jade. And as I've grown in my witchyness, I've learned a lot about how to use the ocean and shells in my magical practices.
Shells can teach us many things and can be used as tools to help you meditate, manifest, and create magic in your life.
Whether you already have a vast collection of seashells or plan on starting one next time you're near the sea, keep these magical uses for shells in mind.
MAGICAL USES FOR SHELLS
- Healing and grounding
- Connection (put in your bath with sea salt to connect to the ocean and the shells' properties)
- Divination (like runes)
- Casting sacred circles
- Gridding
- Meditation (like you would with crystals)
- Altar decor
- Spell work (write sigils on them, put in a wish or spell bottle, use in your spells)
- Wear as an amulet
- Crafting (attach to your wand, adorn boxes, chests, besoms, and candles)
- Charge with your crystals
SHELL MAGICAL PROPERTIES
Best shells for:
Grounding: auger, barnacle, pearl
Creativity: radiant, spiral, pearl, spindle
Healing/Cleansing: spiral wand, dish, pearl
Grief/Loss/Sadness: heart shaped cockle, spiral, pearl, barnacle
Energy boost: spiral, radiant, sand dollar, starfish
Protection: coral, pearl, starfish, auger
Beauty/Love: heart shaped shells, pearl, clam, conch, oyster, nautilus
Abundance/Growth/Strength: coral, starfish, cowrie, scallop, whelk
Meditation/Serenity: starfish, moon shell, spindle
Radiant shells include scallops, limpets, and cockle shells.
Spiral shells include long and round augers, nautilus, harp, cowrie, and cone shells. Round spirals are best for energy flow and enhancement. Long spirals are best for connecting with spirit (when pointed up) and earth (when pointed down).
Dish shells like clams and abalone act as a container and can support us in healing and cleansing.
Scallops are the quartz crystals of the ocean, as they can be used in place of any other shell, as well as amplify your shell magic.
Best shells for:
Grounding: auger, barnacle, pearl
Creativity: radiant, spiral, pearl, spindle
Healing/Cleansing: spiral wand, dish, pearl
Grief/Loss/Sadness: heart shaped cockle, spiral, pearl, barnacle
Energy boost: spiral, radiant, sand dollar, starfish
Protection: coral, pearl, starfish, auger
Beauty/Love: heart shaped shells, pearl, clam, conch, oyster, nautilus
Abundance/Growth/Strength: coral, starfish, cowrie, scallop, whelk
Meditation/Serenity: starfish, moon shell, spindle
Radiant shells include scallops, limpets, and cockle shells.
Spiral shells include long and round augers, nautilus, harp, cowrie, and cone shells. Round spirals are best for energy flow and enhancement. Long spirals are best for connecting with spirit (when pointed up) and earth (when pointed down).
Dish shells like clams and abalone act as a container and can support us in healing and cleansing.
Scallops are the quartz crystals of the ocean, as they can be used in place of any other shell, as well as amplify your shell magic.
