The Magic of Shells – –

Shells are a very special magical material – a beautiful gift from earth and sea. Shells are found in the secret room between these two kingdoms, which is only revealed during the changing of the tides. They are treasures from an invisible world.

Whether it’s plain brown or white or cascading with a rainbow of colors, each shell brings a message to the person lucky enough to find it. Read on to learn more about the magical properties of seashells.

The amazing shell

Normally I’d just dive right into the equivalents of seashells and their uses in magic. But instead, let’s pause for a minute to reflect on how unique and amazing seashells are as a material.

What are clams? They are the tough, protective exoskeletons of marine molluscs. Soft-bodied invertebrates build their own shells from minerals in their bodies and in the sea. Each creature builds a shell that will be its home for its entire life. Because of this, seashells can be seen as a symbol of independence, loneliness, and self-reliance.

Not only are they essential to marine life, seashells rival anything man-made in their beauty, strength, and mathematical precision. (The outer curvature of a Nautilus shell is known to follow Fibonacci progression.) The shapes and patterns are not random—they have been passed down through countless generations. It’s hard to look at a shell without being struck by the power of ancestral memory and divine creativity.

Seashell equivalents

Every child knows that if you put a shell to your ear you can hear the sea. Of course, shells are often used on the pagan altar to represent the element of water. Shells also correspond to Venus (the planet and the deity) and the moon, gently tossing them ashore with each tidal cycle.

Shells have been a symbol of female beauty for thousands of years. Their white-pink colors are reminiscent of the blush of a fair complexion, and some shells resemble the female breasts or vulva. When Botticelli painted the goddess of love floating on a raft of shells, he cemented an ancient correspondence into an indelible image.

Cups, mirrors, and combs are often made with shells (or their shape) to match the Venusian aspect of shells. The use of shells in necklaces dates back to the Stone Age – although we have no way of knowing whether these shell artifacts were used for male or female jewellery.

But seashells aren’t just about beauty. Shells are also associated with wealth and abundance. They have long been an important religious symbol for coastal people who draw their food from the sea. Shells have also been used as currency by many world cultures. There are probably trillions of seashells in the ocean, but it still feels special and lucky to find a perfect seashell in the sand.

Despite their family resemblance, different types of shells have different properties in magic. In general, seashells symbolize mystery, divinity, love, and prosperity—but each type has its own nuances. See the list of shells at the end of this article for detailed correspondences.

seashells in magic

The natural cup shape of many seashells makes them great for holding things! Shells are perfect small dishes for incense, sand, crystals and herbs. Purified clams can also contain food or drink for rituals.

Abalone shells are a very popular choice for smearing sage. The bowl is used either to catch the ashes or to hold the burning herbs. (Some people believe the latter usage is inappropriate — that setting fire to a vessel of water is disrespectful.) When burning herbs or incense in a bowl, place a thin layer of sand on the bottom to spread the heat and this to avoid scorching the shell.

Shell is sometimes thinly sliced ​​and used to decorate pendants, bowls, or just about any flat or curved surface. A shell-covered box or mirror could make a lovely tool for a water witch’s altar. Small shells or shell plates can be worked into the handle of a ritual staff or knife.

Of course, the most popular way to use seashells is in their natural, unaltered form. Large seashells can be placed on your altar or used for indoor or outdoor decoration. Smaller shells make beautiful jewelry. (Some even have natural threading holes!) You can add shells to magical wind chimes, mojo bags, or incorporate them into charms and amulets.

Find your own shells

Fact is: shells you find yourself are more enjoyable than the fanciest boutique buys. If you’re lucky enough to live near a beach, find out what types of seashells are available at your local shores. Or head out at first low tide and see what you see!

When you buy seashells, please buy from responsible sources. Small and common seashells are the best choice. The larger and more conspicuous the shell, the greater the likelihood that it came from a slow-growing or overhunted animal. Illegal export of rare shells is big business that funds environmental plunder, organized crime and labor exploitation. Don’t be that guy!

Some species of sea creatures have been making shells of more or less the same designs for millions of years. Shell shapes are timeless and sacred. They were here before humans and will probably outlast us. Here are some of the most common shell shapes and their magical lore:

abalone

The abalone shell combines all the colors of the sea and the sky. The inside of the shell is coated with mother-of-pearl, the same substance used in pearls and mother-of-pearl.

Abalone has been an important food source for tens of thousands of years. The shells represent the giving power of the Mother Ocean. The iridescent hue promotes feelings of abundance, peace and compassion.

Abalone shells have a particularly sacred meaning in Native American and Polynesian religion. Most people know abalone as a vessel for smearing sage, a Native American spiritual practice.

Abalone shell’s vibrant color and natural luster make it ideal for jewelry and ornaments. Wearing an abalone amulet is said to impart a calming, spiritual vibration and help the wearer process emotional issues.

scallop

The scallop is perhaps the best-known shell shape. It has a sacred significance in Christian Europe, dating back to the early pilgrims – many of whom would have been illiterate – being led to pilgrimage sites by the emblem of the scallop shell. The scallop is an emblem of Saint James the Apostle. It can be adopted as a badge by anyone who has undertaken a spiritual quest. Scallop shapes can be seen in countless Christian altars and cathedrals.

Art nerds will recognize the scallop as the seat or carriage of many sea deities. Poseidon is shown riding one and Aphrodite swims to shore in a scallop shell. The scallop appears on pagan altars as a symbol of the sea goddess and the element of water. Use a scallop as a chalice, offering bowl, or vessel for love spells. (The large and colorful variety found in magic shops is a warm-water species called the Lion’s Paw or Mexican Sea Scallop.)

The scallop is distinguished from other bivalves by the many rays and ridges that converge to a single point near the base. To medieval Christians, this represented the varied paths taken by travelers on their way to a holy site. To earlier humans, the rays of the scallop shell may have resembled the sun’s rays converging on the horizon at sunrise or sunset. This makes the scallop a particularly apt symbol of Venus, which is called the morning star or evening star.

nautilus

The Nautilus is the nomad of the sea, traveling hundreds of miles on currents (and a series of bubbles). The name means “sailor” in Greek. The Nautilus shell is an important symbol in sacred geometry and even mathematics – it shows a logarithmic spiral in its growth pattern.

Unlike some other shell creatures, the nautilus does not shed or swap its shell, instead creating a large chamber for its body as it grows. The nautilus shell is thus a symbol of growth and renewal. The Nautilus’ outward spiraling shape suggests that it can continue to grow indefinitely.

The nautilus is one of the few sea creatures to have survived since the time of the dinosaurs. It is one of nature’s true masterpieces. Meditate on a nautilus shell or use it in your magic of spiritual growth and expansion.

Snail

The snail shell is an elongated spiral with an opening at the base and a point at the top. In the language of shells, the auger is both masculine and feminine and represents completeness. There are hundreds of varieties worldwide.

Snail shells derive from a species of predatory sea slug, and the animal’s aggression is implied by its narrowly focused shape. Snails possess a venomous tooth that is the terror of sea worms. In magic, augers are one of the few shells that can be attributed to Mars. Snails are popular for headgear, wands, and wards.

cowrie shell

The well-known cowrie is yellow or white and egg-shaped, with two rows of teeth along a central gap. Cowrie shells have appeared in almost every part of the world as currency, decoration, and religious objects.

Because of its shape, the cowrie often represents the life-giving vulva. It is used in amulets for wealth and fertility. Cowrie shells are strung on necklaces or sewn into clothing. The bowls can also be used for divination. There are several different systems of cowrie divination derived from African and Afro-Caribbean occult traditions.

Cowrie shells are admired for their fine natural polish. Their shine symbolizes sophistication and luxury. The Italian word for cowrie is porcelaina (“little pig”) – this is where the…