Why Shells?

Although shells are used primarily within sympathetic magic for protection workings, I also find that they work very well within healing and grounding workings too. When we think of the practice of grounding and centring (either spiritually or psychologically) we often think of the earth. Visualisations such as extending roots down into the earth, or the practice or ‘earthing’ (walking barefoot, usually in nature and preferably not on concrete) come to mind.
However, the ocean is also very grounding to us both psychologically and spiritually. The ocean is a place of healing and peace. For years people recovering from bouts of ill health often went to stay by the sea for rehabilitation and to “take the sea air”. How often do we sit on a quiet beach and suddenly feel that it’s not just our psyche taking a deep refreshing and grounding breath, but our soul too.
There is a reason for this, and it is the same reason why the moon and it’s cyclic phases has such a huge impact on human wellbeing, and that is because the human body is largely made of water! We spend the first nine months of our lives swimming and slumbering within the waters of our mother’s womb, and then are born into a life where both salt and water are essential for our very existence!
The ocean may not be a stereotypical ideal for the notion of ‘grounding’, but it is an element that resides on the planet ‘earth’; covering 70% of it’s surface. It is because of this and our reliance upon water, that it (along with it’s bounty such as sea life, hag stones and shells) has the ability to relax, soothe and ground us.
This is why I chose to use sea shells as the main tool for this charm, I then combined it with branches/twigs (for earth) and natural biodegradable string, which is earth friendly and means the charm can one day be composted if it is no longer needed and has served it’s purpose.

Tools needed.

1. Six shells of your choice (ideally ethically foraged from a beach you have visited, or as here gifted from another’s collecting).
2. Branches, or sticks, of your choice – you can further expand a sympathetic magical element by using branches from a tree associated with grounding such as oak, or if your like me, you can use willow because it is more pliable and easy to work with.
3. Biodegradable string (again, you can further explore sympathetic magic by using natural plant based dyes if you want to have the string in a colour you associate with peace and grounding. For example, if you wanted blue you could use woad, or indigo).
4. Some clippers to trim the branches.
5. Some scissors or a trusty knife to cut the string.
6. A sharp tool, such as an awl, to make a hole in each shell.
   
   

Instructions For Assembling The Working.

1. Using a table or flat surface that is large enough for you to work at, begin to cut the branches/sticks to sizes needed to create the occult/alchemical symbol for ‘earth’.
   Once you have formed the earth symbol, use the string to fix it firmly together to form the main earthing and grounding frame.
   If you’re unsure or unfamiliar with this symbol, please refer to the picture below.
   Note: Where I am not Wiccan, I still appreciate that Wicca has had an influence on modern witchcraft, including modern traditional witchcraft and folk magic. Therefore, now and then, you may see me occasionally share witchcraft practices.

2) Once you have made the main frame, take two of your shells and carefully pierce them with a sharp implement in order to make a suitable hole for the string to be threaded through.

3) Using the string, thread the shell and tie it to the top and central bar of the earth frame. It should look something like the below photo.

4) Next, taking a good length of string, pierce then tie the remaining four shells so that they are evenly spaced along the length of the string.

5) Take the string and affix it the the bottom of the earth frame so that the first shell hangs neatly from the bottom point of the frame and the other shells hang down neatly. See below photo as an example.

6) Once you have attached all of the shells, you can charge this piece in a way that is unique to you and your practice. You may like to charge it psychically, you may want to chant or pray over the piece, or perhaps you prefer to write some chants or affirmations. Just do what you feel is right. I have designed it this way so that you, the fellow practitioner, can adapt this working in a way that suits you as well as leave your own individual mark or magic and creativity.

7) Once complete, your shell grounding charm is ready to hang by whatever door you feel it is needed at the most! There is no time limit or ‘sell by date’ on this charm. You can use it as long as you want too, though you may like to re-charge it annually – just so it stays current and doesn’t go dormant energetically. If you feel that you no longer need the charm, and you have used only earth friendly materials, you can thank the working for it’s assistance and return it to the earth for composting. One of the things I like to do when this happens is to mindfully dismantle the working, thus ritualistically ending it’s magical purpose.

I hope that you enjoyed this week’s blog and that it was useful! Let me know over on the Facebook group if you try this and how it worked for you!

From the time, mists and distance between us, blessings from me to you.