The thrill of the hunt pulls me in. There is nothing but solitude and sea as I stand tall and drool at the vast landscape of pebbles and stones and shells before me. This will be fun.

I crouch down and spend hours sifting through the beach, breath held and filled to the brim with anticipation of finding The One. Many come close, fooling me with a dent in their side that hasn’t quite penetrated through.

And then I see her. Perfectly pierced and resting on the ground before me, she is nestled among other unsuspecting rocks. Battered by the ocean and glistening from the water, she presents herself to me. I am in awe.

Despite seeming rather ordinary to the untrained eye, hagstones carry with them a deep, ancient history full of wonder and connection. Many people feel extremely drawn to these special rocks, myself included. Moulded and transformed by the power of water, they hold a current of potent energy that is irresistible to those who are sensitive to the natural world.

Said to hold the power of the earth, bring good fortune and protection to those who possess them and offer sight into the spirit realm, hagstones are a staple in the world of magick. These intriguing rocks feature a naturally occurring hole that has been created over time by a strong flow of water, such as the sea or a gushing river.

Their name conjures up old, fearful folklore of common folk guarding themselves against evil witches, hags and dark forces, but I like to think that this etymology can be morphed into something we can now claim for ourselves as modern witches who wish to harness the magick of these stones in our practice.

They are also sometimes known as adder stones, a name steeped in serpent folklore. Tales of dead adder snakes turning into stone and cunning serpents creating the hole with their slithering tongue led some to believe that one of these mysterious stones could heal you if you had the misfortune of being bitten by a snake.

I have had a yearning to collect and gather since early childhood, and I find hagstones irresistibly collectable. Many captivating treasures wash ashore from the bountiful waters of the UK, where I crouch like a goblin and patiently sift through rocks and shells until I find a handful that I claim for my creations, curiosity cabinet or altar space. I always try to collect the earth’s offerings modestly, leaving nature with more than I take.

You can hang hagstones near your bed to prevent nightmares or above doorways to ward off evil spirits. Hold one up to your eye and use the hole as a portal to identify mystical creatures, fae folk and disguises or hold it in your palm and rub with your thumb to make a wish or cast a spell.

I like to keep a hagstone in my pocket or car to accompany me on safe travels, or place one on my altar to maintain connection to nature’s goodness. A moon magick altar may benefit from a handful of hagstones to represent the power of water and the moon’s tidal governance – you can add full moon water, too.

If you find one, be sure to thank the moon and her tides. Be sure to hold it close.