"You don't need a big, glittering crystal collection to work with the magic of Mother Earth. In fact, some of the most powerful allies that I have ever worked with weren't actually bought. They were found."

Discovering Magick in the Wild: How to Use Bones, Stones & Natural Objects in Shamanic Witchcraft

In a world where spirituality and witchcraft are increasingly packaged and sold, it's all too easy to fall for the idea that we need rare, polished, expensive crystals to access the deep magick of the land. But what if the most potent allies in your craft were already waiting for you — hidden in the wild, humming with the quiet stories of earth and time? This is the heart of shamanic witchcraft.

The Quiet Power of Wild found Objects

Forget the shop shelves loaded with crystals labelled for abundance, love, or protection. With over 20 years in the gemstone and crystal healing world, my deepest magickal connections come not from bought crystals, but humble river stones, shards of flint, and animal bones found on a walk. These are the stones animated with story, energy, and life — not because they have been polished or marketed, but because they've been lived with by the earth itself.

Every natural object you find, be it a piece of flint from a riverbank or a humble hag stone from the coast, holds essence and memory far beyond its physical form. These objects carry story and energy and memory... not because they are polished or they're rare, but because they've lived.

A Relationship-Based Approach

The philosophy underpinning shamanic witchcraft, is one of relationship rather than ownership. Stones, bones, shells, and other natural finds are ancient teachers and ancestors. Their magick is not unlocked by simply slotting them into a pre-written ritual, but by slowing down, listening, and engaging them as sacred allies.

When you find a stone or bone, the invitation is not to grab and use, but to bring it into your space. Place it on your altar, under your pillow, or in your pocket. Notice what arises when you are near it. What dreams surface, what emotions stir? Sometimes, I will even take a shamanic journey to ask the object about its preferred purpose. Others might journal with the found object nearby, channelling whatever flows through.

Meaningful Examples from the Path

I found a tiny hedgehog vertebrae on a path, which symbolised grief, connection, and protection and laid its body to rest beneath a tree planted in memory of my father. Or the fox bone and owl claw salvaged ethically from roadkill by my partner — a practice imbued with deep respect and meaning, these wild objects transcend mere decoration; they choose to be part of her spiritual work, carrying energy and story uniquely their own.

p, mystical power. Just be cautious if pregnant or breastfeeding as mugwort can be quite potent.

Working With Wild found Objects: A Guide

There’s no rush into working with a wild stone, bone, or shell. Start by simply living with the item. Let it become part of your daily landscape, and pay close attention to your reactions—physical, emotional, and spiritual.

When the time feels right, you might cleanse the object—not to erase its history but to welcome its next chapter alongside you. Natural cleansing can be done using smoke, water, or earth, but always with respect for the object's journey.

Once the relationship is forged, match the natural energy of the object to what you need in your work:

Flint: Sharp, ancient, associated with protection, fire, and ancestral connection. Place it at your door for warding or use during difficult decision-making to cut through confusion.

River Stones: Soft, smoothed by water, ideal for soothing emotions and the nervous system. I like to hold one during breathwork, after hard conversations, or when processing big feelings. They're also gentle yet effective for cord-cutting rituals.

Shells: Particularly those with spirals or cup shapes, these are wonderful for emotional release. Pour in water, hold your tears, or use it during grief. Speaking into a shell can be a powerful practice.

Bones: Deeply tied to ancestry, endings, and resilience. Place one on your altar for shadow work, or bring it into spirit connection journeys.

Hag Stones: Naturally holed stones from waterways. Traditional protectors, hang them above beds to ward off nightmares or use them as a portal for spirit sight during journeying and scrying.

Over time, these objects reveal their own personalities and preferred uses. The only real rule is to let relationship take precedence over ritual: tune in, listen, and honour your finds as elders and guides.

Deepening Your Practice

For those called to delve deeper, My upcoming "Shamanic Stone Medicine Practitioners Diploma" offers an accredited, in-depth training in the magick, medicine, and spirit of stones—rooted in living connection, combining science and metaphysics, open to all no matter your experience.

Rituals and Maintenance Magick

July doesn’t demand grand rituals. Instead, look for maintenance magick: pruning what’s grown wild, making herb bundles, or burning a to-do list in a focused release. Herbal baths and foot soaks with nettle, lavender, or meadowsweet are both practical and magickal. An offering of garden raspberries or rosemary left in a cherished spot is a simple act of gratitude and connection.

Perhaps most importantly, remember that lying in the grass, bare skin to earth, is magick too: “Witchcraft isn’t always about production. Sometimes it’s about feeling the seasons on your skin.”

July is wild and overwhelming, yes, but also achingly beautiful—if you pause long enough to notice. This is your invitation to sink into the riot of the season, tend what needs tending, and let yourself be nourished by the abundant, untamed magick all around.

Building a Living Practice

Shamanic witchcraft with wild found objects is not about doing things 'right' or following strict scripts. It’s about entering into relationship with the ancient world, listening deeply, moving with respect, and allowing objects to share their wisdom on their terms. This path isn’t about doing it right; it’s about relationship.

If you’re ready to shift how you see, feel, and work with the world around you—no purchases required — watch the full video on The Wild and Untamed Way for the wisdom, gentle guidance and wild inspiration you need to begin.