Pearl Magic

Behold we arise with the dawn of time from the grey and misty sea,
And with the dusk we sink in the western ocean
And the lives of a man are strung like pearls on the thread of his spirit;
And never in all his journey goes he alone,
For that which is solitary is barren.
~Dion Fortune~

Pearls are some of the most beautiful creations on this planet. While they are incredibly beautiful they are actually formed from one tiny imperfection and the mollusks ability to heal itself. This process produces one of the most sought after gems. Pearls come in just about every color, shape and size and have been prized in many cultures across the world in antiquity. They are the birth stone for those born in June and are also associated with the astrological sign Cancer. Those born under this sign are often called moon children. For the Water or Sea Witch, the pearl can be used in many ways from an offering to a talisman. 

Pearls come in many different shapes, sizes and colors. Their usual colors range from cream to black but they can occur in almost every shade and color. Pearls are not limited to forming inside oysters. They can actually be made from any mollusk including the most amazing, highly prized and beautiful Conch Pearl! Pearls have been cultivated by man since the late 1800s and possibly even before. They have been highly prized as a symbol of wisdom and royalty since antiquity with the Romans and Egyptians prizing pearls above all other gems. In addition, the first use of pearl material was used as far back as 4200 B.C.E. Pearls are split into several different categories which include freshwater, and the very popular Akoya cultured pearls. While we are used to seeing the prized Akoya pearls as well as fresh water pearls, every type of mollusk can produce a pearl. In fact abalone, conch, and the bailer shell all produce beautiful and prized pearls. To learn more about the many different varieties of pearls click here.

 

Pearls are actually formed from flaws. When a tiny parasite, piece of sand or other foreign object is introduced to the oysters shell the oyster begins to secrete a smooth hard substance called nacre. This nacre begins to form a layer around this foreign object in a defensive manner. Soon layer upon layer is secreted and the pearl is formed. One of the most beautiful and prized jewels around the world is formed from a tiny foreign object in the mollusk. To learn more about how pearls are formed click here here

 

“Oysters open completely when the moon is full; and when the crab sees one it throws a piece of stone or seaweed into it and the oyster cannot close again so that it serves the crab for meat. Such is the fate of him who opens his mouth too much and thereby puts himself at the mercy of the listener.”

―Leonardo da Vinci

Pearls are intimately connected to the moon in that not only do they resemble the moon in shape, luster and color but their feeding cycle is also effected by the moon and tidal cycles. As such, pearls have long been associated with the moon and therefore can be associated with Selene, Luna and any other goddess who embodies the full moon. They were also found in Aphrodite’s temple and were considered sacred to her. The pearl has long been associated with moon magic and can be used as a representation of the moon, can be made into pearl essences and you can charge them with specific intent. You can give them as offerings to spirits, goddesses and the sea. They can be use in moon or wisdom magic and any magic associated with Cancer, the moon or crabs. I often give a pearl as an offering during my birthday as I am born in June. Finally the pearl can be used in transformation magic through sympathetic association to the prized gem created from a tiny flaw.

Pearls are versatile and can range in color, shape, size and even value. Some pearls such as fresh water pearls are very common and others like the pink conch pearl are extremely pricy and rare. Pearls can be used in many ways and for many reasons. They are most commonly associated with wisdom. You may have heard the quote "Pearls of Wisdom" before. They come in just about every color and so they can be selected for your magical purpose through color association. They can be found on strings or even still inside the oyster at popular sea side destinations. They are ritually opened in a small welcoming ceremony when the new owner taps them 3 times and yells “ALOHA!” to welcome it into the world. These are incredibly prized magically and can become a powerful tool for the water witch. They can be worn as jewelry and charged with protection, much like the intricate layers of the pearl. They can be used in moon magic and are sacred to Aphrodite and can be used in love magic as well. The pearl, like the moon presents endless possibilities!