What’s Your Superpower? (Part 2: Secrets of Stone Magic)
Welcome back, Apprentice Mages! I have spent the week visiting with Queen Hoodoo (over a few yummy mugs of spud ale, I might add.)
Hoodoo, the most powerful practitioner of Stone Magic in my Guardians of Aeld Fantasy series, has graciously agreed to share some basic magical instruction with you budding Stone Powers.
(Be sure to read Part 1 of our “What’s Your Super Power?” Series and take Hoodoo’s test to see if you are eligible to study the secret, arcane magic of Stone Wizards!)
So without further ado, here’s what Queen Hoodoo says you must know about Stone (or Earth) Magic to succeed as her apprentice.
The most powerful season for Stone Mages is Winter.
The Basic Nature of Stone Magic:
Just dig your fingers into the earth! You’ll have no trouble identifying the basic nature of Stone Magic because it comes directly from the soil. (Crumbled stones = soil!)
Like soil, Stone Magic is fertile, moist, nurturing, stabilizing; and “grounding.” To be grounded means to be rock solid, practical, and stable. In other words, Stone Magic “roots” you to the physical plane when your mind gets “airy.”
Because Stone represents the physical plane, it is the densest of all the magical elements. Gravity is a manifestation of this element.
Stone Magic also governs the womb, which is the universal symbol for an egg or seed. Thus, Stone Magic can help you “seed” a new project or idea.
Speaking of wombs, the Empress in the Tarot Deck is considered one of the “earthiest” energies in the Major Arcana. She is usually pictured in a late stage of pregnancy!
The most powerful season for Stone Wizards is winter, which is the time of darkness and hibernation. The most powerful direction for Stone Wizards is north.
The most powerful time of the day (for spellcraft, of course! 🙂 ) is midnight.
Type of Energy:
Stone energy is considered receptive and feminine. It is countered by Fire, which is considered masculine. Picture Fire melting rocks into magma or burning forests to cinders, and you can see the problem, dear apprentices!
On the other hand, Stone counters Air (another masculine energy.) Imagine wind currents trying to disintegrate a diamond. Not gonna happen!
Colors for Stone Magic:
Lots of choices here: green (from the color of living plants); browns, rusts, and grays (i.e., earth tones); deep earthy reds (ruby, carmine, vermilion, maroon, wine/burgundy).
Morning light pierces Arizona’s beautiful Antelope Canyon.
Places Where Stone Magic Concentrates:
Of course, the great power of Stone energy can be drawn from the “womb of the world:” caves, canyons, and chasms.
Other power spots include forests, groves, valleys, fields, farms, gardens, arboretums, parks, and cliffs. If you’re seeking to tap Stone power, and you can’t disappear into a forest or park, try these “earthy” places: plant nurseries, farmer’s markets, kitchens, baby nurseries, basements, mines, holes, and tunnels.
Herbs that are Potent with Stone Magic:
Think of plants that smell “earthy,” such as patchouly and vetivert, mosses and lichens; nuts; dry and stiff plants; heavy, low-growing plants; roots and tubers.
Stones and Crystals that are Powerful Allies:
If you’re trying to connect with Stone (Earth) energy, you can’t go wrong with heavy or opaque stones, such as coal, onyx, apache tears, and obsidian; green stones, such as emerald, peridot, or moss agate; or lodestone (which is magnetic!)
Metals that Stone Mages Favor:
Start with iron and lead. When you need extreme durability and hardness, you might also experiment with osmium, which is considered the densest metal on the planet.
The trouble is, osmium is a trace metal found in alloys—which is why no one has figured out how to make an emergency bomb shelter out of it. But since you’re a mage (and probably an alchemist,) extracting all the osmium you need from other pesky metals, like platinum or iridium, won’t be a problem for you, right?
Music for Stone Mages:
Stone Mages make their finest music with percussion instruments, such as rattles, woodblocks, drums, and piano. You might also have a knack for bass guitar.
According to legend, witches favor rabbits as animal familiars almost as much as they favor cats. Hoodoo, on the other hand, puts her faith in a VERY wise badger, named Brombeere. (Brombeere has a fondness for blueberries. Hence, his name.)
Animal Allies for Stone Mages:
Stone Mages know they’re in “earthy” company with a dog, horse, gopher, rabbit, hedgehog, mouse, cow/steer, deer, buffalo, antelope, pig, ferret, fox, weasel, cat, badger, tortoise, wolverine, wolf, bear, lizard, coyote—the list is huge, actually! Any burrowing animal or burrowing insect qualifies (example: earthworm, ant, or pill bug)
Of course, Stone Mages have a special connection with all animals—even winged ones—and they act as animal advocates, pledging to protect the habitats in which animals live.
Symbols that Will Awaken “Stone Magic” Inside of You:
Salt, clay dish of fresh soil, rocks, sheaves of wheat, and acorns.
Adrienne deWolfe, Author
What’s Your Secret Superpower?
Everyone has a little magic in them! What’s your secret superpower? Take our fun quizzes to find out! This 10-part series is based on Fantasy characters from Adrienne deWolfe’s upcoming, Guardians of Aeld Series, for Young Adults.
