Greetings all magickal beings! Today, I share with you information on one of my favorite magickal items. Not technically a crystal, I still find these fossils to hold magick properties and be effective tools. Ready to dive into prehistoric depths and explore an OG member of Earth's oceans? Let's begin!
My opalized ammonite fossil
Ammonites are Ancient
Ammonites are traced back to living 240 million years ago! While dinosaours roamed the land, these ancient predatory mollusks occupied the sea. Ammonites were prolific breeders, and mass numbers made their home in long-ago waters. Ancestors of the nautilidae, in the cephalopod family, this form of ancient marine life no longer exists. Reaching complete extinction 65 million years ago, these fossils are some of the most abundant on earth today.
Freshwater snail shell and my first Ammonite fossil
Ammonite Anatomy
Unique through and through, these ancient creatures have some fascinating features to their biological structure. Ammonites used a siphon and pump system to control their buoyancy. Although the shell of the ammonite may appear to house the majority of its organs, truthfully, the ammonite only occupied the largest and most recently grown chamber. The swirling patterns that create the familiar spirals and make them an easily identifiable fossil are the sutures that connected the increasingly expanding chambers.
Ammonites navigated through the water by squirting water through their bodies to propel them through the shallows. Their wavy tentacles ringed sharp, beak-like jaws, which could viciously dismantle prey unlucky enough to be caught in those tangly tentacles. Ammonites could grow to be up to 3 feet in diameter!
Ammonite Associations
While some may think fossils don't hold a metaphorical candle to actual crystals, I disagree, especially when it comes to Ammonites. For one thing, they are named in reference to the Egyptian god Amun, because they resemble the ram's horns on Amun's head. Amun was considered Lord of All, and represented creation and fertility. His name means, "hidden one," "invisible," and/or, "mysterious of form."
"Ram of Amun" granite gneiss from Temple T, Kawa Egypt
Ammonite fossils are named for a powerful spiritual figure, and the energy they contain holds the potency of their namesake. The magickal properties of ammonite fossils provide an abundance of spiritual wisdom condensed over eons of absorbing energy from the Earth. Symbolizing evolution and constant transformation, the spiral shape hints at the expanding nature of time and the universe. To me it makes sense that an item existing long before society as we know it even began, would contain energy of knowledge and secrets throughout history.
Ammonite fossils are considered to be a spiritual conduit for transmuting negative energy. I often visualize my worries, troubles, and anxieties flowing into the center of the ammonite fossil and renewed, peaceful energy emerging from the wide end of the spiral. Each ammonite specimen in my collection is special to me, and I always have at least one on display in my home.
Necklace I made with an ammonite fossil and abalone bead
It may not be a traditional or common use, but I often employ the properties of ammonite fossils for the purpose of protection. Knowing they are named for Amun, hold the power to redirect negativity, and that they were predators in ancient seas, I find them effective protection for me personally. I own a few pieces of ammonite jewelry and feel confident and strong when I wear my earrings or either of the necklaces.
In my craft, I use ammonite fossils to uplift energy, bring good luck, foster creativity, inspire confidence, encourage wisdom, and more! I find it no wonder that my iration, respect and love of these fossils has only increased over the years. I hope readers find that ammonites are a unique piece of earth's history, and a magickal wonder!
Ammonite Arrangements
Below I share some of the grids I have lain which incorporated ammonite fossils. After that I will share some of the other uses, such as their place in travel altars and spells.
Earth Element grid
Representation of the Sun, pyrite donut and ammonite fossils
Grids for Creativity featuring my first ammonite fossil, abalone, and quartz
Grid for Motivation
Rain of Positivity Grid
Ammonite fossils in travel altars
Ammonite fossil used in a larger spell
Ammonite and Candlelight🕯a favorite combination
My largest specimen, an opalized ammonite fossil :heart_eyes:
Thank you all for reading! I hope after reading this you enjoy ammonites a bit more. Without ammonite fossils my craft would not be the same! Anyone who has ammonite specimens of their own, are welcome to share photos in the comments. I would love to know how others use them in their craft!
May my opalized ammonite shine good fortune your way!
Comments (1)
Wonderful post! Love the many uses of these ancient magical artifacts. And if I may share a bit of knowledge. Almost all spirals in nature also hold magical numbers in them. They correspond to the Fibonacci Sequence where adding the dimensions with the previous dimension created the next distance of spiral. Applying these magical number sequences when using any spiral (shells, fiddleheads, flowers etc….) has given me added benefit and lasting power to my rituals.