Healing properties of Sea Shells

We all love them, and have certainly collected many of them in our lives, but did know that the beautiful sea shells that we collect and use to decorate our lives have healing properties, like our sparkly healing crystals, that offer another level to our self-healing practices?

With their birthplace being concentrated in sea salt (we’re talking about the ocean here), and sacred geometry being an integral part of their make-up, shells have long been used by ancient tribes around the world as protectors from negative energies, and as tools to stimulate intuition and spiritual connection.

Because of the Moon’s influence on the ocean, sea shells also hold the energy of the Moon. Many shells, particularly sea snails and the nautilus (shown in image), form on a spiral, a powerful symbol of the Pagan Great Mother Goddess.

Shells have been used for centuries by many ancient, and modern day tribes, for a number of purposes – healing, protection, spell work, self-love practice, currency, and spiritual  & psychic awareness and growth/enhancement to name a few. For example, sea shells can contain and enhance Reiki with their shape, size, and structure, allowing a gentle but powerful healing energy that works with the healer to cleanse, balance and harmonise the aura and chakras!

Specific types of sea shells, like healing crystals, have specific healing properties. Abalone, for example, is commonly used to contain herbs and crystals, worn and used as a protection amulet to assist with general energetic protection and to ease feelings of anger, depression, fear, and sadness. Abalone has also been used to attract inspiration and creativity to those who carry it, wear it or even meditate with it.

But what about the other types of sea shells?

There are very many types of sea shells from all over the world, but here are a few of the shells that I was taught the metaphysical meanings of.

🐚 Abalone Shell – communication, peace and beauty (self-love).
🐚 Clams, Muscles & Oysters – Purification, love and good fortune. Small clam shells were given as talismans (or tokens) of love.
🐚 Pearls (not a shell, but have an energetic bond with shells and ocean healing) – Pearls resonate with the Heart Chakra, and aid healing in this centre. They are said to take on the energy or the emotion of the wearer, positive or negative, and therefore should be cleansed often. However, charging Pearls with Heart Chakra crystals, or other high vibe stones, will assist with strengthening the body and heart, encouraging feelings of love, beauty, gentleness, comfort and inner peace. On a phsyical level, Pearls can help prevent heart attacks and strokes, assist with digestion and reduce the change of stomach ulcers.
🐚 Mother of Pearl (not shell specific) – Traditionally used to heighten intuition, psychic sensitivity and imagination (much like the shell of the Abalone), more modern uses include attracting prosperity, protection from negative energy and transmutation of negative energy. Mother of Pearl is helpful when treating high blood pressure, improving vision and accelarating wound healing (post-op or general).
🐚 Cone Shells – Traditionally used for protection. Personally, I use them to channel and direct energy (think single terminated quart points) in Reiki, Crystal healing sessions and in crystal grids.
🐚 Pansy Shell (Sand Dollar / Sea Biscuit) – My personal favourite!! If you’ve ever held a Pansy shell in your hand, you’ll notice how fragile its shell is, yet how strong its vibration is. Pansy shells hold the wisdom and information that we need in order to make necessary changes for healing, growth, spiritual expansion and transendance. Pansy Shells, formed around the 5-pointed star of sacred geometry, teaches us; to be gentle in our approach in life regardless of environmental conditions, to go with the flow and be flexible in our thinking and to work on changing belief systems that are detrimental to us, replacing them with new healthy belief systems without blaming ourselves or others. When we have faith we connect with the strength within and anything is possible. (There is a really great article here that explain the medicine of a Pansy Shell in more detail.)
🐚 Cowrie Shells – Used to maifest prosperity and abundance, particularly finanacial. According to African legend, if you are attracted to cowrie shells you could be family to an ocean spirit of wealth and earth. It has also been said that Cowrie shells hold Goddess protection which is very powerful and connected with the strength of the ocean. Throughout Africa, and South and North America, the cowrie symbolized the power of destiny and prosperity, and is still believed to teach stories of humility and respect to all those who possess them.
🐚 Limpet Shells – Courage, confidence, physical strength.
🐚 Moon Shells – Psychic awareness, purification, and peace.
🐚 Whelk Shells – Use for making dramatic, positive changes in your life.
🐚 Olive Shells – Cleansing and healing.

I encourage you to form your own relationships with your sea shells, as you would your healing crystals, and use your intuition to see how they ‘speak’ to you. Here is a simple way you can connect with your sea shells:
🐚 Cleanse and charge your sea shells the way you would your crystals
🐚 Hold one shell (one type) in your left hand, your receiving hand, close your eyes, take a few deep breaths to relax (you can meditate before hand and set your intention to energeticall connect with your shells, or you can fall into a semi-meditative state, either method have worked for me in the past, but do what feels right for you)
🐚 With your eyes closed, and shell gently placed in your left hand, notice any of the below sensations;
~ How does your body feel physically, do you feel any sensations in a particular area or part of your body?
~ Does the shell elicit any sensations in your subtle bodies, perhaps a particular chakra?
~ Does the shell elicit any particular thoughts or visions?
~ Does the shell bring up any particular memories, or emotions?
~ How does the shell make you feel overall – safe, insecure, calm, lucky, energised, etc?
Noticing these kinds of sensations will give you some insight into how that perticular shell can, or wants to, work with you.

I hope you enjoy discovering the magic of your sea shells! If you have any questions about the healing properties of sea shells or how to incorporate them into your personal or professional practice, shoot me a message below.
~ Love & Light, Kerry. x