Serpentine Meaning and magickal uses
Also called New Jade, Snake Stone, Bowenite
A green, snakeskin-patterned stone for protection, renewal, and calm.
- Intentions
- Protection, Peace, Healing
- Element
- Earth
- Planet
- Saturn
- Day
- Saturday
- Moon phase
- Waning Crescent
- Chakra
- Heart
- Color
- Pale to deep green, often mottled like snakeskin
- Hardness
- 2.5 - 5.5, varies by type
- Found in
- Cornwall (UK), China, Afghanistan, New Zealand, USA
How to use it
- Carry it for protection
Keep a polished tumbled stone in your pocket or bag as a quiet guardian. Hold it when you need to feel safe in an unfamiliar place.
- Shed an old skin
During the waning moon, hold serpentine while you name a habit you are ready to outgrow. Picture a snake slipping out of its old skin, lighter and renewed.
- Calm a busy mind
Hold a smooth palm stone during meditation and trace its pattern with your thumb. Let your breath slow and your shoulders drop until your thoughts settle like leaves on still water.
Works well with
Substitutes
History and folklore
Serpentine is named for its green, scaly look, which reminded people of snakeskin. In folklore, it was carried as a charm against snakebite and poison, and serpentine vessels were once thought to reveal poisoned drinks. At the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall, it has been carved into ornaments for generations. It is often polished and sold as jade, sometimes under the name new jade. Modern witches use serpentine for protection, renewal, and a calm, soothing presence.
A green, snakeskin-patterned stone for protection, renewal, and calm.
- Intentions: Protection, Peace, Healing
- Element: Earth
- Planet: Saturn
- Zodiac: Scorpio, Gemini
- Day: Saturday
- Moon phase: Waning Crescent
- Chakra: Heart
- Color: Pale to deep green, often mottled like snakeskin
- Hardness: 2.5 - 5.5, varies by type
- Found in: Cornwall (UK), China, Afghanistan, New Zealand, USA
Safety: Some forms of serpentine contain asbestos fibers. Never sand, cut, drill, or grind it, and never breathe in its dust. Do not make crystal elixirs or soak it in water. Choose polished, finished pieces and wash your hands after handling raw stone. Much stone sold as jade is actually serpentine.
How to use it
- Carry it for protection. Keep a polished tumbled stone in your pocket or bag as a quiet guardian. Hold it when you need to feel safe in an unfamiliar place.
- Shed an old skin. During the waning moon, hold serpentine while you name a habit you are ready to outgrow. Picture a snake slipping out of its old skin, lighter and renewed.
- Calm a busy mind. Hold a smooth palm stone during meditation and trace its pattern with your thumb. Let your breath slow and your shoulders drop until your thoughts settle like leaves on still water.
Works well with: Green Candle, Waning Crescent, Saturday, Rosemary, Earth
Folklore
Serpentine is named for its green, scaly look, which reminded people of snakeskin. In folklore, it was carried as a charm against snakebite and poison, and serpentine vessels were once thought to reveal poisoned drinks. At the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall, it has been carved into ornaments for generations. It is often polished and sold as jade, sometimes under the name new jade. Modern witches use serpentine for protection, renewal, and a calm, soothing presence.
The Witch's Cabinet is a free reference for your practice. Correspondences are traditional associations, not medical advice. Always follow the safety notes, especially with herbs and essential oils around children, pets and during pregnancy.