Sidarfelagid

In folklore across Northern Europe, these were often Neolithic stone axe heads or fossilized belemnites found in the earth. People believed they were physical remnants of Thor’s hammer strikes or lightning bolts hitting the ground.

As a result people used to keep these in the home, often over the hearth or above the door in order to protect the home from lightening strikes. The belief being that lightening will never strike the same place twice.

People would also sew them into clothing, or carry them in a pungr to keep as a taufr (amulet / talisman). They were also dropped in a bucket of milk to keep it from spoiling during the thunderstorms. Sometimes they would scrape the dust off and place it in potions to cure the sick.

These days we also use quartz stone as thunder stones as there is also belief among some native peoples that quartz is also the result of lightning strikes on the ground. Quartz comes in many shapes and sizes and colors but the most common ones used in healing magic are:

• Smokey Quartz (infused with fire [thus the smoke inside…])
• Clear Quartz (infused with Ice [often used in healing magic])
• Rose Quartz (Blood of the earth [used in fertility spells])
• Orange / Red Quartz (infused with gold [used in prosperity spells])

It is best if you can find the ones shaped like an egg. These are particularly good for healing and fertility. The midwives would also keep clear Quartz around the room during birth as they believed Thors protection would be on the room and the womb.