Abalone Shell: The Ear of the Sea

Its Many Different Nicknames

Abalone shells has many names: Haliotis Iris, Paua Shells, Nacre, Mother-of-Pearl, Aulon, and ears of the sea to name a few.

Its Symbolism

Abalone healing carries energies of protection and emotional balance. It brings with it a natural shielding that blesses the person holding it with tranquility. Abalone healing is especially helpful for those going through emotional turmoil or those having a hard time dealing with a situation in a relationship. Through it’s soothing energy, it provides a layer of protection that perches the spirit up with the confidence necessary to view situations from a new, more understanding perspective. If you think of abalone as representative of water, like many cultures do, it is the water that will tame the flames of one’s emotional strife.

Abalone is a Sea Mollusk

Abalone is a variety of mollusks or sea snails with feet and tentacles. Its ear-shaped shells are made up of microscopic pieces of calcium carbonate, stacked one on top of the other, almost like tiny Lego blocks.

Cultural Importance of the Shell

The Abalone Shell has important meanings to many different cultures. Here are a few:

Maori People, New Zealand

The Maori people of New Zealand call abalone Paua. It can be found in the coastal waters off of New Zealand.

Paua shells are usually about five inches and oval-shaped. The Maori people eat the meat of the shell, which is a Maori delicacy. They then use the shell to make jewelry and other special gifts for trading.

The Maori people used this shell in warrior artwork. They would use it as the eyes of these warrior and other demi-God figures.

Contemporary art in New Zealand still incorporates these spiritual shells into their craft.

They believe the shell strengthens the body and the heart of the wearer. With a stronger heart and body, the person is thought to be able to communicate their feelings more clearly.

The Maori believe the Paua will bring connectivity and harmony to relationships.

The way the colors of the shell shift in the light is also a symbol of change and transition in Maori culture.

Perhaps you have had a big life change and found this article for a reason. Abalone jewelry might be the symbol to represent the change, and to protect you in the next phase of your life, as it does for Maori people.

Native American Cultures

In some Native American cultures, the shell of the abalone is to burn sage.

They believe the combined spiritual power of abalone and sage would take their messages to their Gods.

The smoke of the sage is used to cleanse evil spirits. This is used in modern-day cleaners also, which we explore later.

Apache Nation, North America

There is an Apache story that explains the significance of this shell in their ancient culture.

The Apache nation believes there is a connection between the shell and the first woman - known as White Painted Woman. She is also known as Esdzanadehe or Changing Woman. She survives a flood in the shell of an abalone.

As the floodwaters recede, she walks the land. She is impregnated by the sun and has a son. This son becomes the Killer of Enemies, protecting her from evil.

She is later impregnated by the rain and births the Son of Water. At the end of the White Painted woman's life, she walks east until she finds her young self. The two merge, and in this way, she is born over and over again, through endless generations.

This is why the puberty ceremony for Apache girls - the Sunrise Ceremony, involves the shell of the abalone. It is a symbol of their new womanhood fusing with previous generations of the White Painted Woman.

The shell is a way through which apache girls connect to their spiritual heritage.

They wear the abalone shell on their forehead during the puberty ritual. The abalone power teaches the girls of their spiritual power as women, and their ability to heal, as they 'become a woman'.

Abalone & The Four Elements

Smudging with abalone shells means you’re incorporating all four earth elements into your practice:

Water – From the abalone shell

Earth – Brought in with the herbs and smudge sticks

Smoke – Represents the air and connects you to divinity

Fire – You ignite the smudge stick with fire

Smudging w/ Abalone Shell Directions

1. Using a match, light your herbs or Palo Santo smudging sticks

2. Rest the sticks or herbs in the abalone shell, using it to collect any ashes or embers as the sticks or herbs burn

3. To bless a person or object, use a feather to brush the smoke around them

4. You may wish to walk around a space with the sticks or herbs, allowing the smoke to waft into the corners and ceilings

5. Abalone shells have holes in them, so ensure any hot embers don’t fall through onto flammable materials such as carpet or bed linens

6. If the smudging sticks have been resting in the abalone shell for awhile, the shell may get hot, so use caution when handling it

**Abalone shells vary in size, shape, and color**