Elizabeth Barrette
Though many people know about stone magic, fewer people know about metal magic. Yet metal has been a part of magic since the beginning. Our ancestors wondered at the shine of silver and gold, and especially the powerful star metal that fell from the sky. Let’s take a look at what metal is and what you can do with it.
Metal as an Element
God icons and spiritual jewelry are often made from gold. Cupid’s arrows of love are tipped with gold and fletched with dove feathers, making this metal ideal for love magic. Gold also brings wealth and success.
Metal is a magical element in the Eastern system, along with Fire, Earth, Water, and Wood. These exist in a complex, dynamic balance. Each element has a positive relationship with two other elements and a negative relationship with the remaining two. “Earth forms Metal” and “Metal holds Water” are the affinities. “Fire melts Metal” and “Metal chops Wood” are the enmities. If you work with the Eastern set of elements, these relationships advise you on what to do or to avoid in ritual or spellcraft. You can combine Metal with Earth or Water for good results, but Fire or Wood don’t mix as well.
Metals also exist as elements on the periodic table in science. This is very useful to know if you like to mix magic and science. The periodic table of elements divides them into alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals (magnesium), transition metals (titanium, niobium, iron, copper, silver, gold, mercury), and post-transition metals (aluminum, tin, lead, bismuth). The inner transition metals have two subgroups, lanthanides (neodymium) and actinides, which are offset from the main body of the periodic table. There are also metalloids (silicon), which have some characteristics of both metals and nonmetals. Elements with similar properties appear near each other on the periodic table. For maximum magical compatibility, follow that pattern.
Classic Metals
The classic metals, or metals of antiquity, are those that people knew about and used in ancient times: gold, silver, copper, tin, iron, lead, and mercury. Our ancestors discovered gold, silver, lead, and copper in prehistoric times. Gold, silver, and copper form nuggets that are easy to identify and work. Lead and tin exist only as ores but are simple to smelt at campfire temperatures. The discovery of tin sparked the Bronze Age, because bronze is an alloy of copper and tin. (An alloy is a mixture of two or more different metals.) People knew about iron but could not smelt it, due to its high melting temperature, until they invented hotter furnaces and the dawn of the Iron Age. Mercury was the last of the classic metals to be discovered, not long before the Common Era.
Gold corresponds to the Sun, Fire, and masculine energy. Naturally yellowish, it can be alloyed with other metals to create white, pink, or green gold. Black Hills gold is famously multicolored in this manner, and its traditional grapevines and other natural motifs make it ideal for magical use. God icons and spiritual jewelry are often made from gold. Cupid’s arrows of love are tipped with gold and fletched with dove feathers, making this metal ideal for love magic. Gold also brings wealth and success. As gold is a dominant metal, its alloys generally behave like gold in a magical context, although purer is better if you can afford it. Bear in mind that pure gold is extremely soft, so for most purposes an alloy works better anyway.
Silver corresponds to the Moon, Water, and feminine energy. It has a whitish color and tarnishes to gray, brown, or black. Textured silver jewelry can look fantastic when the lower parts are permitted to tarnish while the upper parts are polished bright, making the design stand out more. Because it is so soft, silver is often alloyed to make it sturdy enough for jewelry. Crescent moon circlets are often made of silver like this. Since this metal also appears in silverware, an old table knife can make an excellent athame. Silver is also the most magically impressionable metal, easy to program with energy but also susceptible to contamination. Storing it in silk helps keep it pristine.
Copper corresponds to Venus, Water, and feminine energy. This soft metal is popular for jewelry, athames, and cauldrons. It is the best choice for love magic. Copper holds memories well. For this reason I like to collect pressed pennies, the kind you get from a machine that stamps an image on them.
Copper also works well with Fire magic, which not many people know. If you like to throw ritual items into a bonfire to burn, you could also use copper to make these more exciting. Suppose you’re used to writing things on a slip of paper. If you use a larger piece of paper, it can be folded around some wood chips and other inclusions to make a more visual impact. A small scoop of colorful fireplace sprinkles will produce rainbow flames. They use copper to make greens and blues, which are colors that our coven saw lots of when we tried this. Another trick we used was saving pieces of green cardboard (copper makes a lot of the blue and green dyes, too), which burned quite well and quite green. We even have a lighter with a copper wire that turns the flame green.
Tin corresponds to Jupiter, Air, and masculine energy. By itself, tin is popular for crafts such as lantern shades. Its superior acoustic qualities make it suitable for musical instruments such as the tin whistle. Because it doesn’t oxidize, tin represents permanence and longevity. It also alloys well, making it a good metal for any kind of teamwork.
Iron corresponds to Mars, Fire, and masculine energy. Meteoric iron has the highest magical potency and is less prone to shatter magic, whereas cold iron and steel can break a lot of spells. Many old spells mention using an iron knife or scissors to break a hex or banish a monster.
However, in some contexts iron can contain or channel magic. For example, horseshoes and horseshoe nails are used to attract luck. Most people hang a horseshoe points up, but a blacksmith hangs it points down above his anvil—to pour the energy into his workspace. Magic can also be worked through iron or steel tools, such as sewing needles for embroidered magic.
Risky Metals
Some metals that have magical qualities also have dangerous qualities. Of those appearing in traditional resources, lead and mercury are the most hazardous. For maximum safety, some people choose to avoid these. Aluminum is a very close substitute for mercury in magical contexts, lacking only the liquid quality; a combination of aluminum and silver make a near-perfect match for mercury. Lead is harder to substitute, as it is the only ancient metal corresponding to Earth, but you could try tin or iron instead. Another option is to write their symbols instead of using the materials themselves: mercury ( 
) and lead ( 
). However, it is still possible to work with the risky metals as long as you take precautions.
Mercury corresponds to Mercury, Air, and masculine energy. It has been used for luck, scrying, and protection, all of which have better alternatives now. But it’s also the strongest connection to the god Mercury, which is less substitutable. This metal is easiest to obtain in an old-fashioned thermometer. The metal is sealed inside the glass, so as long as you take care not to break the glass, it’s safe—and even has a convenient wand shape. You can seal the thermometer inside a padded case for extra protection and it will still work.
Lead corresponds to Saturn, Earth, and masculine energy. It is grounding and guarding. Cupid’s arrows of indifference are tipped with lead and fletched with owl feathers, making it ideal for breaking love magic or bad relationships. Lead is still used for a lot of things such as fishing sinkers, ammunition, and cheap alloys for figurines. It is most toxic when it gets inside the body, but even handling it with bare hands is not a great idea. You can wear gloves while applying a protective coating. Figurines can be made reasonably safe by painting them with craft sealant. Lead weights such as sinkers can be sealed into the core of a wand or other artifact. In fact, one of the safest options is to buy something that already has a lead core—many weighted items are like this. As long as the rest of the material has little or no metal, it shouldn’t interfere with the magical qualities of the lead.
Modern Metals
In the Common Era, many more metals have been discovered. Of the 118 elements in the periodic table, about 86 are metals of some sort. A handful of these have notable applications in magic.
Aluminum corresponds to Mercury, Air, and masculine energy. It is cheap and lightweight and enhances mental clarity. It makes a good substitute for mercury. Anodized aluminum takes color beautifully, making it suitable for color magic. Sets of rainbow rings are often made this way and can represent the goddess Iris as well as gay pride.
Bismuth forms rainbow crystals that look like stepped pyramids. It is one of the best focal materials for working with technomagic. It also helps with understanding complexities and doing group work. Because of its coloration, bismuth can stand for Iris or any other rainbow deity.
Magnesium is supremely suited to Fire magic. When you shave it very fine, it forms a powder that burns with a brilliant white-hot light. For this reason, magnesium is often used to make fireworks, of which the ground fountains are among the safer options. You could buy these and use as directed in a ritual context. They look spectacular.
You can buy a magnesium firestarter for camping, which will work even if it has been dropped in water and wiped off. I have used this to start ritual fires with great results. However, be aware that magnesium wants to burn. If you channel Fire energy into it, that tendency gets stronger. So practice on a paved surface until you know how it behaves before you try to use it in ritual. Similarly, a pinch or two of magnesium powder will give a bright silver flame, if bundled into paper and thrown in a fire.
Neodymium is best known for its use in magnets. Rare-earth magnets can be very powerful. I have a set of magnetic spheres that make fantastic fidgets, making a fun clicking or chirping sound as they jump together. When you have a set of these, you can form them into different shapes, such as a square, circle, or pyramid, which makes them very useful for magic. In addition to spheres, magnets come in many shapes, and you can buy a set of high-power magnets at most science stores. There are also levitating pens and wands that function with magnets in the stem or base.
Magnetic magic is all about attraction and repulsion. First write what you want or don’t want on one magnet. Then use another magnet to pull it in or push it away. For extra impact, write with a levitating pen.
Magnetic magic is all about attraction and repulsion. First write what you want or don’t want on one magnet. Then use another magnet to pull it in or push it away. For extra impact, write with a levitating pen.
Niobium corresponds to Water, particularly tears, as it is named for Niobe. Because of this, niobium helps with grief, particularly the loss of children. This metal can also be tinted with rainbow colors, singly or swirled together. It is very popular in jewelry for this reason. Because of its coloration, niobium can stand for Iris or any other rainbow deity.
Silicon is a metalloid, which, like bismuth, is one of the few elements truly suited to technomagic. Computer chips are made of it, after all! In fact, motherboard is often upcycled into jewelry or boxes, which are ideal for technomagic.
Titanium corresponds to Air. It is light but strong, which makes it an ideal metal for cultivating resilience. Some surgical implants and many adaptive devices are made from it, so it also suits healing magic. Because canes have been used as magic staves or wands, a titanium one can be quite powerful. Like niobium, titanium can also be tinted in bright colors, single or mixed. Because of its color potential and medical safety, titanium is very popular in jewelry. Similarly, it can stand for Iris or any other rainbow deity.
Alloys
Alloys are mixtures of two or more different metals. Each one has its own unique set of strengths and weaknesses. While they can be similar to one parent metal—alloys of gold and silver really tend to act like those metals—sometimes they’re quite different in color and behavior. Two of the most common alloys are bronze and brass.
Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin. Where copper is pinkish and tin is nearly white, bronze has a dark yellowish to brownish color. The acoustic qualities of tin carry over though, making bronze very popular for bells and other musical instruments. It is also one of the most popular materials for high-quality devotional statues. Some jewelry is made of bronze, especially for men.
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Where copper is pinkish and zinc is whitish or greenish, brass has a bright yellowish color barely darker than gold, so it is often used as a substitute for gold. Brass makes lovely statues. While it can be used for jewelry, it is notorious for turning green—and even turning your skin green. Like bronze, brass is used for musical instruments, and indeed a whole orchestral section (the horns) is called the “brass.”
Metals in Astrology
The classic metals, and some modern ones, have associations with the heavens. You can use these metals or their symbols to represent the planets or attune other objects to that energy. Conveniently, most of these symbols are easy to find in magical jewelry, and you can also carve or paint them on ritual tools.
Some people like to keep an astrological set of statues depicting the planets or their ruling deities, or other objects with symbolic colors. In cases where the metal is not used for statuary, substitutes may be made, such as aluminum instead of mercury. I went with a set of planetary glasses myself, so I can always have an astrologically appropriate chalice if I need one.
These are the classic metals and their heavenly bodies:
Gold corresponds to the Sun: 
Silver corresponds to the Moon: 
Mercury corresponds to Mercury:
Copper corresponds to Venus: 
Iron corresponds to Mars: 
Tin corresponds to Jupiter: 
Lead corresponds to Saturn:
Extending beyond this list, we find modern correspondences such as these:
Zinc corresponds to Uranus: 
Cobalt corresponds to Neptune: 
Bismuth corresponds to Pluto: 
Earth is sometimes associated with lead, but lead already corresponds to Saturn. To derive a unique metal for Earth, we may consider silicon, which is the most common metalloid in the planetary crust:
Silicon corresponds to Earth: 
Metalworking
Things you make for yourself hold some of your personal energy. They are more powerful magical tools because of this. People use metal to make many decorative or practical items.
Gold, silver, and copper are easy to work. … I like silver for making magical artifacts because it’s soft and holds energy very well. … Copper or brass pipe makes an excellent wand, and you can stuff things inside it.
Gold, silver, and copper are easy to work. Gold is too expensive for most people. Silver is pricey, but you can get a lot of jewelry pieces at somewhat affordable prices. I like silver for making magical artifacts because it’s soft and holds energy very well. Copper is cheap, including copper wire for sculpture or jewelry. Craft foil is often copper or brass, and sometimes tin, for tracing or punching patterns. Copper or brass pipe makes an excellent wand, and you can stuff things inside it.
Colored metals—anodized aluminum, niobium, titanium—are easy to find, and prices vary but are usually affordable. You do need rubber-tipped tools to avoid scratching them. Start with aluminum if you can. Titanium is sturdy stuff and requires more strength to bend. These metals are among my favorites for color magic when I’m not just using stones.
Bronze can be worked in various ways that require only modest skills, such as bending or stamping. More adventurous crafters may wish to explore advanced sculpture with casting molten bronze into a mold. There are people crafting gorgeous Pagan statues now. A model is made and used to create a mold from which many castings can be made.
Iron has the highest melting point, which makes it demanding but rewarding to use. You can buy “blank” knife blades to mount with a handle and sharpen, which is as close as most people will get to making their own athame. A few people take blacksmith classes and learn to forge metal. One of the first apprentice projects is usually a candleholder, making this craft highly relevant for Pagans who want a challenge. Trivets are another popular project. I have two pentacles and another trivet with brooms on it. Another option for adventurous crafters is welding, useful in creating large-scale tools or sculptures. I have seen some very Pagan garden art made from upcycled iron bits welded together. One local crafter makes astrolabes.
Metal underlies much of human civilization and many forms of magic. Each metal has its own strengths and weaknesses. Some are more practical, others more decorative. They all have their own set of correspondences for things like heavenly bodies, deities, elements, gender, and the type of spells or rituals they best suit. They make many of our magical tools. As you work with metals, you can build up a set of those you like and learn what they do for you.
Elizabeth Barrette has been involved with the Pagan community for more than thirty years. She served as managing editor of PanGaia for eight years and dean of studies at the Grey School of Wizardry for four years. She has written columns on beginning and intermediate Pagan practice, Pagan culture, and Pagan leadership. Her book Composing Magic: How to Create Magical Spells, Rituals, Blessings, Chants, and Prayers explains how to combine writing and spirituality. She lives in central Illinois, where she has done much networking with Pagans in her area, such as coffeehouse meetings and open sabbats. Her other public activities include Pagan picnics and science fiction conventions. She enjoys magical crafts, historic religions, and gardening for wildlife. Her other writing fields include speculative fiction, gender studies, and social and environmental issues. Visit her blog, The Wordsmith’s Forge (https://ysabetwordsmith.dreamwidth.org/ ), or her website, PenUltimate Productions (http://penultimateproductions.weebly.com/ ). Her coven site, which includes extensive Pagan materials, is Greenhaven Tradition (http://greenhaventradition.weebly.com/ ).
Illustrator: Bri Hermanson