Good Luck Amulets & Charms

Amulets

An amulet is considered any natural object that brings luck, such as a rabbit's foot, 4-leaf clover, and gemstone etc. used in a form of jewelry. Although, in modern times the word is synonymous with talismans or charms, its original meaning  referred to things that occur in nature rather than something man-made such as horseshoes or lucky coins etc.

Charms

In modern usage, the word "charm" is frequently used to describe an amulet or talisman. But originally, it was something that brought good luck when combined with a gesture or a chant. Charms are also thought to cure or prevent illness & afflictions.

Below you will find some various "good luck" items & symbols as well as their origins. I've tried to include some common ones as well as some not-so common ones.

Angels

Long thought the symbol of the invisible forces between heaven & earth, angels are the most perfect of protectors & bringers of good luck. Many believe that all of us have has our own personal guardian angel to guide us towards luck & away from evil.

Baby's Hair

When a mother cuts a lock of her baby's hair & puts it away for safekeeping, She is creating a lucky charm. From ancient times all around the world, such mementos were meant to ensure a long, healthy life as long as the lock of hair was kept in a safe place.

Crescents

Among the most powerful of all lucky symbols, the crescent is especially lucky for children & their mothers. In ancient Egypt, the crescent moon was the symbol of Isis, the mother of the gods. As it's symbolism spread throughout the world, it eventually became the symbol of paradise, especially when represented with a star.

Daisies

The luckiest of little girls is the one who finds the daisy with the odd numbered petals thus ensuring the last will be an affirmation of love when they ask "He loves me, He loves me not." Gypsies believe that a girl can recover an absent lover  by sleeping with daisy root under her pillow.

Effigies

Practitioners of voodoo are said to be able to bring bad luck in the form of pain to their enemies by creating images of them so that when cut or struck will affect the real person in the same way. This method of transmitting bad luck is common in many cultures. Native Americans would draw a figure in the sand or ashes of the fire & poke it with a sharp stick to bring pain to an enemy. In some cultures, these images are also intended to bring good & fortune as well.

Fetishes

Similar to an amulet, a fetish is a natural object such as an animal tooth or bone, intended to create a bond between the human & supernatural world. The difference is that the fetish is believed to be actually inhabited by spirits. In Africa they are called "Juju", meaning "sacred object". A collection of these charms kept in little bags came to be known as "gris gris", by uprooted African slaves. A slang term for the "juju" of their ancestors. See more on this subject below....

Gris Gris'

A staple of Hoodoo/Voodoo practice & beliefs, Gris Gris' are usually a collection of herbs, bits of bones, stones etc combined in a flannel or cloth bag. The fabrics of the bags are usually made to coincide with the wishes or desires hoped to be obtained by placing the bag on their person or in the path of the "target". There are both good & bad gris gris'.

Holly

Although it is one of the most enduring symbols of Christmas, holly was the gift of good luck among the Romans celebrating their midwinter festivals. The northern tribes, who eventually brought about Rome's downfall draped holly over doorways as shelter for friendly woodland spirits who could bring good luck to their houses. Sprigs of holly in the house at Christmastime will bring you good luck. But... be careful not to bring it indoors before Christmas Eve or your family will fall to squabbling. (Bet you wondered why that happened. grin...) Also be sure to burn it on 12th night (January 5th) or the good luck will turn sour.

Ides Of March

Julius Caesar was warned "Beware the Ides of March". It is a fact that was assassinated on that very day, roughly March 15th in 44 B.C. For the average Roman, however, It was considered a lucky day. Part of the celebration included wine to ensure good luck. It was thought that for each glass of wine consumed by a person, a year was added to their life.

Jade

Jade has long been thought to be lucky to gamblers & others around the globe. Jade carved in the shape of bats or storks is believed to ensure a long life in China. Ancient Peruvians used it to ward off kidney problems while Early Europeans believed it a charm against eye problems. Not everyone thought it lucky, however. Some astrologers claim that the lovely  green stone can actually bring bad luck to those born under the sign of Sagittarius or Gemini.

Keys

Found keys are considered very lucky. Antique ones being especially so. At the time of finding, it is traditional to say:

"The key to your heart lies on the ground.

The key to your heart has now been found.

I lock up your love with the heart of my own,

I'll guard it forever with the love I have shown."

As you say these words, think of the one you love & the two of you being together forever. Sleep with the key under your pillow for 9 nights & carrying it with you during the day. After the nine days it may then be put away in a safe place.

Lizards

In ancient times, lizards were thought to be a warning that a poisonous snake was nearby, hence good luck. It is also thought to preserve the wearers eyesight. Some people believe that if you kill a lizard you will pay for it with failing vision. The lizard is also seen as a protector to unborn children. If an expectant mother wears a lizard charm she will give birth to a happy, healthy baby. Even better, if a live lizard crosses her path, her child will live a long & prosperous life.

Malachite

Malachite has many different uses as a charm. Traditionally, people wore malachite to ward off & see oncoming peril. It was believed that the stone would spontaneously break into pieces at any sign of upcoming peril. As "the salespersons stone", It is also thought to bring power, protection, love & tranquility. If you are having difficulty sleeping, try wearing a necklace with this stone to promote calmness & overall relaxation in your hand as well as reinforcing sleep & peacefulness. Placed in the cash register of a business, it is thought to bring good luck & success. One stone placed in each corner of an establishment will bring customers in as well. Worn near your heart, it is thought to increase your capacity to love as well as the ability of love to find you.

Numbers

It is thought that every number has a special significance & according to ancient astrologers & numerologists, every person has a lucky number. In general, odd numbers are thought to be luckier than even ones. One simple way of finding your lucky number is by adding together the day, month & year you were born and continue adding the sum of the numbers until you are left with a single digit.

Example: Birth date is January 31st, 1993

1 + 31 + 1993 = 2025

2 + 2 + 5 = 9

so this person’s lucky number is 9.

Opal

In the Far East, necklaces & charms containing Opal stones are believed to make the wearer a truthful person. The stone is also thought to convey the gift of prophecy & foresight, but only for those pure of heart. According to the Chinese, if the power of an opal is used for selfish purposes it will bring the worst kind of luck.

Pigs

Little pig figures are popular souvenirs among visitors to Ireland, where they are thought to bring luck to the Irish. But folk wisdom says that the charm must have a part missing so they are sold minus an ear or a leg. Otherwise they don't qualify as a lucky charm.

Quartz

For thousands of years, the quartz crystal has been used in rituals meant to bring about much needed rainfall by the Native Americans & Aboriginals. This stone is said to have a strong connection with water, and is also connected with protection & healing. Quartz also symbolizes the spirit & intellectual powers unique to the human race.

Red Things

The Gypsies believe that finding anything red, a button, some yarn etc., means you will be lucky in love. Whatever it is you may find along the way, pick it up & carry it with you as a good luck amulet. As you bend to pick it up, think of the one you love and recite these words:

"Red is My Blood & Red is My Heart,

Lucky in Love; Never Keep Us Apart."

Stars

Any charm in the shape of a star is considered quite lucky. It is an ancient belief that everyone has been assigned a special star of destiny. Even today, many believe that we each have a star with our name on it. It shines at our birth and goes dark at the instant of our death. In between, it guides us through life & brings us luck. One of the most common star charms is that of the pentacle, the five-pointed star, which the ancients believed had the power to trap the forces of evil, rendering them powerless.

Tattoo

The word "tattoo" apparently became part of the English lesson in the late 18th century when explorer Captain James Cook discovered gashes made on the Polynesians bodies that they called "tatou". Even before that, there was a long history

of people marking their bodies to ward off evil, signify status & bring good luck. In just about every case, the practice grew from the belief that symbols painted on or cut into the flesh would ward off evil & ensure good luck. Just as earrings and nose rings etc were created as a means of protecting exposed opening in the body, a scar or painted talisman on the

neck or nose represented a more permanent means of warding off evil spirits lurking in the air.  Many Hindus believe that you can’t enter heaven without a tattoo. It is related to a belief that soldiers wore tattoos to aid in identifying their bodies if they fell in battle.  Without identification they may not get a proper burial. And that, they thought, would diminish their chances of entering heaven. This is where the sailors of the western world got the idea to give themselves individualized markings to help them be identified if they were washed ashore after drowning.

Umbrella

Everyone probably has heard the saying that opening an umbrella indoors will bring bad luck & that, in some countries, you are testing fate by leaving one on a table. The bad luck attributed to umbrellas may come from the concept of sympathetic magick. The idea that imitating a force can create an opposite reaction. Therefore, opening an umbrella indoors when the sun is shining will bring rain. A more superstitious belief is that an pen umbrella in the house is a direct insult to the household gods. Evidently, they may be offended by the suggestion that their protection against the elements is not good enough. In India, where they were thought to be invented, umbrellas were considered good luck even on sunny days outdoors. It is venerated as one of the eight glorious emblems of Buddha and was a symbol of royal power even before that time.