Saturday, July 28, 2007

Charming

In times of trial and tribulation we all rely on something to give us good luck. Human nature and human history have led us all to the lucky rabbit's foot (unlucky for poor old bunny) or a Buddha's belly to rub. Maybe for you it's a four leafed clover , a horseshoe, or a scarab beetle, but what makes us rely on inanimate objects to get us through those difficult times. What is it that makes us consider something lucky, or unlucky?

These charms may not be the standard talisman's either.
"I have to touch the door knob three times" a friend said recently when we were deciding whether to risk a precarious looking ladder in the street.
I didn't like to tell her that along with her need to clean the house five times a day that this is called OCD. She does, however have a weird looking gonk that sits in her kitchen. He apparently keeps the kitchen from exploding.

Beliefs and religions all carry their own special charms - rosaries, acorns, mantra's, feathers and prayers, all designed to give us power over the things that might be out to get us, and the things that we really have no control over.

I look around my own house and find all manner of charmed objects (well, what did you expect - I'm a witch, of course I'm going to have a few amulets dotted around), symbols to keep the evil eye on the outside of the door and ones to Feng Shui me chi on the inside.

The little guy below ( a very ugly baby who has no business being in any house let alone mine but was a gift from my sister when I was about eight - she hated me) aids me writing processes and being a witchy type I also share my home with a black cat who lives mostly on me bed - lucky for him that I don't mind.


So come on, fess up. What charms your life, keeps body and soul healthy and stops the evil pixies from stealing yer best knickers?

.
(a very ugly baby with magick powers - he also sings like an angel and makes a mean fettuccine alfredo)


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27 comments:

Jon M said...

I've got a sandalwood Ganesh that I smile at every now and then...and a scarab sitting next to him come to think of it...whatever would the vicar say?
Russell Grant's got a buddha's belly. I wouldn't rub that but I sometimes check out me horoscope for some unknown reason. And of course magpies...don't get me started!

Unknown said...

It's all right, Jon, think of this as a private confessional box. Nobody else need know about you and Russell Grant's belly.

Gorilla Bananas said...

I have a lucky nose-hair trimmer which I never use. Doesn't Mutley have a lucky condom?

Unknown said...

I expect so.

John said...

I don't have any special objects, but then I just saw two little green creatures running out of here with the last of my clean underwear. Oh, well. No problem...

Anonymous said...

I have two buddhas a little grey one and a large red one... I did have a lucky condom but I lost it - not so lucky then...

L.M.Noonan said...

Where to begin? I've never really thought about what I think is lucky or particularly auspicious, howver I have several Ganeesh, the largest,sculpted from javanese stone is just outside my studio (I posted a photo of him once) has a bindi and I regularly place a flower in the s bend of his trunk and touch his bindi. I purchased my first Ganeesh, a bronze about 25cm tall from a nepalese trader in the 80's stands guard over the kitchen bench. We have buddhas in all his guises everywhere both in thehouse and in the garden, A large hindu water sprite 'Uma' guarding the fishpond. Hanuman at the front steps, A large bronze Shiva in the bedroom, a medium sized wooden rabbit in my studio ( I also collect rabbits) the list would go on forever. I also have a collection of strange dolls meant for darker purposes That I keep in my studio. One has been in use for the past 18 months.
Of course I don't believe it all this stuff...but just in case

Unknown said...

Too many to mention but the list includes, two happy buddhas, two dragons - one curled up on a piece of fluorite, a tiny viking, a huge supply of crystals - and oh yeah, a large,wire-framed, beaded chicken with erm...beady eyes...
Can't say I rely on any of them to do anything special, but since everything is imbued with its own energy and all things interconnect...

Unknown said...

John, you had best move to Cornwall - you would fit in well here with the other underwear challenged folk.

I expect the large red one has yer lucky condom, Muts (does that sound a bit rude - yes probably, heh?)

Unknown said...

LM and Atyllah, I think one has to cover all possibilities/religions/belief systems. I too have a house full of anti-hex devices - shivas, wind chimes, indian dolls, white sage etc because you never know.

LM, I am fascinated - do you want to elaborate of the 'dark dolls'? Oh go on. Please?

Jan said...

WOt, may I ask, are you doing photographed( cig holder aloft??) in the Home section ( page 14) of The Sunday Times...?

Unknown said...

Umm, well, what can I say?

Roberta said...

I have a lucky three legged terra cotta pig in my kitchen window. Oh, and two ceramic rabbits.

Not quite a lot of lucky charms, but enough to get me by...

Unknown said...

Are three legs luckier than four? I suppose it is if you were a two-legged pig in the first place!

Unknown said...

My devilish masks are the first thing you see when you come through the door. I'm hoping that it keeps burglars away, although seeing as I had to break into my own apartment when I first moved in maybe I should move them to the front room.

Unknown said...

I've got a marvellous Dad!

I don't wear knickers.

And I hope Mutley washes his condom!

Unknown said...

Oh lord, I forgot the chimes, the Chinese sage, the mirror mobiles, the guinea fowl feathers, Alfie the Guardian (made from scrap metal) who protects the garden, the various smudging sticks...

Unknown said...

I don't wear knickers.

Lager helps.

Unknown said...

Oh cool, V, I love masks and have quite a few African ones hanging in the hallway. They used to frighten the Feckers, but it kept them in bed!

Funny isn't it Vanill, most of us have some sort of talisman(s) lurking around the home. Superstitious bunch, aren't we?

Is it a pre-requisite for those named John not to wear the under-pantaloons? This will involve some undercover investigation!

Roberta said...

Minx, the pig's name is "Lucky". We only need one ham that year.

Unknown said...

Roberta, that's revolting!

L.M.Noonan said...

I might scare people way if I elaborate. Some things are best not talked about. I've been impulse buying these 'voodoo'type dolls for years...I think I found the first when packpacking Indonesia( it's a "give somebody the shits in the form of torrential diarrhea -literally) and well the collection just grew. recently I found one being used by a member of my family. What can I say? Mind you like I said ...I don't believe in this stuff; but hey there's no harm in hedgeing your bets.

Anonymous said...

I love candles as well - I always think they are magic...

Unknown said...

I shall watch what I say, Noony.

That would be 'magick', Muts, and yes, couldn't live without them. Electric light should be banned.

Poetess said...

Hi Minx,

Thanks for replying to my writers block blog. As requested, here is a poem about Brussel Sprouts which you can also find on my blog. Hope you like it.


Said one sprout to another
We should go undercover
Before we get eaten alive
For the human race
Are a complete disgrace
in their quest for their daily 5.

They must be sad
Or completely mad
To want us served on a plate
They would be better with broccoli
Or good old chicory
For eating us, is really bad taste.

We don’t make it easy
They should feel rather queasy
with our ghastly sulphur pong
So why would they choose us
Is truly beyond us
We must be doing something wrong.

We look like a cabbage
Fit for the garbage
And cause them to belch and to groan
Let’s save them the tussle
And push off to Brussels
Then at least we’ll feel, right at home.

Poetessxxx

Unknown said...

I don't have any African masks, but I do have a Togolese gentleman on a horse who always reminds me of Don Quixote when I look at him. I reckon he'd be quite good on burglars too, cos he's bloody heavy. I haven't been burgled (touch wood) since I left England, I don't know where this obsession is coming from.

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

I hope I'm not too late...
I came by so many times and sat and wondered, and read and enjoyed so much too...
but... I could think of no lucky talisman that I touch or carry.

I searched for one.
There were none.

Then I realized there is one thing I kind of think of that way, like a lucky white penny floating up in the heavens.
The moon... which follows me everywhere I go, and often shines on my face as I smile back up at it. This is my traveling companion, favorite celestial joy.

That's the best I can do, does it count?

Scarlett & Viaggiatore