Charmed Objects, page 1

Recently I did a thread on ATS: Cursed Objects through discussion in this thread it has become apparent to me this is only one side of the story.

Originally posted by General.Lee
Your post made consider the possibility that in addition to things being detrimental to our health, just by their presence, why couldn't there be things that are beneficial just by their presence? Would it not be the same concept, except the polar opposite?

Unknown energy most associate with these objects tends to stem from negative instances but I see it as General.Lee mentioned also.
Like an equalizer in a stereo, on the top is positive energy, on the bottom is negative. If it takes an extreme negative instance to create a so called curse on things, the same would have to be true in reciprocal for the other side of the spectrum, in other words - positive charms!
Amulets, talismans and charms all fit this category and throughout human history they have been worn, carried and worshiped for good fortune and luck.

Charms

Llewellyn Link to Full Article

Charms were originally spoken or sung. The word charm comes from the French charme, which means song. The blessing that a priest gives at the end of a service is an example of this sort of charm. But gradually, people came to the conclusion that spoken words were ephemeral, while a solid object was permanent. Objects that had special significance—such as a splinter that was believed to be from the cross of Jesus—replaced sung or spoken charms.
Almost anything can (and has been) used as a charm. Buttons and coins are good examples. This is because these items are frequently lost, and found by others. Anything that you find can be used as a charm. Small objects that are given to you also make good charms, because of the pleasant connotations they provide. Many gift stores have a selection of small objects that can be used as charms.
Lucky charms are normally carried on the person, but there are exceptions. My grandmother had a metal tin full of buttons. She would shake the tin vigorously whenever she wanted good luck. I have seen St. Christopher medals attached to the inside mirror of many taxicabs. These drivers obviously prefer to have the medal where they can see it, rather than somewhere on their person.

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Four Leaf Clover: Wiki Link

The four-leaf clover is an uncommon variation of the common, three-leaved clover. According to tradition, such leaves bring good luck to their finders, especially if found accidentally.[1] According to legend, each leaf represents something: the first is for faith, the second is for hope, the third is for love, and the fourth is for luck.

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Ankh: Holoweb Link

Ankh (see also Cross, Knot) The Egyptian crux ansata, or looped tau-cross. This magic knot or cross, known as Nem Ankh, the key of life, was often used in the iconography of opposites. The loop over the tau-cross could stand for the Sun, for Heaven and Eath as the macrocsm and for man as the microcosm. It is generally interpreted as a symbol which expresses the reconciliation of opposites of the integration of active and passive qualities. This is amply confirmed by the fact that, when recumbent, the ankh symbolizes both male and female sexual attributes in precisely the same way as the very realistic Hindo depiction of a Hermaphrodite standing on a Lotus flower. Champdor gives a more traditional interpretation as:
the symbol of the millions of years of the life to come. The loop is the perfect symbol of what has neither beginning nor end and stands for the soul which is eternal because it has sprung from the spiritual essence of the gods. The cross erpresents the state of trance in which te neophyte struggled, or, more precisely, the state of death, the crucifixion of the chosen victim, and in some temples the priests used to lay the neophyte on a bed shaped like the cross... The possessor of the geometric key to the hidden mysteries, of which the symbol was this very looped cross, was able to open the gates of the Kingdom of the Dead and penetrate the hidden meaning of eternal life.
Gods, kinks and Isis (almost invariably) are depicted holding the ankh to show that they command the powers of life and death and that they are immortal. The dead also carry it at the time their souls are weighed or when they are aboard the Boat of the Sun God, as a sign that they seek this same immortality from the gods. Furthermore the ankh symbolized the spring from which flowed divine virtues and the elixir of immortality. Therefore to hold the ankh was to drink from that well. It was sometimes held upside down by the loop - especially in funeral rites when it suggested the shape of a key and in reality was the key which opened the gateway of the tomb into the Fields of Aalu, the realm of eternity. Sometimes the ankh is placed on the forehead, between the eyes, and then it symbolizes the duty of the adept to keep secret the mystery into which he has been initiated - it is the key which locks these secrets away from the uninitiated. Blessed by the supreme vision, endowed with clairvoyance to pierce the veil of the beyond, he cannot attemot to reveal the mystery without losing it for ever.

Rudraksha: Rudraksham Link

The terms Rudraksha literally means the "Eyes" of Shiva and is so named in His benevolence. Shiva Purana describe Rudraksha's origin as Lord Shiva's tears. He had been meditating for many years for the welfare of all creatures. On opening the eyes, hot drops of tears rolled down and the mother earth gave birth to Rudraksha trees.
For thousands of years Rudraksha beads have been worn by mankind for good health, religious attainment through Japa and Shakti (power) and for fearless life. Saints and sages roaming in Himalayas and other forests have lived healthy, fearless and a full life by wearing Rudraksha's and its Malas. There is no saint, God incarnation or Shankaracharyas, who can be identified without these vibrant Rudraksha beads or Malas.

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Luck Charm Bracelet: Wiki Link

A charm bracelet is an item of jewelry worn around the wrist. It carries personal "charms": decorative pendants or trinkets which signify important things in the wearer's life.
The wearing of charms may have begun as a form of amulet to ward off evil spirits or bad luck.
During the pre-historic period, jewelry charms would be made from shells, animal-bones and clay.
For instance, there is evidence from Africa that shells where used for adornments around 75,000 years ago. In Germany intricately carved mammoth tusk charms have been found from around 30,000 years ago. In ancient Egypt charms were used for identification and as symbols of faith and luck. Charms also served to identify an individual to the gods in the afterlife. During the Roman Empire, Christians would use tiny fish charms hidden in their clothing to identify themselves to other Christians. Jewish scholars of the same period would write tiny passages of Jewish law and put them in amulets round their necks to keep the law close to their heart at all times. Medieval knights wore charms for protection in battle. Charms also were worn in the Dark Ages to represent family origin, religious and political convictions.
Charm bracelets have been the subject of several waves of trends.
For example, Queen Victoria wore charm bracelets that started a fashion among the European noble classes. Soldiers returning home after World War II brought home trinkets made by craftsmen local to the area where they were fighting to give to loved ones. American teenagers in the 1950s and early 1960s collected charms to record the events in their lives. Although interest and production waned through the latter part of the 20th century, there was a resurgence of popularity after 2000 and collectors eagerly sought out vintage charms. Inspired by to the movie Pirates of the Caribbean, bracelets with little charms of swords, crosses and skulls were introduced as a fashion trend during Winter 2006.

Amulets and Talismans are a bit ambiguous. Some believe all Amulets are worn while others believe Talismans are the same as Amulets just now worn. Instead they are hung, drawn, written, spoken or otherwise invoked.

Amulets

Llewellyn Link to Full Article

Amulets have been worn for protection for thousands of years. Early peoples lived in a world where strange and frightening things occurred that defied explanation. Consequently, amulets were used to protect homes, families, and livestock.
Amulets were also used to protect people from the “evil eye.” The belief that a person or animal could harm another by staring at them with an evil eye dates back at least five thousand years, and ancient clay tablets have been found that describe the damage that the evil eye can inflict. The Sumerian god Ea spent most of his time fighting the evil eye. Even today, in many parts of the world, the evil eye is considered a major threat, and various kinds of amulets are used to avert it.
Amulets were originally natural items, such as an animal’s tooth or a semi-precious stone. However, you can choose anything you like. Medals, bells, keys, and photographs can all be used as amulets. Many police officers in early twentieth-century New York carried St. Jude medals with them for protection. St. Jude is the patron saint of policemen.
Knots make effective amulets because they are believed to catch evil spirits. My grandmother tied knots on all her kitchen aprons to protect both her and the food she was preparing.

Rabbit Foot: Wiki Link

In some cultures, the foot of a rabbit is carried as an amulet believed to bring good luck. This belief is held by individuals in many parts of the world including Europe, China, Africa, and North and South America. It is likely that this belief has existed in Europe since 600 BC amongst Celtic people living in Britain. In variations of this superstition, the donor rabbit must possess certain attributes, or have been killed in a particular place, or killed by a particular method, or by a person possessing particular attributes (e.g. by a cross-eyed man).
It is widely believed that a rabbit's foot possesses power to bring good luck to its holder. This is believed to have stemmed from the pre-Celtic tradition of hunter clans rite of passage for their adolescent members. These young males were first introduced to hunting rabbits, as an introduction to his apprenticeship as a hunter. If they were successful, one of the hind feet of the rabbit was presented to them in a ceremony which would welcome them to manhood within the clan.

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Cruxifix: Wiki Link

A crucifix (from Latin cruci fixus meaning "(one) fixed to a cross") is a usually three-dimensional cross with a representation of Jesus' body, referred to in English as the corpus (Latin for "body"),[1][2] as distinct from a cross with no body. It is a principal symbol for many groups of Christians, and one of the most common forms of the Crucifixion in the arts. It is especially important in the Catholic Church, but is also used in Orthodox and Eastern Catholic, as well as Anglican, and Lutheran churches, (though less often in other Protestant churches), and it emphasizes Jesus' sacrifice — his death by crucifixion, which Christians believe brought about the redemption of mankind. Large crucifixes high across the central axis of a church, by the late Middle Ages a near-universal feature of Western churches, but now very rare, are known by the Old English term rood. Modern Roman Catholic churches often have a crucifix above the altar on the wall; for the celebration of Mass, the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church requires that, "on or close to the altar there is to be a cross with a figure of Christ crucified".[3]
Strictly speaking, to be a crucifix the cross must be three-dimensional, and a painting of the Crucifixion of Jesus is not a crucifix. However this distinction is not always observed. While the cross must be three-dimensional, the "corpus" need not be, and in the Orthodox Church it is normally either painted on a flat surface or worked in low relief (no more than three-quarters relief).

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Roman Phallus Amulets: Wiki Link

In ancient Roman religion and magic, the fascinus or fascinum was the embodiment of the divine phallus. The word can refer to the deity himself (Fascinus), to phallus effigies and amulets, and to the spells used to invoke his divine protection. Pliny calls it a medicus invidiae, a "doctor" or remedy for envy (invidia, a "looking upon") or the evil eye.

Talismans

Llewellyn Link to Full Article

Because talismans are intended to provide power, energy, and specific benefits they are often made at times that are believed to be spiritually or astrologically significant. They are frequently made from stone, metal, or parchment as these substances can easily be inscribed with words or pictures to add additional power. Many talismans come from predatory animals. A leopard’s claw, shark’s tooth, or eagle’s feather, for instance, are believed to endow the wearer with some of the qualities of the animal from which it came.
People in competitive fields, such as sport, frequently have talismans to help them achieve their goals. Vida Blue—a famous Oakland A’s baseball pitcher in the 1970s and 80s—had a special cap that became his talisman. Finally, it became so old and faded that league officials threatened to suspend him if he did not change it. Blue got himself a new cap, and ceremonially burned his old cap at a pre-game ceremony.
The most famous talisman is a six-pointed star, made from two overlapping triangles. The upward pointing triangle symbolizes fire, the sky, and male energy. The downward pointing triangle symbolizes water, earth, and female energy. The power of this talisman is such that mystic Arthur Edward Waite wrote: “Nothing was believed impossible for those who possessed it.” (A. E. Waite, The Occult Sciences [Secaucus, NJ: University Books, 1974], 111). As the Star of David, this talisman symbolizes both the Jewish religion and the nation of Israel. It is also known as the Seal of Solomon because King Solomon is believed to have used it. However, it predates his time by hundreds of years.

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Hoseshoe: Wink Link

The horseshoe is presented as a talisman in The True Legend of St. Dunstan and the Devil; Showing how the Horse-Shoe came to be a Charm against Witchcraft, written in 1871 by Edward G. Flight, with illustrations by George Cruikshank and engravings by John Thompson.
A horseshoe on a door is regarded a protective talisman in some cultures
Superstitious sailors believe nailing a horseshoe to the mast will help their vessel avoid storms.

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Pentacle: Wiki Link

A pentacle (or pantacle in Thelema)[1] is an amulet used in magical evocation, generally made of parchment, paper or metal (although it can be of other materials), on which the symbol of a spirit or energy being evoked is drawn. It is often worn around the neck, or placed within the triangle of evocation. Protective symbols may also be included (sometimes on the reverse), a common one being the five-point form of the Seal of Solomon, called a pentacle of Solomon or pentangle of Solomon.[2] Many varieties of pentacle can be found in the grimoires of Solomonic magic; they are also used in some neopagan magical traditions, such as Wicca, alongside other magical tools.
The words pentacle and pentagram (a five-point unicursal star) are essentially synonymous, according to the Online Oxford English Dictionary (2007 revision), which traces the etymology through both French and Italian back to Latin, but notes that in Middle French the word "pentacle" was used to refer to any talisman. In an extended use, many magical authors treat them as distinct. In many tarot decks and in some forms of modern witchcraft, pentacles often prominently incorporate a pentagram in their design.
Pentacles, despite the sound of the word, often had no connotation of "five" in the old magical texts, but were, rather, magical talismans inscribed with any symbol or character. When they incorporated star-shaped figures, these were more often hexagrams than pentagrams.[citation needed] Pentacles showing a great variety of shapes and images appear in the old magical grimoires, such as the Key of Solomon; as Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa summarises it, their use was to "fore-know all future things, & command whole nature, have power over devils, and Angels, and do miracles." Agrippa attributes Moses' feats of magic in part to his knowledge of various pentacles.

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Gemstones: EHow Link

Some gemstones are used as Talismans, with each stone associated with certain properties. Quartz is known for its healing energy, both emotionally and spiritually. Amethyst provides the same benefits as quartz, increases the effectiveness of other stones, and can supposedly help insomnia if placed under a pillow. Lapiz Lazuli is purported to improve confidence in appearance and talents, bestow intuition and perception, and boost the imagination and psychic abilities.

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Zodiac: EHow Link

Many different cultures associated small talismans with the zodiac calendar. Some talismans include rings "energized" according to specific practices and made from certain metals. According to RenaissanceAstrology.com, Saturn talismans will bring long life, success, discipline and wisdom. Jupiter talismans bring wealth, good fortune and justice. Much like the Greek God Mars, Mars talismans are said to bring courage, command, strength, determination, and energy. Sun talismans are associated with fame, job promotion, respect and authority. Venus talismans seek out the energies of love, friendship, and the arts. Mercury talismans bring traits of communication, business, and memory. The Moon attracts health and wealth, while instilling safety.

Egyptian: EHow Link

According to New Age Information, some of the most popular Egyptian talismans were scarab beetles, because they "emerged spontaneously from the burrow they were born in. Therefore they were worshiped as "Khepera," which means "the one who came forth.'" Another talisman was the Ankh, which was a "symbolic representation of both Physical and Eternal life." It is associated with the elements: water, air, sun and the Gods, who were often shown holding an ankh.

There are other forms of these objects that I feel I need to include also but don't quite fit into one group or another. The list is very long so I am only going to briefly do two here.

In Hindu mythology, Om or AUM is believed to be the first sound to pervade through the Universe at the beginning of time. Almost all Mantras are also initiated by reciting the word 'Om'. Worshippers of this sacred symbol are blessed with luck, material comforts and spiritual powers.

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OM: Wiki Link

Om or Aum (also Auṃ, written in Devanāgari as ॐ and as ओम्, in Sanskrit known as praṇava प्रणव [lit. "to sound out loudly"], Omkara, or Auṃkāra (also as Aumkāra) ओंकार (lit. "Auṃ form/syllable"), is a sacred/mystical syllable in the Dharma or Indian religions, i.e. Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism.
Aum, pronounced as a long or over-long nasalized close-mid back rounded vowel, [õːː]) though there are other enunciations adhered to in received traditions. It is placed at the beginning of most Hindu texts as a sacred incantation to be intoned at the beginning and end of a reading of the Vedas or prior to any prayer or mantra. The Māndukya Upanishad is entirely devoted to the explanation of the syllable. The syllable consists of three phonemes, a Vaishvanara, u Hiranyagarbha and m Iswara, which symbolize the beginning, duration, and dissolution of the universe and the associated gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, respectively. Aum is pronounced in three sounds - A (aaa) , U (ooooo) and M (mmmmm) and signifies Right (A) and Left (U) Sympathetic Nervous Systems (SNS) and (M) Parasympathetic Nervous System. Right SNS (controlled by Left part of brain) looks after the actional aspect where as the left SNS looks after the emotional aspect of human beings.
The name Omkara is taken as a name of God in the Hindu revivalist Arya Samaj.

Swastika: Wiki Link

When Hitler created a flag for the Nazi Party, he sought to incorporate both the swastika and "those revered colors expressive of our homage to the glorious past and which once brought so much honor to the German nation." (Red, white, and black were the colors of the flag of the old German Empire.) He also stated: "As National Socialists, we see our program in our flag. In red, we see the social idea of the movement; in white, the nationalistic idea; in the swastika, the mission of the struggle for the victory of the Aryan man, and, by the same token, the victory of the idea of creative work."
The swastika was also understood as "the symbol of the creating, acting life" (das Symbol des schaffenden, wirkenden Lebens) and as "race emblem of Germanism" (Rasseabzeichen des Germanentums).

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The swastika (Sanskrit: स्वस्तिक) is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing (卐) form or its mirrored left-facing (卍) form. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient India as well as Classical Antiquity. It remains widely used in Indian Religions, specifically in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
Following a brief surge of popularity in Western culture, the swastika was adopted as a symbol of the National Socialist German Worker’s Party (the Nazi Party) in 1920. After Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in 1933 the Swastika became a commonly used symbol of Nazi Germany; in 1935 the Nazi Party Flag, which incorporated a Swastika, was made the sole State Flag of Germany. As a result in the western world the Swastika has been strongly associated with Nazism and related ideologies such as Fascism and White Supremacism since the 1930s. Its use is now largely stigmatized in the west; it has notably been outlawed in Germany if used as a symbol of Nazism. Many modern political extremists and Neo-Nazi groups such as Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging and Russian National Unity use stylised swastikas or similar symbols.

All though the Swastika seemed to not bring Hilter or the Nazi Party the power they associated the symbol with in the end. No one can say they didn't wreak havoc to the entire world and for such a small country, they almost were not defeated by the other superpowers. Any historian will tell you it was a close call until the turning point.

I hope you enjoyed this follow up to my other thread and please if you have any information the would add more light to this topic I would love for you to share.

Thanx. . . AB

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edit on 6/11/2011 by AnteBellum because: (no reason given)