Amulets and Talismans

Moondust And Angels http://www.moondustandangels.co.uk/p/category/1103213562-%3Cb%3EAmulets+Charms+and+Talismans/     

Amulets and Talismans




written by my very good friend Tylluan Penry author of ‘Seeking the Green’; ‘The Magical Properties of Plants And How To Find Them’ and ‘The Essential Guide to Psychic Self Defence’ - all published by Capall Bann



There is a lot of confusion about amulets and talismans. Some say that an amulet prevents bad luck, whereas a talisman brings good luck (think of a lucky charm). Another definition is that an amulet is usually engraved on stone, metal or some other hard substance, while a talisman is inscribed on paper, parchment or even leather under the appropriate astrological conditions. Others will have different definitions. My favourite is that an amulet protects, but a talisman tries to influence a particular event or situation.


Why do we need such things? Belief in the power of certain people to harm others is deep seated and widespread. It’s sometimes called the ‘Evil Eye’ and some people were thought to be so powerful that they could kill trees with their first glance of the morning! The traditional way to disarm this power is to distract it with something else so that the original intention to harm is forgotten. For this you can use anything pretty, dazzling or eye catching. If it appeals to you, then give it a try. What works for one person may not necessarily be as useful for another. Yes, it’s true that some signs have amassed a wealth of meaning and belief over the years, but if something lacks meaning for you personally, then its power will not be as strong. I firmly believe that we can make our own protection. But the important word here is ‘make’ – once you have your amulet or talisman you need to work with it, otherwise it’s just a piece of jewellery. And in fact the earliest jewellery was almost certainly worn for protection – and so was perfume!


Amulets are often curved to represent the horns of the crescent moon, which was sacred to the goddess Diana/Artemis in the Greco-Roman world and to Isis in Egypt. This type of amulet was particularly popular for pregnant women and babies, because the crescent moon is, quite literally, new born. We also see the same shape in other protective symbols, such as horseshoes and the lunar crescents on old horse brasses. Real horseshoes were considered particularly powerful since they were made of iron (protective in its own right!) and forged by smiths, who were always associated with powerful magic. In ancient times horses were often dedicated to the moon and thought to be under its special protection since their hooves left crescent-shaped footprints!


A round amulet on the other hand represents the full moon and is usually a talisman or good luck charm, whereas the crescent moon is more of a protective amulet. Any Roman amulet made of silver was associated with Diana, goddess of the Moon. Keys were also sacred to her, because she used them to open the gates of the sky at dusk so that the moon could travel across the heavens before she locked the gates again at dawn.


Bells of all sizes can be powerful amulets. At home I have dozens of them, ranging from tiny ones no more than an inch high to really large ones standing in their own bell-frames. In ancient Rome, horses competing in chariot races wore bells on their harness for magical protection against the evil eye and sharp practice by other competitors! A similar magical principal applies to cow bells and even Church bells, i.e. that demons and evil spirits feared the sound of metal.


Even the round glass balls used to decorate a Christmas tree had their origins in protective magic. Because of their shape they were particularly useful when you didn’t know exactly where the Evil Eye was coming from. Some – known as witch balls – were very large, up to twelve inches across (30cm) and came in a range of colours including silver, gold, blue, green and red. Although antique Witch Balls are not suitable for outdoor use, shiny globes (sometimes called spirit balls) can be placed in the garden to serve the same protective magical purpose.


Whether you decide to buy or make your amulet/talisman, there are several things you can do to improve its usefulness. Firstly I would recommend cleansing it. That way you will be starting off with a blank page, with no residual energies or negativity to get in the way. There is no single ‘right’ way of cleansing. You can hold it in your hand and say ‘Be cleansed’ and provided you truly mean what you’re saying, it will work. Some people like to ring a bell over the amulet (touch it afterwards and you will feel a pleasant ‘buzz’). Others leave it on a windowsill under a full moon, or hold it in their hand and literally blow any negativity away.


It’s also important to continue to care for it. This is not just a piece of jewellery – handled properly it will interact with you, become your protector. It needs regular polishing and wear. If you keep an amulet for ‘best’ and only bring it out on high days and holidays, it will not be as effective as something you wear often. This is because regular contact with you helps to empower it with a sense of belonging. It becomes your watchdog, your protector. No matter how beautiful your amulet, remember that it won’t work properly unless you keep it with you!
 
Browse our amulets and talismans  Moondust And Angels Amulets and Talisman

Read more about Tylluan and her books  The Magical World of Tylluan Penry


You can buy Tylluannes books direct from The Wolfenhowle Press here http://www.thewolfenhowlepress.com/ 


Tylluan is also a regular speaker at the Children of Artemis events.