Amulets
For thousands of years our ancestors have used magical amulets for everything from protection to good health. Even the simplest or most familiar pendant can have a very old spiritual and magical meaning. This post is a reference for finding the right amulet for the right purpose.
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Acorn – Fruit of the sacred Oak tree. As a charm it has been worn for centuries. It protects from illness and is a symbol of longevity, fertility, and immortality. If a woman carries one with her in her purse she will never grow old.
Ank – Means “imperishable life force”. Protects from sickness, infertility, loss of psychic powers, and it grants immortality in the Otherworld.
Butterfly – Represents longevity, immortality, rebirth and is a symbol of the soul and eternal life.
Cat – Worn as an amulet by the ancient Egyptians to whom cats were sacred to the Goddess Bast, but it lost use in the Middle Ages when cats became associated with witches and the devil. In modern times black cats are a lucky charm, and a black cat brooch was especially popular.
Deer – Represents sexuality and protects against infertility and sexual problems. Deer are sacred to Artemis (Diana), Cernunnos, and the Cailleach.
Dolphin – Protects against dangers at sea, especially drowning.
Dragon – Guards against unhappiness, infertility, and loss of love. A protector, associated with both the water and fire elements.
Ebony – Very protective wood which many magical amulets are made from. Guards against the evil eye and black magic. In South America mano fica or “fig sign” hand charms are carved from Ebony and worn by children to protect them. This magical wood is said to give magicians “pure unadulterated power.”
Egg – Protective charm once taken very seriously as the cosmic or orphic egg in Greek myth – it is the origin of the universe. The egg is a symbol of fertility and birth. Pregnant mothers can wear an egg amulet to protect their baby, and those who wish to conceive can also use this charm.
Equal-Armed Cross: This preChristian cross was worn as a protective amulet for as far back as 4000 BCE. The most elaborate are carved into women giving birth, and these crosses were perhaps used as fertility, pregnancy and birth charms. The cross is also a symbol of the sun, and a very powerful symbol of protection.
Feather – In ancient Egypt a golden feather amulet was believed to bring wealth and prosperity.
Fern- Lucky amulet that guides the wearer to treasure. Protective powers against evil spirits, drought, snakes, poverty, toothache, and aging. Fiddle heads are a charm for rain and fertility magic.
Fig Sign (Mano Fico) – Represents the female genitals and sexuality as well as the act of sex itself. This amulet protects from and diverts the evil eye, and is also used to break magic spells. In myth the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden is a fig tree. Eve offers Adam her “fig” and afterwards she covers her “fig” with a leaf, not covers herself with a fig leaf. Figs are also sacred to Dionysus (Bacchus).
Fish – Symbol of the goddess, of Venus – Aphrodite. Represents the reproductive organs; the womb, vulva. The Christian practice of abstaining from eating fish on Fridays stems from a Pagan practice as the word “Friday” comes from the Teutonic Goddess of Love, Frigga.
Fox – Amulet for apprentice shape-shifters and also a charm against poverty. Also believed to increase speed and cunning.
Frog – The frog as an amulet originates in Europe. It was used to protect against loss of virilitiy and fertility. It also represents rebirth. For the ancient Romans, frog charms were used to protect a house and its occupants from misfortune and loss of love. Frogs are sacred in Greece and Turkey where this amulet brings health, prosperity and wealth.
Goat – Increases sexual potency and guards against infertility.
Grasshopper – Worn by farmers to protect from a poor harvest, a crop fertility charm.
Hand of Fatima – An upside-down hand with an eye in the centre of the palm. This symbol protects from the evil eye, brings good fortune to the wearer, and gives them patiences and faithfulness. A common amulet found in the Muslim religion, but it originates from pagan times when the hand was a symbol of the Goddess, female sexuality, fertility, and of course still protection.
Heart – Symbol of life which prevents evil spirits from stealing the soul. The ancient Egytians believed if the soul left the heart, the body would die. Also an amulet of love and protection. A gift of a heart charm between lovers creates a lasting bond between the two.
Horn – Represents the bull, its power, and animalistic urges, and as a charm was used for crop fertility, human fertility – the bull is always linked with livestock and crops. The horn hand sign (cornuto) invokes the bull god’s protection. Overall this charm is a symbol of male virility and sexual potency.
Horned Hand (Mano Corunta) – Protects against the evil eye or against sinister and threatening people. This gesture invokes the protection of the horned god. This gesture originated in pre-Roman times and is more than 2500 years old. It has been found in wall paintings of Etruscan tombs, pottery of the Daunian people of 1000 BCE. The horned animal represented is most likely the bull, which was widely worshipped in the Mediterannean and Northern Europe in ancient times. The wearing of horned hand amulets has been common for the last 2000 years, this charm has never gone out of fashion or belief. Today the gesture is called “Devil’s horns” and is associated with hard rock and metal music.
Horse Brass – Date back to Pagan times. Horses were very precious and needed to be guarded against evil. Horse brasses protect from the evil eye and evil spirits. Old horse brasses had images of Pagan gods to repel bad spirits: suns, crescent moons, hearts, lotus flowers, sun gods, moon goddess, and gods of Egypt. Horse brasses lost their purpse in Victorian times and became purely decorative. Old horse brasses can be used to make protective amulets for out buildings (barn, chicken coup), a house, or livestock.
Lady Bug – Believed to bring success and wealth. If worn it absorbs your illness and takes it away. Also worn by women who wish to conceive, making the lady bug a fertility amulet.
Lion – Represents strength, bravery, honour, health, wealth, and success. Protects the wearer on dangerous travels.
Moon (Crescent) - In Egypt it was a symbol of Isis and was worn to protect mothers and children. In Rome women wore silver crescents in order to have healthy babies and to protect from witchcraft, delusions, hysteria and loss of love. The moon as an amulet is also associated with babies because the crescent moon is the New Moon – it is always representative of the waxing moon and so therefore fertility and creation. It is an ancient amulet of Goddess worship that has never stopped being used since Pagan times.
Owl – Sacred to Athena, a symbol of wisdom and knowledge. The owl is used as a lucky charm to prevent ignorance and increase knowledge in the wearer.
Phallus – Ancient amulet used to protect from the evil eye. One of the more popular Roman amulets was an erect phallus on one half and the fig sign (mano fico) on the other half, sometimes joined in the middle with a flaccid phallus or animal head. Romans wore them, even women and children. They were also popular with Roman soldiers. The amulets are used for protection, virility, sexuality, male potency. It was believed that the exposure of a taboo object would divert and preoccupy evil spirits.
Ram – In Egypt it was worn by sportsmen to increase their power, and it was worn by women as a fertility charm.
Scorpion – Protects from evil and both physical and psychic attack.
Sea Shell – Represents female sexuality, passions, fertility, birth, love, and the female genitals. The sea shell is also a symbol of Venus – Aphrodite.
Serpent – The serpent is the guardian and protector. It repesents the Gods of medicine as well as longevity, immortality, and rebirth. As a charm, the snake is used for protection and to guard against ill health.
Spider – In England a house spide was revered and kept alive, if it is killed you will lose money. Spiders were called money spiders, spinners, and makers. Spider charms are thought to bring wealth and prosperity. Romans wore them to have success in trade. Noth American Natives believe their webs catch bad dreams. Spider is also a symbol of the Fates who weave the web of life and of the old creator goddess Spider Grandmother.
Swallow – Good luck charm, good fortune.
Tau/Thau – An ancient t-shaped cross originating from Egypt, the Middle East and Western Europe. It was a symbol of wisdom, power, life, regeneration, fecundity, and protection. It was also used to guard against skin disease, snake bites, poison, and war injuries. Roman soldiers wore them so those who survived a battle could be easily identified. The tau is also a symbol of the Oak tree and was used for veneration by the Druids. This symbol is often confused with Thor’s hammer.
Thor’s Hammer – Mjolnir, the destroyer, war hammer of the Norse god Thor. Used to solemnize marriages and it became a charm for married couples. For over 1000 years this charm has been worn as a pendant around the neck for protection and in honour of Thor.
Tortoise/Turtle – A symbol of eternal life. It was believed to suppor the entire world on its back as the “cosmic turtle”. As an amulet it is used for longevity, wisdom, strength, stability, fortitude, benevolence, and patience. It also protects from death, ignorance, rash decisions and weaknesses. Charms made from tortoise shell protect from evil and black magic.
Wheel (eight-spoked) and Solar Cross – In ancient times the turning wheel was associated with the cycles of the heavens. The wheel is the universe, the sun, the sun god (the wheel of his chariot), of rebirth and renewal. A powerful charm that protects the wearer from the forces of nature. To wear it is to be protected by the Sun God himself. Also the wheel of fortune or Fortuna, the Roman goddess of fate and the changing seasons.
