The amulet or talisman as a symbol

Almost everywhere in the world people carry some kind of talisman or amulet with them, its shapes are different from country to country and from culture to culture. In general, the amulet or talisman was taken very seriously and was endowed with helpful, magical powers. Sometimes it had to protect the owner from bad luck and sometimes he had to bring luck to the owner. There are also funny cultural differences in Africa many women wear fertility figures in their clothing to increase the chance of pregnancy, in the West it is the opposite and contraception is used to prevent pregnancy. Especially in the Middle East people make much use of amulets and inscriptions of sayings from the Quran. In many cultures the so-called evil eye is known and there are also many antidotes in the form of an amulet or talisman or special gestures and magical objects to ward off evil eye. From the new age movement there is an interest in the protective and healing power of crystals and this too has developed very quickly and is distributed in America and large parts of Europe. Even people who do not believe in superstitions and protective amulets often have an object to which they are attached and that they always carry with them.

A talisman is an object that attracts energy and stimulates positive forces. An amulet repels negative energy and protects against accident. So a talisman brings luck and an amulet gives protection against evil. The word amulet comes from the Latin "amuletum", which means "method of protection". A talisman and amulet is usually worn on a chain, cord or string around the neck for protection of the carrier. The use of amulets and talismans is very old and goes back far in history. Many people think of an amulet as something like the well-known rabbit's foot but also the Christian cross on a chain around the neck is in fact a widely used amulet. Most amulets and talismans are made from natural products such as wood, stone, bone, herb pouches or shells. Also there are, amulets and talismans in the form of hollow tubes or crosses containing earth from holy places.

Usually an amulet will be worn on the body and supernaturally protect the wearer against disaster. An amulet can also be worn as a piece of jewelry and, for example, attached to clothing. But there are also amulets that are put down or hung in places that need extra protection such as door frames or above a baby's crib. About the difference between amulet and talisman there are several conceptions but nowadays the words amulet and talisman are used interchangeably. Lots of amulets and talismans are ancient symbols such as the eye of Horus, but everyday objects such as the well-known horseshoe are also believed to have special powers. In many Islamic countries, jewelry is worn with handwritten Quran texts on or in it. This could be about simple leather bags to beautifully decorated precious metal pendants. In East Asia, envelopes containing Buddhist texts also apply as powerful amulets. Nevertheless, wearing amulets is often dismissed as superstition and, for example, Islam rejects the belief in the supernatural power of objects. Often the amulets are associated with witchcraft and idolatry. But the amulets with Quranic texts and pendants with a cross or effigy of a Christian saint are in fact amulets. A well-known Catholic example is a saint Christoffel medal which was given to protect travelers. Even in our secular society there is still a belief in this kind lucky charm or security guards in the form of lucky dolls and dice hanging from car mirrors. Amulets seem to be a universal human need to feel safe and protected. Regards, Hein Pragt.