For millennia, mankind has found peace
and solace
in objects of significance. When cleansed
and
consecrated through ritual, such objects –
be they
gems, amulets, herbs, or written words –
become
talismans. A talisman is any item imbued
with a
specific power by its bearer to serve a
specific
intention. Ancient Egyptians used massive
stone
tablets as healing talismans while the
Greeks and
Romans used lead talismans to
communicate with
the spirit realm. Traditionally, a talisman
acts to
anchor energy in the physical plane. That
energy
may be protective in nature or may be
intended to
draw abundance, wealth, or a wide variety
of
blessings to its user. Today, a talisman may
be
made of wood, metal, paper, stone, or
natural
elements such as plants. Often, talismans
are small
enough to be easily worn or carried, and
they may
be marked with words or symbols that the
talisman’s owner deems meaningful.
Creating and owning a talisman can
reassure you
and also serve to aide you in attracting
what you
want in life. You may use your talisman to
help you
attain health, security, or good luck. Or you
may
simply want to carry an object with you
that will
remind you of your search for soulful
tranquility. In
order to create a talisman, you must first
determine
its physical properties. This can be as
innocuous as
a strip of paper bearing the word “Love”
and carried
in a wooden box or cloth sack. You may
prefer a
more visible talisman, such as a metal
amulet or a
gemstone worn as jewelry. Before your
object
becomes a talisman, however, it must be
charged.
This can be done by cleansing the object –
with
water or with incense – and holding a ritual
of your
own making. Or, you can leave the object
in
moonlight or sunlight or bury it in the earth
for a
time. To preserve its effectiveness,
talismans should
be reconsecrated regularly.
Almost any object can be transformed into
a
talisman of protection, good fortune,
health, love,
or serenity. It may be strung on a cord and
hung
around the neck, worn on a belt, or carried
in a
purse or pocket. But the physical
properties of the
talisman are not as important as the
intention of its
bearer. If you are grounded in your desires,
your
talisman will give you a focal point that you
can
concentrate on to affirm your intention and
help you
achieve your goals.
- (OS.004)
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