Taboos, Rituals, Potions, and Spells

"find a penny pick it up and all the day you'll have good luck"

That's what I always thought it was too. This last Friday (the 13th no less), I found a penny and picked it up, but my husband said - no it's not heads up, it will be bad luck if you pick it up. Has anyone else heard this part of the superstition? Or is it just him?

I've heard it has to be heads up for good luck but I believe finding it is luck enough. All the money I've found has added up. One time was a $20 at the doorway to a store. People were stepping on it. I just scooped it up and kept walking.

I have also heard the heads/tails thing about pennies, but I pick up all of them, because, well, I feel sorry for them! It seems that no one wants them, and I think it is sad to be unwanted. So, I pick them up. They all go into my big penny jar, where they can be happy together because each one is now wanted and is made to feel special.

Yeah, I know... I'm probably certifiable, but, well...

sigh...

bitemore, I completely understand...I have issues around stuffed animals locked away, thrown away...etc. and its been going on long before "Toy Story":) We could start a club!

Cynthia, true story: my friend and I collected Pokemon toys, and one day we saw a stuffed "Meowth" at a toy store, and it had been damaged. Still, we had one (it was the largest size) on order, so we decided not to buy the damaged one. On the way back, before getting to the checkout counter, we stopped at the Meowth character again. I started to walk past it, but at that moment it literally leaped off the shelf and into the cart!

We bought it.

bitemore, I DO understand! I have a collection of some very, well, not the prettiest stuffed animals because I am sure no one else will want them! My 10 1/2 year old son...doing the same thing:)

Actually, he would have had a FIT if we had seen that Meowth and I made any kind of noise about not buying it. He is totally into Pokemon, too. I am glad that Meowth knew YOU were the one!

Cynthia, your son would go ga ga if he saw our Pokemon collection... We have wall-to-wall Pokemon, on shelves, on the floor, on the sofa, in every room... we have dinnerware, linens, toys (of course)... now, I think the funniest thing of all is that we are both 65 years old....

Heck, I even call my car the Pikamobile... Pikachu is my favorite character. We're just suckers for cute, I guess.

:-)

WOW!! You give me hope and courage...but I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. My dad is in his 70's and collects Kool-aid stuff. My parents live in the city where Kool-aid was invented, thus...and that is not all he collects. It is really all my parent's "fault" that my son and I are the collecting type. My kid will be thrilled when I tell him! YOU GO!!

One good contribution Nebraska has given..Koolaid...Invented in Hastings Ne.

I think Vise-Grips were invented there, too:) It may be just the factory is there. I will check.

#2.10: "My kid will be thrilled when I tell him!"

Your kid would love our place... you should see the looks in the eyes of trick-or-treaters when we open the door: the first thing they see is a huge 5' tall green alien, then their eyes are drawn to the model horse collection, then the Pokemon, and more Pokemon, and if they get any farther than that (dragging their parents, of course) they will eventually find hundreds of stuffed animals, the whole freakin' collection from the movie, "Cars," and the Harry Potter movies, and "Monsters, Inc.," and on and on and on.... we are pack-rats... and just cannot leave anything behind if it is cute... but we're so frustrated now because we're out of space and have to bypass so much cute stuff...

Yeah. I know. I'm warped...

:-)

Maybe warped...but a good warped! Harry Potter and Monsters, Inc are on the top of my list of favorites! My son's very favorite is Tow Matter...How funny and fun!

I think my parents bought the house they have because there is so much room for their collections. Let us just hope that someone else out there will love those you have not been able to bring home:)

#2.14: "My son's very favorite is Tow Matter...How funny and fun!"

Geez... your son has more in common with me than my own relatives... Tow Mater is my own favorite, and I have a giant plush one that I sleep with... it supplements my pillow when I watch TV in bed!

I'd like to think that all the toys I can't have will find homes with those who love them, regardless of the age of the person.

sorry for the misspell! My kid would be frustrated, if he knew:)

My parents taught me that toys are for all ages and I am passing that on to my son.

I will have to keep an eye out for a giant plush Tow Mater.

LOL I bought a stuffed E.T. for my son when the movie came out. It had leathery skin and a little heart light. One time a dog got it and chewed it up pretty good. My son was devastated! He brought it to me crying, and since he'd had it so many years, of course I couldn't find another one. So I tried sewing it up, one of the worst problems it had was its head was almost all the way off because the dog had chewed its neck. I sewed his neck and cut a red bandana to make one his size and got a little cowboy hat, and fixed him up like the kids did in the movie for Halloween. He has quite a few sewn up scars too, but my son is 32 years old and STILL has him!

On the penny thing, we always believed if you found one face down, you picked it up and gave it to someone else, face up. Then that person would have the good luck.

#2.17: "...but my son is 32 years old and STILL has him!"

That is just precious! Love it!

You were, and are, a good mom G.H., to do all of that for your son! Sounds like something my parents would have done. Actually, my dad did something like that for my mom. It had to do with laundry, new clothes and my very young brother's black crayon. Very great story (maybe not so great grammar, though:)

you know, I really don't feel so bad about my collection of teddy bears (mostly polar bears, including a "Knopf im Ohr" polar bear I got when I lived in Germany) and collection of wolves.

I keep a picture of a wolf just outside my bedroom door to keep the bad spirits out. It does not work on cats.

Just remembered another. An ankle bracelet keeps tigers away.

An ankle bracelet keeps tigers away.

I'll have to remember that, in case we have a sudden tiger infestation here in Indiana...

;-)

Just remembered another. An ankle bracelet keeps tigers away.

I've never heard that one. LOL. But, I'm a tiger (in Chinese astrology), are you gonna keep me away too?... *pouts*

My mom told me about the bracelet and I believe her, for as long as I wore it I was never attacked. Now, Tumbleweed, since you are an astrological tiger rather than an earth tiger I think we have nothing to worry about. Unless I wear a tierra...

Unless I wear a tierra...

Okay, sorry, but I can't help myself.......HUH? What do you mean? *frowning in thought*

Just kidding. I don't have a tierra. Just some tinsle got stuck on my ears last Christmas. I don't want to keep you away. Come a little closer and I'll give you a big {smooch}.

Hey Tumbleweed! I'm a tiger in chinese astrology too. Yay, I found another one. I'm not much of an Attack Tiger though! LOL

Uncle Nick, I sure hope you don't get a tiger infestation in indiana (unless they can't read and think it's India instead Indiana! LOL

Great catch, G.H., LOL Like Tumbleweed, some tigers should be held close, not kept away. : )

purrrrrrrrrs

likes hugs...... purrrrrrrss some more

I'm a little awkward with hugs but I'll try. \<}^HuGx/*?> Sorry, I'm all legs. {smooch}

Mulie, you are just too cute for words!

Here ya go: {{{{{{{{{{Mulie}}}}}}}}}}

:-)

ooooooh, bitemore, I can't give 'um but I sure can receive. That felt good.

You guys are awesome! Thanks for helping me start my day in a GOOD mood. LOL.

*smiles*

(((((hugs))))) to all of you!

Uncle Nick, I sure hope you don't get a tiger infestation in indiana (unless they can't read and think it's India instead Indiana! LOL

well, the 2nd ex-wife s a "Tiger" on the Chinese Zodiac, too... So I may need that ankle bracelet, yet, LOL

When I move into a new home, I sage it to get rid of the negative vibrations in the place.

I also believe in the use of the white light{ other colors, too}.

I say Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, when I get things that I hoped for and even when unexpected things happen that enrich my life.

I follow the Native American philosophy {respect life and Mother Earth} as best I can. I use her herbs for cures instead of prescription drugs.

I practice the you and your world are because of your thoughts.

Others I just can't think of right now

GetOffMyMountain

Sounds like a good life you're leading. Have sent you a friend request and hope you'll accept. :)

Yes I will accept. Thanks for asking. Thanks for the compliment about the life I live. Took me years to get here, but here I am, and am happier than I have ever been.

GetOffMyMountain, I did accept your friend's request...but did some other weird thing, as well. Not exactly sure what.

I also believe in colors for health and general good will. I am also a big fan of Louise Hay, You can heal your life. It tells how our thought can contribute to our illnesses. Still working on changing old thoughts but it is a work in progress. If it were not a work, I'd be a saint:) FAR from that point.

Cynthia Thanks for accepting!!!! Ya I like using green for health, pink for love. I too, am still a work in progress as I have gotten off track several times since the late 70's which is when I got started{ while living in California}. I welcome and love reading all the comments that inform me and remind me of what I should remember or know for the future. I read and read books on the subjects, but I don't retain like I would like to. Now being retired, I have lots of time to catch back up with my favorite subject... metaphysical books.

actually, my Mom's family is French... my Dad's side is Irish (Mom & Dad never married... I'm Mom's only child, Dad's oldest of 8--ironically, Mom's the 2nd child of 9, Dad's the 2nd child of 2)

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Theresa, I have some Irish superstitions for you:

A sure way to break a friendship is to hand someone a knife. You just don't give anybody anything that would cut a friendship.

A purse without money in it is never given as a gift, even if it means putting a penny inside. That way it's never an empty purse and will never be.

Never hang a new calendar on the wall before New Year's Day. or you wo't live to see it.

Never walk in the front door of yourhome and then leave out the backor you will be letting the devil roam throughout the house.

Theresa, Yes you put the knife down and let them pick it up. Although my Grandma was not Irish the community she lived in had a large Irish population so she followed many of the same superstitions(her way). If she had a gift that was sharp she would place the package on the table and ask the intended recipient if they would like to buy it for a nickel. She never did put a tag or card on a sharp gift but she did not mind giving the nickel and getting it back again. It is fun to think about these things. Here's to hoping you have bubbles in your tea(bubbles floating on top of the hot tea in your cup means you will be coming into some money).

Does it count if you BLOW the bubbles! I only drink tea, no coffee...I'll have to pay more attention. My luck, I will get bubbles on payday and no other time:)

Does it count if you BLOW the bubbles! I only drink tea, no coffee...I'll have to pay more attention. My luck, I will get bubbles on payday and no other time:)

Our one like that was Hot chocolate (instead of tea) and wishes coming true (not getting money....unless you wished for it I guess).

We never give purses or wallets without some money in them too. Interesting how these things get around.

Didn't know about the "tea bubbles" but sometimes try to read the tea leaves at the bottom of the cup. LOL. (I'm not very good at it though....)

And, I remember my grandparents gave me a set of silverware as a wedding gift for my first marriage. I had to "pay" for the knives....think I gave my grandma a nickel (?) before she would give them to me. Didn't know about putting money in purses/wallets though.

If you'd really like to know e-mail me but I warn you, bound may sound good but...

Thanks Theresa.... :-)

I believe some people have a gift.

Me too.

(Wonder where you find an "advisor"....and how to go about it, etc.???)

*smiles*

~Diana~

Theresa, I think that more people than not do have the gift, but , they lose the ability as children, when they are told about "imaginary friends" etc.....

Just my thought.

*smiles*
~Sara

I think, not so much buried as never developed, and I think everybody has it. I have a lot of "power" in a sense, but I never learned to develop it (per se), so I sometimes make mistakes with it, but to myself not anyone else. We always smoke/smudge our homes with sage(to chase out any negativity/evil) then sweet grass (to invite positive/clean spirits back in). Any new furniture, bedding etc. When someone has lived there then left. I know there are others too, but I will have to think awhile. Oh, and making sure your shoes are always set as if you are wearing them, so you don't get crooked feet, and always make sure the pillowcase opening faces out to the edge of the bed(instead of toward the middle), so if you should die in your sleep, your soul can escape and not be trapped. Those are VERY old.

I am very interested in the sage and smudging as I have just ordered a shell and a sage thingee (it's late)....to burn.....GH? Someone, if it's too much to type here can you lead me to the information on it.....also the sweet grass and wehre to get it.

I bought my house in '05,...6 months later my marriage broke up.....it was not a baad thing...I went hungry and cold most of the time to keep this house.....but I did it,and it was worth it. I'm not sure there is negative energy in this house, but.....I am of the belief that it certainly cant hurt to be sure!

Please help me ladies?

*smiles*
~Sara

Well Sara, I think your house has a whole BUNCH of really good, strong energy from your ability to live through the tough times in that house! GOOD FOR YOU!

My ceremony: Open the back door. Burn the sage while walking counter clock wise, three times around the house, through every room, talking to whatever you believe, asking to have all bad removed from the house. Close the back door, open the front door, burn the sweet grass or some other incense and walk clockwise around the house asking for all the good to be brought into the house.

There is really no wrong way to do a ceremony, so make it your own.

Enjoy!

Theresa, I have already ordered the 'abalone shell and the sage bundle with refill<?> bundle" from the Pyramid Collection....but will check out your links for sure, thank you!

Cynthia, thank you so much for the positive thought. I will indeed try what you have explained.

I'll let you all know how it goes!

Thank you, all, so much!

*smiles*
~Sara

You are welcome, Sara.

You are welcome.

Theresa, nononono......never hurts to have a back up supplier...know what I mean....*sniffles and saunters off*

ok that was a "got'cha" moment.....I think....?

*Grins*
Thank you for the site!

~Sara

Thanks Sara and Treresa for the friends request. ACCEPTED!

@ #6.9

I would only add that I "purify" my body, mind, and spirit before doing this ritual. Start with a clean body (shower/bathe) and clothes (or a robe or even nude if you want). Then after lighting the sage in the shell "bowl", using both hands "pull" the smoke toward your body (you've seen them do this in movies I'm sure)....doing the whole body, under arms and all. Clear your mind and relax. THEN, once I am "pure", I go on through the house. That's just the way I do it....you can do your own ritual, as said.

*smiles*

~Diana~

Tumbleweed, you are correct there. It is very important that you cleanse yourself first, always. Also, for my beliefs anyway, no alcohol for 24 hours before cleansing. But that is just our native american belief. Tobacco is okay (meaning if you are a smoker) because tobacco is also used in many rituals. Don't know about pot, but I think any mind/body altering substance should be out of your system.

bad comes back to you.

threefold

I always remind my girls of that one :)

I was wondering if sage scented candles would work as well? I love the smell of the mixed sage-lavender scents.

BTW, would it be okay to clip this to Pagan Tea House?

I personally would have to say (not that I am a know it all), that the candle is not the same. If you don't have any shops and can't order online, (I don't know where you live), I have gathered my own sage (around here there is alot). I give a gift of tobacco (scattering it on the ground around the plants) and look for the oldest looking plant (one of the grandfathers). I tie into a bundle (or two) with red thread and thank the plant for its gift. Then hang it to dry at home for a few weeks. If you live anywhere near an Indian Reservation, or a place where pow wows are held, there is usually places/people where it can be purchased.

Gee Gail, maybe I ought to just buy it from you!

~Sara

I don't know about using a candle for a ceremony,(it is the smoke that the bad spirits cling to and float away with,) but we know that scents can be relaxing, uplifting, etc. so if they help you feel better, do it.

Sara, I would be happy to supply you if necessary. You have my email, let me know?

Thanks G. H. I love candles and incense, and I also love growing my own herbs when I can. I still am trying to get used to growing things out here in Southern California. It is quite different from central Alabama!

When I lived in So. Cal. (Whittier), I had so many plants I couldn't count them all! I have never had such nice plants since, and nowhere near as many. Don't know what the big difference is, but it's true.In fact, I only have two plants now, one is a spider plant(25 years old), and one is (wow, I can't remember the name of it.........it is 23). Anyway I lost my "indoor" green thumb when I moved from California and developed an "outdoor" green thumb instead. Oh well, long as I can still grow Something! LOL

Just remembered.....it's a philodendron.

I didn't think of that, Theresa, suppose that COULD be true. It's just that all my other ones keep dying, and that's pretty depressing after awhile. I have books and stuff to help me out, but it just doesn't seem to matter. These two I have, they are old, but they hang in there for me for some reason. My house gets lots of light and is usually at about 68* to 72*, so I can't figure it out. Outdoors, in Spring, summer, and fall, I have tons of flowers from Iris, to roses, to Glads, to lavender, and up to last year when I couldn't do as much, I had a big food garden as well. I'm just kind of stumped as to why thumb changed from indoor to outdoor.

Yes Theresa, you sound VERY spoiled! Congratulations..............HEE.

Actually, I'm Swedish, but learned from a Native American. (O.K. my great, great, great grandmother was Iroquois, but I look nothing like a Native American. 1/64th doesn't count! LOL)

Happy smugging!

I have also found never to pray for patience, God will show you how to get it and believe me it isn't fun.

I know, I did that once and after a while I asked where was the patience I prayed for...the response loud and clear was "Are you learning yet?".

KJakers, another good thing if a person doesn't have a lintel or door frame is make a small bundle (I use red felt and red thread) about the size around, but 1/2 the length, of the index finger. A little sage, tobacco and sweet grass(just cut from the braid) that can be fastened by just a thumbtack in the top right corner of the door area(or whichever side your door opens on).

Sim2luv.......funny about the praying for patience. lol So true!

Thank you GH I had heard of that but didn't know what all went into the bundles.

I have always ordered my sage but will sage from a sage brush work I live in Nebr where it grows rampid through out the sand hills?

Sage is an herb that can be grown inside or outside fairly easy. You can get seeds or even small plants from most places that have a garden center.

Yes, you can use sagebrush as well, I do anyway. It has worked just as well for me. I go to a large patch of it and sprinkle tobacco on the ground and ask which plant wants to give some of itself to me. Then I clip off as much as I want, bundle it with red thread and let it dry. (say thank you as well). Any type of sage you choose will do its job for you.

Thankyou GH I thought you could but wanted to make sure

If Dad told me I don't remember but it might have to do with magnetic flow, north to south. If the bed faced the east you would rise with the sun, that would make sense. but if it faced the west you would have the sun in your eyes as you tried to sleep. I also want to face the bedroom door.

#13.2

I think this is a Feng Shui thing and has to do with locating the "positive chi" in the room. Also, I was always told that you don't want the foot of the bed in direct line up with the door as that means "death"....so put it at an angle or so it lines up off to the side of the doorway somehow, you should still be able to face the doorway. :-)

South?....my grandmother always said your front door should face the south....I always thought because of weather conditions, but now I'm wondering???? :-)

*smiles*

~Diana~

GaryO @ #14

(I think maybe it works better if a woman does it).

Personally, I don't think it would matter. It's a "purification" thing, to purge the 'bad' energy out and 'cleanse' so the 'good' can come in, and so I don't see any reason why you couldn't do it....but I'm no expert here. Let's see what the "pro's" say about it.

BTW...Friend request accepted. Thank you. :-)

~Diana~

Thanks for accepting my friend request.

Actually, the thing about having a woman do is just an excuse. It's really that I would feel silly doing it. And someone with a little more belief in it would probably be more effective.

Gary,

The medicine men do ceremonies as often as the medicine women do. May start by just burning some sage in an ash tray. You don't have to walk about the house with it.

I would feel silly doing it

Perhaps you could do it in private when you're home alone? But don't feel silly doing it because like Cynthia said in 14.3....the medicine men would/did do it. :-)

Good luck with however you decide to it.

*smiles*

~Diana~

Even my weird cats seem to settle down after a good "cleansing" (that in itself is a miracle).

Sound like this is just what this zoo needs. Talked to my guy and he said he can get some sweetgrass for us. I am getting all excited about this.

Yay! I'm glad he can get you some sweet grass! that's wonderful, but don't forget the sage too. That part is very important.

If you have a basement make sure you do it also whether you use it or not, I also open the hatch to my attic

Yes, that's right KJakers. I always seem to forget something. LOL Any entrances or exits that your house contains.

I don't know of any house around these parts that has basement. We have micro quakes several times a day. You don't really feel most of them, but I imagine they would play havoc with basement walls.

The next time I go to the garden center, I am going to get some sage. When we are going down the freeway some evenings, I can smell the wild sage and it smells so good. But I don't think the Chippies would like for me to stop and gather any! :)

GaryO, Cats are the same, especially if they go outdoors a lot. Their fur is adjusted to being outside (thicker), so when they come in, too warm, they shed all over the place! I have big rolls of tape, pull off strips and go over everything, even then can't seem to get it all! LOL

Good luck with your cleansing/smudging/smoking. Ô¿Ô I'm sending you positive thoughts to hang around until you want them. hee

I have been known to complain about the "fur drifts" in my house!

Hey guys....that's why it's called "fur"niture!....LOL

(sorry....just had to throw that in....)

~Diana~

Good one Tumbleweed! (imaginary high five to you.....smack) got me laughing so hard I had a coughing fit! (I'm just getting over being sick.....thanks a lot! LOL)

'fur'niture. Now I know the correct way to spell it! Thanks.

:-)