Amulets. A collection for a modern superstitious person
One of the first purposes of jewelry is protective, i.e. to protect from evil and to attract success. A modern person is also very superstitious, but the list of one’s fears has become longer and the fears have increased. Therefore, the means of protection from it are becoming more inventive and interesting. No matter how much does the environment change, human instincts do not change.
Fear may be defined as emotion caused by a certain or supposed danger. It warns of impending danger allowing to focus attention on its source and promotes to look for ways of avoiding the threat.
In the process of unstoppable improvement and development of technologies and increase of information a man feels more and more vulnerable, and the evil eye is supplemented by lots of modern fears starting with global, such as terrorism, transmitted diseases, criminal events, and ending with personal fears. It is advised by psychologists to accept them, to use them or to fight them with the help of mind. For this purpose, in the ancient times a man had used amulets, talismans and shamanistic rituals.
During long millennia people, including Lithuanians, have created lots of various methods of precaution. I direct attention to a few ways that have interested me the most.
Inside-out. People used to believe that a shirt having been worn inside-out had a magical protective power. This method had been often used during various ritual feasts when supernatural powers are particularly active.
The inside-out shirt must be worn, thus no one can damage thee. Jonas Basanavičius folklore library. The Black Book, volume 12.
A knot was ascribed as having the powers to divert various evil and to ensure happy life and fertility. Also, a knot was being associated with an endless prosperity of the living world and extraordinary power. It was used for various ritual treatments, spells and their abolition.
“Woman in south of Lithuania used to wear knitted bands to protect themselves not only from the bad eye, but also from evil spirits and witchcrafts.” Ancient superstition (Pranė Dundulienė Eyes in lithuanian attitude, page 65)
“Do not take any cloth or nodule that is found on a path as it may carry scrabies, warts or other diseases.”(Jonas Basanavičius folklore library. The Black Book. Volume 12, page 377 )
Passing through. This process was a widely known means to protect from evil eyes. For example, if a child often cried (it was thought to happen because of evil eyes), he was passed through a tub rim. For the same purpose, the child‘s shirt used to be thrown over the house roof.
Evil eyes, as well as other maladies, is diverted by fire. Live coals, that the red colour fearing evil eyes and, generally, various supernatural evil beings, were associated with fire. In order to protect themselves from eyes and various diseases, people used to carry a strip of red cloth or a thread. Red threads were often woven into fabrics from which clothes were being sewed.
In my work the prejudice and beliefs of an ancient man acquire a different meaning, change their form, function and adapt to an altered time and surroundings.
And all those whisperers say that it has to be believed and one shall be well. And if you shall not believe, it shall not help. Jonas Basanavičius folklore library. The Black Book, volume 12.
One of the first purposes of jewelry is protective, i.e. to protect from evil and to attract success. A modern person is also very superstitious, but the list of one’s fears has become longer and the fears have increased. Therefore, the means of protection from it are becoming more inventive and interesting. No matter how much does the environment change, human instincts do not change.
Fear may be defined as emotion caused by a certain or supposed danger. It warns of impending danger allowing to focus attention on its source and promotes to look for ways of avoiding the threat.
In the process of unstoppable improvement and development of technologies and increase of information a man feels more and more vulnerable, and the evil eye is supplemented by lots of modern fears starting with global, such as terrorism, transmitted diseases, criminal events, and ending with personal fears. It is advised by psychologists to accept them, to use them or to fight them with the help of mind. For this purpose, in the ancient times a man had used amulets, talismans and shamanistic rituals.
During long millennia people, including Lithuanians, have created lots of various methods of precaution. I direct attention to a few ways that have interested me the most.
Inside-out. People used to believe that a shirt having been worn inside-out had a magical protective power. This method had been often used during various ritual feasts when supernatural powers are particularly active.
The inside-out shirt must be worn, thus no one can damage thee. Jonas Basanavičius folklore library. The Black Book, volume 12.
A knot was ascribed as having the powers to divert various evil and to ensure happy life and fertility. Also, a knot was being associated with an endless prosperity of the living world and extraordinary power. It was used for various ritual treatments, spells and their abolition.
“Woman in south of Lithuania used to wear knitted bands to protect themselves not only from the bad eye, but also from evil spirits and witchcrafts.” Ancient superstition (Pranė Dundulienė Eyes in lithuanian attitude, page 65)
“Do not take any cloth or nodule that is found on a path as it may carry scrabies, warts or other diseases.”(Jonas Basanavičius folklore library. The Black Book. Volume 12, page 377 )
Passing through. This process was a widely known means to protect from evil eyes. For example, if a child often cried (it was thought to happen because of evil eyes), he was passed through a tub rim. For the same purpose, the child‘s shirt used to be thrown over the house roof.
Evil eyes, as well as other maladies, is diverted by fire. Live coals, that the red colour fearing evil eyes and, generally, various supernatural evil beings, were associated with fire. In order to protect themselves from eyes and various diseases, people used to carry a strip of red cloth or a thread. Red threads were often woven into fabrics from which clothes were being sewed.
In my work the prejudice and beliefs of an ancient man acquire a different meaning, change their form, function and adapt to an altered time and surroundings.
And all those whisperers say that it has to be believed and one shall be well. And if you shall not believe, it shall not help. Jonas Basanavičius folklore library. The Black Book, volume 12.