"We give power to that which we believe in."Amulets and talismans, keepsakes that imbue us with protection or favor, are some of the oldest observed gear in human history. Most often seen as pendants, they can range from a charm to any mundane trinket. Common amulets and talismans can consist of precious minerals, landmarks, coinage, artwork, heirlooms and even plants and animals.
Distinguishing between the two is assessed by purpose and method. Whereas an amulet serves primarily to protect it's owner by repelling ill will and fortune, talismans boast a reputation for granting their owners unwarranted luck. An amulet maintains the natural attributes of its materials, while a talisman must be created or consecrated by an individual. For that reason, talismans can be more often observed with inscriptions of symbols or words.
Popular objects also include horns, teeth, herbs, trees, religious symbols such as crosses and swastikas, red string, beads, eyes, lockets, scrolls and handwriting, horseshoes and other cold iron, pouches, sachets and abstracts like mojo.
One such amulet is the Hamsa, that comes from the Arabic word Khamsa, which means "five" or "the five fingers of the hand". Also known as the Hand of Miriam (Moses' sister) or Hand of Fatima (Mohammed's daughter), this apotropaic eye's existence can be traced back to ancient Mesopotamia, the cradle of civilization.
The Hamsa stands for the hand of god and is ubiquitous in world faiths, notably celebrated by Jewish adherents. The downward orientation can be interpreted to symbolize god's blessings pouring down from above. The common turquoise color reflects the purity of water, sky or fire. Although typically stylized with one eye and two symmetrical thumbs, others have superimposed fish, hexagrams and other religious symbols.
The hand has given birth to spin-offs like the Hand of Venus and the Hand of Mary, worn by women to promote fertility and nurturing. In comparison with Buddhism, it is coincidentally the Buddha's mudra for teaching and protection. In noticeable places such as above doorways, in windows, or as an element in wind chimes or wall murals, it stands to ward off the evil eye, a malicious stare that has been associated with illness, death or misfortune.
The Hamsa is frequently mistaken for or used in conjunction with Turkish Evil Eyes. Because of the concentration on five, Thursday is also regarded as the luckiest day of the week and is considered a good day for magic rites or travel.
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