Welcome to Spiritual Safekeeping,
A short collection of thoughts and practices to assist with keeping your energy positive and protected for each day of the week.
In this Thursday edition,
We will explore amulets.
An amulet is a charm or symbol that is meant to assist the wearer or carrier in protecting against evil.
Popular in witchcraft,
Wicca,
And neo-paganism,
One of the original purposes of the amulet was to,
Oddly enough,
Help guard against witchcraft.
Already there are two important thoughts about this brief explanation.
What one is seeking protection from is subjective,
And an amulet is meant to assist in this protection,
Not do the work alone.
An amulet can be virtually anything,
As long as it provides comfort and assurance to the wearer.
With Thursday meaning Thor's Day in Old English,
I would like to focus on one amulet in particular,
Thor's Hammer.
These are commonly worn as pendants,
And they resemble a hammer,
Sometimes appearing as an upside-down cross.
Its primary use in mythology was as a weapon,
Thus it became a symbol of protection.
Conversely,
It is also seen as an instrument of blessing.
This is true for most all amulets,
As protection is not synonymous with sending forth harm.
In any case,
An amulet is simply a piece of jewelry that carries,
Or is charged with,
Whatever magical intentions are placed with it.
The amulet I wear on a daily basis is seldom seen by anyone,
Because I wear it under my shirt when I'm out in public.
However,
Amulets don't have to be seen in order to be effective.
They are reminders that we are protected,
That we are responsible for our actions,
And that we possess the magical abilities to deflect any negative energies sent our way.
If wearing an amulet gives you peace of mind,
Then by all means do so.
Just make sure to choose one that has meaning to you,
And charge it with your intentions.
Also,
Don't become so focused on protection that you end up creating a barrier through which nothing at all can pass.
Consider the dual nature of Thor's hammer as a protective tool,
As well as an instrument of blessing.
Holding up a forbidding hand might be called for in some cases,
But not when that person is trying to give you a hug.
Knowing when to focus on protection,
As well as when not to,
Is a valuable tool that is worthy of your spiritual safekeeping.
The crow flies from me to thee,
To send the message,
Blessed Be.
