Stars, Moons,
Hearts, Clovers
Crystal Lucky Charms
In 2004, when psychologists at the University of Hertfordshire near London studied the effectiveness of lucky charms, they found that good luck tokens really do work—at least in the minds of those who carry them.9
In the study, researchers asked a hundred people to carry a Victorian-era penny for a month and note any changes in their lives. Afterward, they tried to determine whether the charms had made any difference, statistically, compared to people who didn’t have lucky charms.
Oddly enough, while researchers determined that lucky charms didn’t influence chance events like winning the lottery, the participants in the study felt luckier. Almost all of them felt more confident, more secure, more optimistic about the future. When the study concluded, seventy percent of the participants even chose to keep carrying their lucky pennies.
If you want a psychological boost—and a buffer against the fickle finger of fate—crystals could be your lucky charm.
Amulets and talismans are often thought of synonymously, but there is a subtle difference between them. Amulets are typically out of carved stone, while talismans usually made of engraved metal and ornamented with carved crystals and stones. Amulets are worn for protection; they are intended to keep bad things away. Talismans are worn for luck; they are designed to bring good things to their wearers.
Pocket charms. Small tumbled stones make excellent good luck charms, either tucked into your pocket or carried in a purse. You can even find tumbled stones made into key chains. Chiastolite crystals, commonly known as fairy crosses, are classic lucky charms.
Totems are crystals carved in the shape of an animal or a mythical creature. Totems can symbolize your spirit, your cultural traditions, or your membership in a community. Totems can also lend you the gifts and strengths associated with each shape. A bear-shaped totem, for example, symbolizes maternal instincts and protection. Cats symbolize independence, regal bearing, agility, multiple lives, and magic. Dragons symbolize a fiery spirit, guardianship, and power over obstacles and foes.
Worry stones. If you’re the restless, fidgety type, keep a worry stone around. Worry stones are flat, palm-sized stones with a carved groove on one side. Just rub your thumb back and forth in the groove, and you’ll turn your nervous energy into good fortune.
9. Ananova, “Lucky Charm’s Effectiveness ‘All in the Mind,’” January 5, 2004, http://www.ananova.com/.