Earthpulse Blog

Talismans have been a part of human life from the moment we began to appeal for spiritual protection or assistance from the powerful and often unpredictable forces which surrounded us. This three-part article begins by defining a talisman, before moving on to looking at traditional talismans, talismanic stones and, in part two, inscriptive, astrological and kabbalistic talismans.

Talismans, Amulets and Charms

Talismans, as defined by Robin Skelton, professor of Creative Writing at the University of Victoria, are ‘objects which confer power of various kinds upon those who wear them or own them’ (Skelton, p.15). Amulets, on the other hand, are less active in nature, providing protection from illness and misfortune. Charms are either amulets or talismans that contain inscribed words or symbols only. These are basic definitions and their boundaries are often blurred.

Traditional Talismans

There are myriad forms of traditional talisman, that is talismans which are associated with particular religious or cultural traditions. For example, just to look at the Egyptians would give us the udjat (eye of Ra), scarab, ab and ankh. Therefore, I have chosen three examples, each of which could legitimately be placed in an article of their own.

The cross has its origins in the mists of time, long before the Christians adopted it in the 4th Century bc. In fact, the equilateral cross may even be the world’s oldest talismanic symbol. Other versions of this symbol include the St.Andrew’s ‘x-shaped’ cross, the looped ankh and the Tau cross although Christians predominately use the latin cross, based on the cross on which Jesus is said to have been crucified.

The upright pentacle

This is the talisman most often associated with witchcraft, especially the Wiccan religion. It is a protective symbol and is associated with the goddess. It also symbolises man upright with the power of spirit (or sometimes akasa) ruling over the four elements of the physical world. It’s reversed form is often said to represent the fall of man and the rulership of matter (i.e. materialism). Mounted within a circle, the symbol becomes known as a pentacle and represents the element of earth, reminding us that the macrocosm is reflected in the microcosm (the known world).

Talismanic Stones

Not only the form, but the material used is important in the designing of talismans. Egyptians generally made their ab (heart) talismans out of red porcelain to create a strong association with the theme of love, whereas most scarabs were made of green stone and black basalt. Rosaries were often made of amethyst to give the wearer the stillness of mind requisite for contemplation. Obviously there are too many crystals and precious metals to mention them all (I intend to create a crystal directory for that purpose) so I have concentrated on just three:

An amethyst cluster

From the word ‘a methuein’, literally ‘not to be drunken’, amethyst is associated with the Roman god of wine, Bacchus, and his Greek counterpart Dionysus. The stone is said to confer the protection of this deity so that the wearer does not become inebriated or prone to lustful excesses when consuming alcohol. Furthermore, all cases of intemperence, from anger to anxiety, are said to be calmed by this stone. It is associated with both Aquarius and Pisces, though I think the latter seems most apt, considering the Piscean association with intoxicants.

Quartz (or rock crystal, from the word krystallos, meaning ‘ice’) is a very strong crystal and has the property of amplifying energies. I have often found clear quartz a very overpowering influence, best used sparingly. Rose quartz is associated with the heart and is said to help reveal and heal childhood trauma and balance emotional energy, working well with amethyst. Smoky quartz is associated with the root chakra and is said to be good at allieving depression and getting rid of unhelpful patterns of behaviour.

The Turkey stone, first found in Turkey is revered worldwide, from the Far East (where the Buddha was said to have defeated a monster with it), through the Middle East (where Iranians attach the stone to horses’ tails for surefootedness and the Arabs call it fayruz, the ‘lucky stone’), to America (where the native Americans use it to make their arrows fly straight). There is much debate over its astrological correspondences and I am in a minority by suggesting it seems to fit well with Jupiter’s protective and expansive energy. Turquoise is my favourite stone and I have found it promotes a general feeling of strength and courage. I do add a note of caution here, because there are dreamcatchers and the like out there which contain turquoise which seems to have been charged with unpleasant energy (i.e. ‘bad medicine’). In fact, it would be wise to bury any bought crystals in the earth for at least twenty-four hours before making use of it.

Please look out for part 2, which looks at astrological and inscriptive talismans.

Reference: Skelton, R. (1985) ‘The magical practice of talismans’, Beach Holme, Victoria

Do you have any personal experiences with talismans, or precious stones, that you would like to share? If so, please leave a comment below.