Luck is probably one of the most debated ideas in the history of humankind. One way or another, all of us subscribe to a notion of it, but we differ radically on the source and meaning of it. To some, good fortune is the blessing of a benevolent deity, to others the result of hard work and preparation, and to still others it is a mysterious "force" that must be courted.
If we want good things to happen, we try to repeat what we were doing the last time something good happened to us. And if something bad happens, we want to avoid doing whatever might cause a repeat of that difficulty. Sports figures are notorious for courting "luck" in bizarre ways.
This leads us to concoct all kinds of rituals and subscribe to all kinds of fetishes involving "lucky" items or symbols. Some --like the ones on the prayer bead bracelet pictured above-- we inherit from our families and the culture at large. Some we develop all on our own-- from our thinking, our experience, and our own spiritual orientation. LUCK is all about belief.
I am a big fan of butterflies. Every day I wear a small gold butterfly charm that was given to me by my mother as a symbol of hope. It's not flashy, but it is so steeped in meaning for me-- hope, rebirth, resurrection, change-- that it has almost religious significance. I use the butterfly motif in my house (prints on the walls and pillows and linens) and whenever I'm outside, I watch for butterflies and feel blessed and connected to something bigger than myself whenever I am near one.
Circles have special meaning to me. I frequently wear round hoop earrings and am drawn to art and furniture and fabrics that have circles in them. Circles embody the classic themes of inclusion and wholeness. . . but also bear more recent interpretations of community, natural geometry, the cycles of nature-- life cycles, rain cycles, seasonal cycles, and planetary cycles. Circles catch my eye and make me smile. . . I surround myself with them whenever I can.
(You know where hoop earrings came from? The old gypsy belief that circles trapped "luck" and that to wear metal hoops in your ears meant having good luck around at all times. Interesting, eh? And bangle bracelets. . . bring 'em on!)
A cool variation on the circle is the spiral. I have long pictured life's journey as a spiral. . . we travel through the same territory again and again, only on a little higher plane and with a different perspective. I look for spirals in art, in nature, and in everyday objects. . . you'd be surprised, they're everywhere! Each time I encounter one, I am reminded to make the most of the lessons I learn in life. . . the good and not so good.
Animals are a favorite, especially dogs. But I also have a fondness for cranes, herons, and egrets. . . partly because the name "Krahn" is German for "crane," and partly because I never saw them when I was growing up. I learned to appreciate them while living in Minnesota. They're sort of the family totem now. (Like eagles are for the Eagles?)
Pretty standard stuff.
But I also have a thing about ladders. They remind me of the story of Jacob's Ladder. . . and that when "wrestling with angels," you need to hold out for a blessing. . . and the blessing will come. It speaks to the value of persevering through trials and difficulty.
With bendable uprights, a ladder can be twisted into corkscrew shape that becomes the famous double helix of DNA. One of the great mysteries of the universe is embodied in that marvelous shape: we are connected to every other living thing on this planet by our chemistry. . . by the blueprint for life written in every microscopic cell of our bodies.
The double helix is a symbol of the unity that binds all of nature together in a way that crosses and crescents and mandalas and prayer wheels cannot do. I think churches, synagogues, mosques and temples should all adopt it as a symbol of the unity of creation.
Other precious images, totems, and "good luck" charms?
Oak trees. Lady bugs. Lilies. Polished stone hearts. The color red. Smiling animals. Bells of various kinds. Wind chimes. Celtic knots. Houseplants-- green, growing stuff inside my house-- (not in the refrigerator!) Palm fronds. Honey bees. Each reminds me of a lesson I've learned in life and in love.
What about you? What are your lucky charms? What symbols or shapes or items make you feel connected?
Do you have a motif or image that you look for in the fabrics, art works, and furniture that upholster your life?
Anything special around your neck or on your key chain?
One more thing: A video that just came out of the soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan showing what totems and lucky pieces they carry with them into harm's way. Pretty moving. Here's a link. . .
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp=32558997
