Good Luck Symbols

Luck or fortuity is good or bad fortune in life caused by accident or chance, and attributed by some to reasons of faith or superstition, which happens beyond a person's control.

Do you carry a lucky charm or maybe you carry a symbolic talisman to ward off evil and bring you luck?

There are many signs and symbols from around the world that are seen as lucky. Others are thought to bring good fortune to the people that posess them. Some believe these symbols can grant wishes or even heal the sick. There are also several symbols for warding off evil and curses.

Cultural views of luck vary from perceiving luck as a matter of random chance to attributing to luck explanations of faith or superstition. For example, the Romans believed in the embodiment of luck as the goddess Fortuna, while the atheist and philosopher Daniel Dennett believes that "luck is mere luck" rather than a property of a person or thing.

Lucky symbols are popular worldwide and take many forms.

Here are some of the most popular good luck symbols.

Horseshoe - A horseshoe is a U-shaped item made of metal or of modern synthetic materials, nailed or glued to the hooves of horses and some other draught animals. Like a shoe on a human, it is used to protect the animal's feet from wear and tear. When kept as a talisman, a horseshoe is said to bring good luck. Many believe that to hang it with the ends pointing upwards is good luck as it acts as a storage container of sorts for any good luck that happens to be floating by, whereas to hang it with the ends pointing down, is bad luck as all the good luck will fall out. Others believe that the shoe should be hung the other way, as it will then release its luck to the people around it.

The Hindu Swastika (Sanskrit svastika, "all is well") is a cross with four arms of equal length, with the ends of each arm bent at a right angle. Sometimes dots are added between each arm. The swastika is an ancient symbol that has been found worldwide, but it is especially common in India. Its name comes the Sanskrit word svasti, meaning good fortune, luck and well-being.

The swastika is most commonly used as a charm to bring good fortune (in which case the arms are bent clockwise), but it has a variety of religious meanings as well. It should not be confused with the Nazi version of the swastika.

Acorn - The acorn is considered to be an emblem of good luck, prosperity, youthfulness and power, the acorn is a good luck symbol. The acorn may often also represent spiritual growth. The Norse believed that acorns displayed on a windowsill would protect a house from lightening. This may seem somewhat trivial to many of us today but back in the day it was a widely accepted idea.

Keys - Three keys worn together symbolise the unlocking of the doors to health, wealth and love.

Rainbow - Rainbows are considered lucky by many people, because most people know that if we find the end of the rainbow, we will find a nice big pot of gold.

The Tursaansydan or mursunsydan ("heart of the walrus") is an ancient symbol used in Northern Europe. It was especially popular in Lapland. Some say it was used on Lappish shaman drums. The symbol originates from prehistoric times and incorporates a swastika.

The tursaansydän was believed to bring good luck and protect from curses, and was used as a decorative motif on wooden furniture and buildings in Finland. During the 18th century the simple swastika became more popular in Finnish wood decoration than the more complex tursaansydan.

Dolphins are considered lucky by many peoples around the world, including the Ancient cultures of Greece, Sumer, Egypt, and Rome. For Christians and Native Americans, the dolphin is a symbol of protection, and it`s image is said to bring good luck. The belief comes from the known fact that ancient sailors who spent several months or years away from land, found that seeing dolphins swimming around their ships to be the first clear sign that land was near.

Feathers are an ancient charm for bringing good luck and they represent the journey of the soul to the other realm.

Tigers have long been considered lucky in chinese astrology. The tiger is also considered a protector against several evils, including being robbed and fires.

Lucky Rabbit`s Foot - In some cultures, the foot of a rabbit is carried as an amulet believed to bring good luck. This belief is held by individuals in many parts of the world including Europe, China, Africa, and North and South America. It is likely that this belief has existed in Europe since 600 BC amongst Celtic people living in Britain. In variations of this superstition, the donor rabbit must possess certain attributes, or have been killed in a particular place, or killed by a particular method, or by a person possessing particular attributes

It is widely believed that a rabbit's foot possesses power to bring good luck to its holder. This is believed to have stemmed from the pre-Celtic tradition of hunter clans rite of passage for their adolescent members. These young males were first introduced to hunting rabbits, as an introduction to his apprenticeship as a hunter. If they were successful, one of the hind feet of the rabbit was presented to them in a ceremony which would welcome them to manhood within the clan.

Dreamcatchers, from the Native American culture, are considered to be good luck, because they catch the negative parts of our dreams.

Four-Leaf Clover - The four-leaf clover is an uncommon variation of the common, three-leaved clover. According to tradition, such leaves bring good luck to their finders, especially if found accidentally. According to legend, each leaf represents something: the first is for hope, the second is for faith, the third is for love, and the fourth is for luck.

Amber - strengthens the aura, and also balances the yin and yang. It attracts compassion, protects against evil influences, accidental injury and brings good luck.

Resources:
Good Luck Symbols - Ancient Symbols Website