Man has always believed in supernatural powers. Initially, when the nature of certain phenomena was not scientifically proven, people came up with explanations, referring to gods, evil spirits and other magical creatures. For example, lightning was explained as the wrath of the Almighty, the missing things - to the intrigues of the brownie, and those who got lost in the forest claimed to be following the lights. And it is from there that all kinds of conspiracies, amulets, charms, signs and rituals take their roots. After all, magical creatures must be appeased to help, and evil ones to be scared away.
Years, centuries have passed, many phenomena no longer cause awe and are understandable even to schoolchildren, but to this day, almost everyone believes in the supernatural. People honor God, pray, ask the Almighty for help, wear a cross or the image of saints on their chests, still explaining the incomprehensible by the will of God. In addition, pagan traditions are still popular, for example, a nickel under the heel for good luck in the exam or three times spit over the left shoulder and knock on the tree, so as not to incur trouble. Also, many have their amulets and talismans: a lucky ticket, a mother’s ring, socks that bring good luck. The main thing in them is a person’s faith in their ability to help in a difficult situation. After all, if you know that they help you, it’s easier to make a decision and take a step.
Types of amulets
The amulet is a superstitious object with a witchcraft ability to protect its owner from various disasters.
The following types of amulets are distinguished:
- Verbal. These include conspiracies aimed at protecting against diseases, malicious intent, theft, slander, and everything else that can negatively affect a person. It is believed that verbal amulets have a certain text, which is enough to memorize, and everything will work out, but this is not so at all. The main thing in the manufacture of charms of all kinds is not the external form, but the spiritual content. One must sincerely believe in the power of the subject and wish good to the one for whom he is preparing. And words must come from the heart.
- Graphic. It can be embroidery, tattoo, drawn on the surface or tree-burned images, symbols or words.
- Object amulets - objects that carry a charge of energy aimed at protection. Usually they make such amulets with their own hands.
Amulets of the world
The most common amulet in Europe is a Celtic amulet. Most often, it has the shape of a circle, made of metal, stone or wood.
The ancient Celts believed that the spirit of nature is divided into four components: water, earth, fire and air. Each component corresponds to a specific set of characters. Depending on the goals of this amulet, they applied one or another symbols and images with their own hands. The bespoke amulet did not possess even a tenth of the force, like the one that they created for themselves or loved ones. The peculiarity of such amulets is that they will work only for those whose souls are pure and their thoughts are not fraught with evil.
Egyptian amulets differ from others in that they do not have any established form. They can be any objects, rings, stones, wood, pin, coin, etc., which bear the symbol of God or magic words. Such an amulet will work until the whole base object. However, despite the apparent simplicity of manufacturing, it is quite difficult to make this type of amulets with your own hands, since it is necessary to take into account many parameters, starting from the phase of the lunar cycle, ending with the weather at a specific time. Therefore, amulets were made by specially trained priests who possessed sufficient magical powers and the necessary knowledge.
A popular Indian amulet is the Dream Catcher.
The round base, made of willow twig, symbolizes the infinity of the cycle of life and death. A web is weaved on it, in the center of which a hole is left. For her, it is better to take animal veins, linen thread or leather lace. The web catches luck, happiness, health on its networks, passing all evil through the center so that it does not affect the owner of the amulet. Decorate it with beads and feathers of an owl (for women) or an eagle (for men). To create such amulets with your own hands, you need to take the feathers of only living birds, since otherwise they do not have positive magical energy and using them radically changes the work of the amulet.
In oriental culture there is a very simple and melodic amulet - Music of the Wind. Many have come across them, as they are very popular. Metal, glass or wooden sticks in a stream of wind touch each other, making a melodic chime. It is believed that he attracts luck. You can make a talisman with your own hands, or buy a ready-made one. You need to hang it above your head near the window. Sound Music of the wind should only from the air flow, and not from mechanical stress, because only the wind brings good luck!
Slavic charms
The life of the Slavs was filled with protective magic. In the house you could meet many do-it-yourself amulets. During the construction of the house, wool, ash from the previous place of residence, sometimes the head of cattle, for example horse, was laid at the corners of the log house. They were called to protect the house from evil. A horseshoe hung above the front door, luring luck, and a terrible wooden face was attached to the door itself, so that it scared away everyone with bad intentions. A charm in the form of a panicle was also popular. It was placed on the street with the handle down, and vice versa, bagels, krynki with milk, pots and cereals were made from salt dough for decoration, the sun or a sunflower were made from fabric, and ribbons were sewn. Clothes and curtains were decorated with embroidered embroidery, knotted amulets were made, and many others. And, of course, dolls.
Dozens of types of charms made by yourself in the form of dolls are counted:
- Bereginya;
- Ash;
- Krupenichka;
- Herbalist;
- Swaddle;
- Lovebands
- Desire;
- Ten-handled;
- Plantain;
- Day Night.
They were created for every occasion, be it household chores, a wedding, an upcoming road, or having a baby. When creating dolls, charms, you must adhere to several rules:
- Do-it-yourself amulets, like many other things in Slavic culture, need to be on the growing moon.
- The doll must be done in one go. You can’t be distracted or finish it on another day, as it was believed that the new approach destroys the energy of the previous one and the doll is not holistic.
- A distinctive feature of the dolls was the lack of a face. It was believed that an evil spirit would not be able to take hold of such amulets and harm a person, therefore the front part of the head was left clean or, in extreme cases, the face was marked with a cross.
- Use only natural fabrics and threads: linen or cotton. Synthetic fabric does not absorb the soul, and accordingly, such a talisman will not work.
- To keep the amulet strong, it is necessary to use not a new fabric, but rags of clothes in which something good happened.
- When creating do-it-yourself dolls with amulet, scissors and needles cannot be used. The fabric must be torn off and the details tied. An exception can only be a doll outfit, and the less use of tools, the better the amulet will be.
- It is necessary to carefully monitor the number of threads and knots. They should always be an even number.
Doll column "Bereginya"
This doll is designed to protect the family from evil intentions and adversities. They placed her above her head opposite the entrance so that she could see everyone entering the house. Such dolls-amulets were made with their own hands from fabric.
Its basis is a rolled column of dense material, such as flannel.
To make a doll-amulet with your own hands, you will need:
- Thick white fabric 13 * 80 cm.
- Red fabric 10 * 20 and 10 * 5 cm.
- The fabric is white, two square cuts 15 * 15 cm.
- Threads are red (iris or floss).
- Decor
Manufacture:
- Body. Roll a strip of dense fabric (flannel) with a tube. Drag the resulting column in the center of the thread. It will be the waist. Divide the upper part in half and pull the thread, marking the neck.
- Head. Put a square of white fabric at one angle down, place a column-body on it so that the head is in the center of the square. Fold the white fabric in half, smooth out the face area, and tie a thread around the neck. Thus, one corner will be on the back, one on the stomach and two on the sides.
- Hands. Separate the lateral corners of the square to the sides, bend the edge and drag it at a distance of 0.5-0.8 cm from the edge.
- Shirt. Bind the remaining 2 corners of the square to the body, forming the necessary volume. By changing the tension of the sides, you can change the position of the hands. They can look to the sides, be lowered down or stretched forward.
- Skirt. Place a piece of red fabric on the top of the doll so that 1-1.5 cm remains below the waistline. Tie with a thread and lower the skirt down. The apron is attached in the same way.
- Decor Decorate the doll with decorative ribbon, tie a scarf on his head.
Ash
This is one of the most important dolls, which was carefully stored and inherited through the maternal side. How to make a charm with your own hands? Simple enough.
To make it, you need to take the ash from the hearth, mix it with bread crumb and roll a ball from it. Put it on the center of the square napkin and dress it. The head turned out. From the remaining tissue form a body, put a sundress on it. Her head must be left uncovered. Such a doll-amulet is responsible for the comfort and warmth of the hearth and helps girls just starting to manage their household.
Charm "Pig"
This doll was a symbol of wealth in the house. They always made her well-fed, it was believed that the more magnificent the form, the more satisfying the family will live. The grain from the doll was first sown on the field, and then filled in the autumn with the first new grain removed from the field. In difficult times for the family, cereals from the amulets were taken out and cooked. It was believed that such porridge gives strength to survive the bad weather.
Materials:
- The square of white fabric is 30 * 30 cm.
- Fabric for a sundress 12 * 25 cm + for a scarf.
- Threads.
- A rag or piece of synthetic winterizer 5 * 5 cm.
- Decor
- Croup.
Manufacture:
- Body. Put a large square of fabric on the work surface. Pour about 1 cup of cereal into the center. The edges to collect, forming a bag, drag the thread.
- Hands. Take 2 diagonal corners, bend the edge of each of them inward, dress with a thread at a distance of 0.5-0.7 cm.
- Align the remaining 2 corners, put rags or a synthetic winterizer between them, bend the corners inward, form a head, and drag with a thread. The doll's blank is ready.
- Make a doll a sundress, tie a scarf, decorate with decorative elements.
The Herbalist was also made in the same way, but instead of cereals, it was filled with fragrant herbs, planted in a prominent place opposite the entrance. Periodically, these herbs must be brewed in tea, and pour new ones into the amulet.
Plantain
This doll-amulet was made with our own hands for a person who was going on a long journey. In her hands she had a bundle with a pinch of earth or ash from a home stove, and her body was often filled with cereals so that the road was easy, in time of need, help arrived in time and you could always find a way home.
Charm "Pelenashka"
Of all the dolls-amulets for the game, only this one is intended. Future mothers made such a talisman out of the cloth with their own hands shortly before giving birth and put them in a cradle so that she would protect her from evil spirits. After the doll, she also lived in a cradle until the baby was baptized. After it was cleaned, but not thrown away, and at the time of illness the child was put on a talisman so that he would pull the ailment onto himself, then they would be removed again.
Materials:
- Strip of dense fabric.
- Cloth for diapers, about 2 widths of thick fabric * 2.5 widths.
- Threads.
Manufacture:
- Roll a thick fabric into a tight roll, bandage with thread.
- Swaddle the resulting body, dress it with a thread. The amulet is ready.
This can be either an independent doll or a part of a handmade amulet. Photos of dolls are presented in the article.
Charm "Day-night"
The main task of the doll was to observe the daily and night schedule. It consisted of 2 dolls, standing back to back. The bright doll made sure that the day did not pass in vain, and the dark one - so that everyone would sleep at night.
It is very simple to make such a doll amulet with your own hands, like a pillar. The materials required are the same, only 2 times more. Fabrics for a sundress should be chosen the same in quality, but different in color. For a daytime doll - light, for a night - dark, but not black. It is best to combine yellow and navy blue.
- Make 2 column dolls in sundresses of different colors. For the convenience of using such a talisman, it is better to take a rectangular piece of fabric 10 * 15 cm on the head. Place it on the table with the short side facing you, align the head with the center of the rectangle. Bend the fabric in half, pull it around the neck. For hands, it is necessary to roll a long tube from a cut of 10 * 5 cm, tie the edges with a thread. Put your finished hands on your body, cover with the edge of a white cloth, drag along the waistline. In this variation, the hands hold their shape better and are directed to the sides.
- Put dolls back to back, tie hands in pairs. The amulet is ready!
Wishing Woman
The woman-in-law helps to fulfill wishes, but only the most cherished ones. It is necessary to make a doll with a do-it-yourself amulet, in no hurry, repeating to yourself one very cherished desire, in addition, the doll must be richly decorated with beads, ribbons and embroidery. Every day you need to talk to her, telling why this particular desire should be fulfilled, and after the desire comes true, burn it at the stake with words of gratitude for the help.
Charm "Lovebirds"
This amulet was presented to the newlyweds at the wedding so that the family was strong, and the husband and wife always went hand in hand.
Materials: 2 strips of dense fabric 13 cm wide.
White fabric:
- 2 rectangular cuts of white fabric 10 * 15 cm for the head and shirts.
- 1 rectangle 20 * 7 cm for the hands.
Red cloth:
- Skirts 15 * 10 cm.
- Scarf 10 * 10 cm, you can a little more.
- Sundress straps - 2 pcs. 1 * 5 cm.
- Pants 20 * 15 cm.
- Hat 3 * 10 cm.
- Threads.
- Decor
Manufacture:
- Body. Make 2 columns of dense fabric by rewinding in the center and 1/4 of the body.
- Heads. Using rectangular cuts of white fabric to form a head, drag around the neck.
- Hands. Twist a rectangle of 20 * 7 cm into a long free roll, dress at the edges 0.5 * 0.8 cm and 0.4 cm from the center in both directions. Put the finished hands on the body under the upper layer of white cloth, bandage along the waistline.
- Sundress. Arrange the straps on the body, bandage the belt with a thread. Position the skirt with the hem up, fasten at the waist, lower the hem. Can be decorated with embroidery, beads or lace.
- Pants. You can do them in two ways. The first one is more correct, since scissors will not be used for it. Rectangle red fabric fold in half diagonally, tie around the waist. Turn the edges of the long corners inward, tie around the edges 0.8 cm. The second option: tie a piece of fabric like a skirt at the sundress, then cut the fabric in the center, tie the legs with thread.
- Tie a scarf to the bride, make a hat to the groom, add jewelry.
Since it’s not difficult to make a doll-amulet with your own hands , and it will take a long time to carry warm and pleasant memories, “Lovebirds” will be a good present at a wedding today.
Dolls "Likhomanki"
These amulets were stored behind the stove, and were made there. They took upon themselves all diseases from households throughout the year, then burned gratefully.
Such amulets were made 12 identical and 1 a little more - it is the main one. Making dolls amulets with your own hands, like pillars, is not difficult. They differ only in that for the body they take not a tissue, but a branch.
Ten hand
This amulet was made to help young girls in the household and needlework. They put it near the workplace, usually in the kitchen, and burned it on Pokrov, thanks for the help. You can make such amulets with your own hands from threads, straw or hay.
Materials
- The thread is linen, wool or cotton.
- Red thread.
- Fabrics on the apron and scarf.
- Decor
Manufacture:
- Thread the threads on the elbow through the thumb. About 30 revolutions should be made. The main thing is to ensure that there are an even number of them. Bandage the center piece, fold in half.
- From the top, retreat 2 cm, drag with a thread, marking the head.
- Wrap the thread around the brush 5 times, tie the edges with a thread, backing 0.7 cm. You need to make 5 pieces of such blanks.
- Divide body threads in half. On the bottom layer put 5 blanks of hands, cover with a top layer of threads, dress them crosswise from the neck through the center of the chest, then along the waist and through the center to the neck. Decorate with an apron, scarf and other decor. In the hem of this amulet doll there must be 9 red threads with knots at the ends.
In addition to the above, there were many more types of handmade dolls: amulet for replenishment in the family, fertility, good harvest, treatment, removal of damage, and many others. They were carried with them, buried in the ground, put in a red corner, hung on the wall.
The goal of all charms - Slavic or Celtic, verbal or graphic, made in the form of pendants, embroidery or dolls - has always been one: to help people. And the stronger the faith in the amulet was, the more powerful it becomes.