by Bruce Johnson —
Bruce Johnson has over 30 years of study in the fields of Ancient Wisdom and occultism. He has taught classes on a wide range of topics, from Atlantis to mediums to Zoroaster. He is also a spiritualist minister, with a background in spiritual astrology. He lives in Colorado with his wife and their cat.
The words amulet, charm and talisman are often used interchangeably as different definitions for these terms abound. We’ll assign particular qualities to each category beginning with the most complex, the talisman. Talismans often contain characters or images and are created during a time of specific planetary influence in magic ritual by one versed in occult science. Talismans are magnetized for a distinct purpose and can confer power or protection if desired. Unlike amulets and charms, talismans always have an astrological connection with one of the planets and are made of material sympathetic to that planet.
Amulets are shielding and defensive in their action and used to protect an individual or property from negativity and evil forces. An amulet can be vitalized for a particular use, so a person could have different amulets for different types of protection. Amulets are repulsion-based in their approach and can be imbued with various types of force to resist an extensive array of nefarious energies. Amulets may or may not display planetary significations, or have figures or pictures placed or inscribed on them.
Charms can be magnetized for diverse purposes, with the good luck charms especially known for drawing to a person good fortune, health, and prosperity. Skillfully made charms, like amulets and talismans, radiate their energies undiminished for many years, as a blessing to their owners. Unlike amulets, charms are not primarily protective, but like amulets, they might or might not contain configurations, and are effective based on the strength of their magnetism.
The word talisman comes from the Arabic tilsam, meaning a “magic image”. Talismans come in many forms including- semi-precious stones, rings, carved wood figures, cast metal representations, parchment, breastplates, beads and cloth to name a few. Some positive uses of talismans are- protection from evil energies and situations, spiritual healing of all types, exploring the spirit planes, interpreting dreams and visions, purifying one’s environment, and linking to the world of divine beings.
A wide variety of symbols and forms have been placed on amulets by different cultures. This large group encompasses numbers, letters, magical characters, planetary glyphs, words of power, geometric shapes, god and religious figures, aspects of nature, human body symbolism, and sacred scripture, to mention some. Amulets were fashioned for all types of protection ranging from scorpion sting protection to protection in battle, to lightning and flood protection, and finally, protection of one’s burial site. Amulets are electrical in nature and use repulsion to repel evil.
Various depictions indicating good luck are found throughout the world. Effectual good luck charms are pervaded with a positive magnetic energy that attracts some form of benefit. In the United States, the upward-pointing horseshoe, four-leaf clover, good luck rings, “lucky” charms, certain religious statues and medals, cornucopia, and treasure chest filled with precious coins and jewels, would often be considered good luck symbols. Good luck charms have been created for- increasing finances, fortune in love and marriage, vigorous health, happy friendships, sound children and luck in business.
The creative power of strong faith magnifies the energy originally placed in a genuinely magnetized and sealed talisman, amulet or charm dozens of times. The lost, stolen, completely faded in power and fakes from these three categories are called “dead” and radiate no force. Eye agates have often been used as amulets against the evil eye.
