You are my talisman. You are the lucky charm that brings me joy and good fortune in life. Whenever I am with you, I feel invincible, as if I can conquer any obstacle that comes my way. You have a special power over me. Your presence alone is enough to calm my anxieties and fears. When I am with you, everything feels right and I know that I am in the right place at the right time.
© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023
She structures it as a series of miniature essays, a personal catalog of mementos, talismans and heirlooms, all made meaningful by the passing of time. They carry magical, powerful, protective symbols that inspire or invoke certain elements or qualities, depending on your life s purpose or the stage of your journey on this planet.
When I am with you, everything feels right and I know that I am in the right place at the right time. Your positive energy is infectious. It radiates from you and envelops those around you, filling their hearts with happiness and love.
What’s your talisman?
According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a magical order active in the United Kingdom during the late-19th and early-20th centuries, a talisman is “a magical figure charged with the force which it is intended to represent. In the construction of a talisman, care should be taken to make it, as far as possible, so to represent the universal forces that it should be in exact harmony with those you wish to attract, and the more exact the symbolism, the easier it is to attract the force.” [3]
As regular readers here know, I’m not very big on woo-woo stuff. Really not a crystals/shaman sort of girl.
But I have two small collections of charms I wear together on a piece of cord that I consider my talismans:
The heart is solid silver, bought in Vancouver from a jeweler on Granville Island after one of the most miserable weeks of my life, putting my mother into a nursing home after having to very quickly sort through and sell/toss/keep a lifetime of her belongings. Not to mention the creepy/weird/bizarre friend of hers who stressed me out so badly I called the police. Not fun. So…that’s my heart…solid but battered.
I found the “C” in a shop in Tucson, Arizona, where I and my husband taught at the New York Times Student Journalism Institute, and met a few lovely young professionals we are still close friends with.
The three other charms came from a shop in Atlanta, Georgia and express how I feel about my life and my hunger for beauty, fun and adventure.
On the black silk cord are the three charms from my childhood that resonate for me today:
The blue enamel heart was given to me by my mother when I was eight, sent off to boarding school. I wore this collection under my dress for my second wedding, in September 2011 in Toronto, because she was not going to be there.
The Art Nouveau charm was a gift to me at 12 from one of her beaux, a lovely older man. A few years ago, a I received an email from his daughter, who I had met, (and forgotten), who is, like me, now a globe-trotting ex-patriate Canadian, also a writer and editor, also happily married. Small world!
The gold charm is from my late maternal grandmother, Gemini, my birth sign. She died the year I turned 18 and I miss her still.
On good days, I wore flowers, butterflies and balloons, and on bad days, horrible insects and carnivorous animals.
I was the only woman on the Security Council at the time. The ambassadors noticed, and they asked, “Why are you wearing . . . ” whatever brooch. President [George] Bush had already said “Read my lips: no new taxes”, so I just said “Read my pins.”
Do you have, own or wear something of similar sentimental value or emotional power?
Where is it from — and what does it mean to you?
There are many ways to find your talisman, amulet, or relic. The symbols, appearing in object form, are connected to your essence and your life journey. Sometimes a symbol arrives before an object; sometimes the object arrives of its own free will. So, stay open to the possibilities.
You have this incredible ability to uplift and inspire, and I am grateful for the joy that you bring into my life. You bring luck and good fortune into my life. Whenever I am feeling down or facing a challenge, you are there to remind me of my strength and potential. With you by my side, I know that I can overcome anything that life throws at me. You are my guiding star, leading me towards the path of happiness and success. Your unwavering support and belief in me motivate me to push through my limitations and reach for the stars. With you as my talisman, I know that no dream is too big or impossible to achieve. Thank you for being my talisman, my lucky charm. You have brought so much joy, love, and luck into my life, and I am eternally grateful. With you, I feel like I can take on the world and overcome any obstacle that comes my way. You are my talisman, and I am forever blessed to have you in my life..
Reviews for "Talismans in Different Religions and Belief Systems: A Comparative Analysis"
1. John Smith - 1 star - I found "You are my talisman" to be incredibly boring and unoriginal. The plot was predictable and the characters felt stale and one-dimensional. I had high hopes for this book, but it just didn't deliver. I couldn't connect with any of the characters and the writing style felt flat. Overall, I was disappointed and wouldn't recommend it.
2. Emily Johnson - 2 stars - "You are my talisman" lacked depth and failed to keep my attention. The story felt rushed and the dialogue was unrealistic. The romance between the two main characters felt forced and lacked chemistry. I was hoping for a captivating read, but was left feeling underwhelmed. I wouldn't recommend this book to others who are looking for a captivating and well-developed story.
3. Sarah Thompson - 2 stars - I found "You are my talisman" to be quite repetitive and dull. The plot seemed promising at first, but as I read further, it became clear that the story lacked substance. The characters were underdeveloped and their actions often didn't make sense. The pacing was off and it felt like the author was just trying to fill the pages. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
4. Daniel Anderson - 1 star - "You are my talisman" was a complete waste of time. The writing style was incredibly amateurish and the grammar mistakes were distracting. The plot was weak and the characters felt like cardboard cutouts. I couldn't bring myself to care about what happened to them. The book lacked depth and failed to deliver any emotional impact. I would strongly advise against wasting your time on this book.