Lucky
Gypsy Pouches and Mojo Bags
Magickal pouches are found universally. Australian aboriginals, Amerindian shamans, Voodoo Bokos, African medicine men, European wisewomen – all employ pouches stuffed with various ingredients that they feel bring health, wealth, luck (good or bad), and/or protection. They may be called wanga, gris-gris, mojo bags, or whatever.
The Gypsies, too, make and carry such items. Depending on the purpose, so do the contents vary. The name for a Gypsy pouch is “putsi,” the real meaning of which is “pocket.”
For love, the Romanis make little bags of red silk, which they fill with rose petals, acorns, a piece of amber, cinnamon, two cloves, a bean, a piece of orris root, and a silver or gold coin. This is worn next to the skin. Occasionally they use small chamois leather pouches rather than silk.
Some Gypsies also include such items as a small bird’s feather, a piece of lemon peel, lavender, a wedding ring (perhaps the mother’s or grandmother’s), and a small piece of coal. Many Gypsies have two pouches. One is the silk one, which hangs around their neck, and the other is the leather putsi, which they hang from their belt. Into this second one it is easy to slip any new item that is spotted and recognized to be of value. I do this myself. Always keep your eyes open … you never know when you might spot something that could be a very powerful amulet.
Paying The Doctor
Before the introduction of the National Health Service in England, it was sometimes considered unlucky to pay a doctor’s bill in full. To do so implied a dangerous confidence in restored and continuing health that could only bring misfortune, and would probably result in his services being needed again very soon. Some patients, therefore, made it a rule to hold back a token sum, perhaps a shilling, from the total amount due.
On the other hand, gypsies always paid their bills punctually and in full, because they believed that unpaid for medicine would not work.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Superstitions
Make A Gypsy Mojo Bag
A Parik-til is the Gypsy version of a medicine or mojo bag. To create a parik-til, a small drawstring pouch is made in the appropriate color for the intended purpose. Into this goes various little objects: herbs, stones, feathers, sometimes a charm or piece of paper inscribed with a simple spell. This list is endless; it is only important that the objects seem sympathetic to your purpose.
Collect leaves and twigs of the oak tree, including a small acorn if available, the petals and/or seeds of the sunflower, a piece of cinnamon stick, three cloves, a stone that feels lucky for you, a horseshoe charm if you can find one – or a small picture or hand drawn symbol to represent a horse shoe, and a little trinket such as a bit of jewelry or a coin.
Feel free to add anything else that seems relevant, or meaningful to you. Tie the oak leaves and twigs with a bit of green yellow and orange thread. Put all the items into a drawstring bag. Perfume with an essential oil such as Myrrh, Benzoin, Cinnamon, or Patchouli, or dab with prosperity oil.
Hold the bag in your hands and feel the energy contained within. Parik-til means blessing holder, the objects inside the bag are symbols of the blessings you are holding. Take a few minutes to allow yourself to really feel it.
If you have never made a simple drawstring bag, they are super easy, and you can find hundreds of tutorials online, or you can check out my less than artistic rendition of how to make a drawstring pouch in about 5 minutes using a handkerchief, a ribbon, and a needle and thread. Here’s the link: How To Make A Simple Mojo Bag
Adapted from: Gypsy Magic by Patrinella Cooper
Making Miracles Happen
Gypsies are famous for their “happy go lucky” attitude. Here is a small but significant “affirmation” or “charm” to do each morning. Begin your day by saying out loud and with conviction:
“A miracle is going to happen today.”
This attracts good fortune and has a magnetic and cumulative effect. Within a short space of time, you will receive a fantastic telephone call, or letter, or you will meet with someone who will change your life for the better.
Spell from: The Good Spell Book
Image from Friedman Archives.
Break a Streak of Bad Luck
Go for a walk and pick up seven twigs from the ground, one to represent each day of the week. Traditionally, the twigs should be ash for Monday, beech for Tuesday, elm for Wednesday, oak for Thursday, horse chestnut for Friday, yew for Saturday, and elder for Sunday.
Take them home, snap them into pieces, and burn them in the hearth or a bonfire. Say:
Ill luck is broken,
As these words are spoken.
From: The Good Spell Book
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