Tropical Mum: What's Your Superstition?

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

What's Your Superstition?

Niki - An Eskimo charm for good fortune

Are you superstitious? I can be sometimes. I blame my parents for some of it.

Dad told us never to put hats or shoes on a table - not sure if that was etiquette, hygiene or superstition, but he was adamant about that one. To this day, I will not put a hat on a table and absolutely would not dream of perching a pair of shoes there, new or otherwise.
Mom used to tell us to hold off on mentioning the possibility of something good happening until it actually happened, for fear of jinxing ourselves.

I have my own little superstitions/quirks:

My Guardian Angel

I don't like people speaking in jest about dying, for fear that Death might see it as a challenge.
I have a pendant called a Niki, which is an Eskimo charm for good fortune. My parents gave it to me when I was a girl, and I wear it all the time.
I have a little plastic angel about the size of my thumb that sits on my computer desk. I like to think she's watching out for me, because, you know, computer work can be so hazardous.
When I was a girl and I wanted to avoid bad dreams, I would always sleep facing the nearest wall. Now, when MasterFive is afraid of bad dreams, I encourage him to do this also. I reckon there will always be a wall to face, unless we go camping (and that's not likely) and it gives him something within his control to combat bad dreams. Aside: I told him this morning that I wanted him to make sure he always wears his helmet when he does stunts with his skateboard, because I had a bad dream that he banged his head. He immediately replied with, "Next time, just make sure you face the wall when you go to bed, Mummy."
I believe that lamenting about how bad things are for you is a surefire way for them to get a whole lot worse, so count your blessings and be grateful for what you have.

Some superstitions that don't bother me:

Spilling Salt: I don't bother throwing salt over my shoulder when I've spilt it, because it would be me that has to clean it up. I mean really, who thinks of these things?
Walking Under a Ladder: I will walk under a ladder, but will look up first to make sure there isn't a can of paint about to fall on my head.
A Black Cat Crossing Your Path: Cats are everywhere in our neighbourhood, and there is a black one that prowls through our yard and uses our garden bed as a litter box, so I guess they are bad luck, but this kind of bad luck is not determined by the colour of the cat.
Breaking a Mirror Means Seven Years Bad Luck: I have never broken a mirror, and I have had my fair share of bad luck, so I don't think mirrors have anything to do with it. Oops I just broke my own Rule #5, I guess I have to throw a cat over my shoulder, spill salt under a ladder and turn around three times to counteract it.

So why all the talk about superstitions? It's because of this.

I was given this 'Lucky' Bamboo for my birthday three years ago. I have a black thumb rather than a green one. So my 'Lucky' Bamboo wasn't very lucky the day it came into my neglectful care. My dilemma is that I want to throw away this eye-sore of a plant, but can't bring myself to do it, because...well it's supposed to be lucky.