Lately I have questioned what luck truly is and where did the concept come from. I realize there are a whole lot of definitions for luck,the dictionary defines luck as, success or failure, apparently brought by chance rather than through one’s own actions, however; definitions do not not answer the question.

(Above photo:Assyrian talisman)

If we go back in time right to the Assyrians like other ancient people,they considered sickness and misfortune,bad luck brought on by evil spirits so to defend themselves from this so called bad luck or supernatural attacks they wore amulets and to bring good luck they wore talismans. Scholars believe a talisman is something over which a rite has been preformed to give the powers of attracting luck or conferring healing and an amulet is any object inherently powerful against evil. Okay so perhaps luck has to do with good and bad spirits in the supernatural world and some people are more susceptible to either side of it,that would explain why some have all the luck and others do not.

(Above:Druid holy tree)

If we go back to the druids,they worshiped nature,their holy tree was oak and the mistle toe if growing under an oak,the custom saying touch wood for good luck was a relic from the druids reverence for sacred trees. Perhaps nature brings does bring luck to those that respect it.

Above:Lord Burghley)

Maybe it has to do with certain days of the year, some days and more lucky and unlucky then others. In the sixteenth and seventeenth century England lists of evil days/unlucky days were regularly printed in almanacs. Belief of unlucky and lucky days began in ancient cultures. The Romans,Chinese and Greeks all had traditions of specific days regarded as prosperous or otherwise,the reasons for this is unknown however; by the middle ages certain days had acquired specific links. Lord Burghley,treasurer of queen Elizabeth 1 informed his son of three Mondays to be avoided when starting new ventures. The first Monday was in April was traditionally the anniversary of Cains murder of Abel. The second Monday in August was the day of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the last Monday in December was the birthday of Judas Iscariot. These remained bad days well into the 19th century. The Christian church in effort to abolish bad days dedicated each day of the year to a saint however;in the seventeenth century Puritans scorned the notion of both saints days and unlucky days but many people saw their prohibition of every kind of activity on Sundays as a continuation of the old beliefs but in a slightly different form.

Certain years called climacteric,were also regarded as significant in a persons life,bringing important changes and general well-being and luck. In keeping with the accepted fact that a persons body changes in character every seven years,every seventh year was regarded as critical,although some authorities that only years that were multiple of odd numbers had significance,the seventh,twenty first,thirdy forth,forty ninth and sixty third. The last was called the grand climactic and was regarded as especially dangerous.

Taking into the consideration the above facts, perhaps fate does have a part to play in what type of luck people have or maybe certain days of the year or possessions such as a talisman do bring luck, however. Upon doing the research, my own personal belief now is that luck is a rare event that takes place either effecting someone positively or negatively by unforeseen causes and that the more positive you are the more luck you will have. If your always negative your going to fail too see the luck you are having, therefore, it will always be bad luck. If your positive, your more open to having luck because you will be more likely to see it staring you in the face, thereby, reaching out to grab the opportunity as and when it arises. As the saying goes,happy go lucky.

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