July Meme - answer for 7/13
Here's the other entry I missed thanks to Fun With Meteorology. This one is for aishuu who asked, "are you superstitious about anything? If so, please elaborate."
To be honest, I'm probably one of the least superstitious people you will ever meet. Yes, I do believe in the possibility of the supernatural and the mystic to some degree, but in terms of random occurrences or certain actions (salt over the shoulder, for example) influencing probability and chance? No.
I actually had a cashier at the cafeteria at work get all in a swivet because my total came out to $6.66. I just don't get thinking like that. Or why the number 13 freaks some people out, or why my mom insisted I give her a penny after she gave me a set of knives for Christmas. If I break a mirror, I get upset because a) I'm out one mirror and b) I have to clean up broken glass before the cats step in it.
(That being said, walking under a ladder is just plain stupid - it's a good way to get stuff dropped on you or have a ladder fall on your head.)
All that being said, I do believe that an object or a ritual action can help one focus one's intent and energy in a way that makes success more likely. But would its loss 'curse' you? No, except to the degree that the psychological toll of losing the object or not being able to perform the action would do a number on your brain and predispose you to failure.
I do also believe that some objects (toys, tools) that are well-loved or well-used become something far more than 'just' a stuffed bear or a gardening trowel, but I wouldn't call that 'superstition.'
To be honest, I'm probably one of the least superstitious people you will ever meet. Yes, I do believe in the possibility of the supernatural and the mystic to some degree, but in terms of random occurrences or certain actions (salt over the shoulder, for example) influencing probability and chance? No.
I actually had a cashier at the cafeteria at work get all in a swivet because my total came out to $6.66. I just don't get thinking like that. Or why the number 13 freaks some people out, or why my mom insisted I give her a penny after she gave me a set of knives for Christmas. If I break a mirror, I get upset because a) I'm out one mirror and b) I have to clean up broken glass before the cats step in it.
(That being said, walking under a ladder is just plain stupid - it's a good way to get stuff dropped on you or have a ladder fall on your head.)
All that being said, I do believe that an object or a ritual action can help one focus one's intent and energy in a way that makes success more likely. But would its loss 'curse' you? No, except to the degree that the psychological toll of losing the object or not being able to perform the action would do a number on your brain and predispose you to failure.
I do also believe that some objects (toys, tools) that are well-loved or well-used become something far more than 'just' a stuffed bear or a gardening trowel, but I wouldn't call that 'superstition.'