53 replies to this topic

[Cyn]

I have this really interesting book regarding Superstitions and Omens. It is like a dictionary. If you list a topic, I will look it up for you and post it...if I can find it.

[lulaboo]

figures!! one of my favorite subjects and i cant think of a one off the top of my head!!

[Cyn]

lulaboo, on Jan 29 2005, 04:16 PM, said:

figures!! one of my favorite subjects and i cant think of a one off the top of my head!!

That's okay Lulaboo, whenever you think of something just let me know. I'll be happy to check it out!

[Nacht_Wolf]

Wow Cyn, that sounds like a very interesting book. I'm curious as to what it says about black cats. I have a black cat and have never bought into that rubbish about them being bad luck. Mischevious, yes. I always think "black cats are good luck," and I suppose through the effort of positive thinking, something good usually does happen.

Also, good to meet you!

[Axman]

Ravens and crows are supposed to be bad omens.

How about this old superstion, "If a bird hits your car's windshield, a family member has just passed away."

[Willow]

I've actually never heard that one before Ax..though i've always heard a bird in the house is a sign of a death and if a robin flies into a room through a window, death will shortly follow


How about the one were a clock which has not been working suddenly chimes, there will be a death in the family or you will have bad luck if you do not stop the clock in the room where someone dies.


Love this subject, can't wait to hear about this book Cyn

[Axman]

Step on a crack, break your mother's back?

Kill a spider and it'll surely rain?

[Axman]

Willow, on Jan 31 2005, 05:29 PM, said:

I've actually never heard that one before Ax..though i've always heard a bird in the house is a sign of a death and if a robin flies into a room through a window, death will shortly follow

I've only heard the one about the car windshield. I guess they kinda resemble each other though!

[Cyn]

Nacht_Wolf, on Jan 31 2005, 02:41 PM, said:

Wow Cyn, that sounds like a very interesting book. I'm curious as to what it says about black cats. I have a black cat and have never bought into that rubbish about them being bad luck. Mischevious, yes. I always think "black cats are good luck," and I suppose through the effort of positive thinking, something good usually does happen.

Also, good to meet you!

Very nice to meet you too! Hmmm, let's see what it says about the Black Cat.

"Perhaps the most famous of all superstitions is the belief that a black cat crossing your path will ensure good luck. Indeed so widespread and firmly held is this tradition that there are many instances in history where people have pampered black cats to an amazing degree so that misfortune should never attend them. Apart from crossing in front of you, it is also held that a black cat walking into your house will bring good luck and naturally, to kill one is extremely unlucky. The animal is said to have curative powers, too, and some blood from the tail will cure cure many minor illnesses if rubbed on the affected part. In many primitive areas of the world the black cat has been used in special rituals to appease the gods, though it is never killed. Not surprisingly we find that it became much sought after and changed hands for large sums of money. It is always stressed by those with most implicit faith in the black cat's powers that it must be totally black, that even a fleck or hair of white disqualifies it. The origin of this superstition dates back to the ancient Egyptians who greatly revered cats in general, one of their most important Goddesses being Bast, a black female cat."

[Cyn]

Axman, on Jan 31 2005, 05:10 PM, said:

Ravens and crows are supposed to be bad omens.

How about this old superstion, "If a bird hits your car's windshield, a family member has just passed away."

Hi Axman,
I have also heard of the superstition that a bird hitting the windshield of a car is an omen of death. Unfortunately, this book doesn't mention that..but here is what is says.

Birds are believed to be the returned souls of dead people. Ever since the earliest times birds have been treated by man as symbols of good and evil, and indeed the Greeks made a science of this called Ornithomancy. By far the most widespread bird omen says that if a bird flies in and out of a room through an open window, it signals the death of someone living in the house. A variation of this says that if birds hover or fly constantly around a house, or when resting on a window sill tap against the glass, then this too portends a death. The Irish, Brazilians and Australians all believe that black and grey birds seen flying around trees at night and never settling contains the souls of evil-doers who are doing penance. In France it is said that unbaptized children who die become birds and remain so until they are baptized by John the Baptist. The Scots also have the unhappy superstition about caged birds, that if one should die on the wedding morning of a member of the family, the marriage will be unhappy and the couple will eventually separate. On a happier note it is claimed that if you see a flight of birds just before you are about to undertake a journey, their direction will indicate the success or otherwise of your trip. If they are flying to the right of you, all will be well; but if to the left, it would be as well to stay at home! Finally - and perhaps not surprisingly - a British superstition says that if bird droppings fall on you it is a sign of misfortune.......No Kidding!

[Libramoon]

Axman, on Jan 31 2005, 05:10 PM, said:

Ravens and crows are supposed to be bad omens.

How about this old superstion, "If a bird hits your car's windshield, a family member has just passed away."

About 3 years ago, My hubby & I were driving down the road when we heard a weird"SMACK" then fluttering! We pulled over and realized that a bird had flew into my open window & smacked the back windsheild! We were doing about 40 MPH. How strange is that? :rolleyes:

Nothing bad ever happend to us.

[Axman]

Cyn, on Jan 31 2005, 06:56 PM, said:

if  birds hover or fly constantly around a house, or when resting on a window sill tap against the glass, then this too portends a death.

This reminds me of Hitchcock!

BTW, I've read something about sparrows being the carrier of spirits or something like that. They are supposed to be the transporters of the spirit into the afterlife.

[Nacht_Wolf]

Thanks Cyn!

I had only heard that black cats were bad luck before. I've seen people turn right around on a street if they see a black cat cross their path.

[Cyn]

Nacht_Wolf, on Jan 31 2005, 07:49 PM, said:

Thanks Cyn!

I had only heard that black cats were bad luck before. I've seen people turn right around on a street if they see a black cat cross their path.

Me too! I had always heard that a Black Cat crossing your path would be considered an ill omen...not according to this book. It is supposed to be a good thing, and I myself have never had a bad experience when a black cat crossed my path. I have always viewed it as a good thing, and I embraced the experience whenever it happened.

[Cyn]

Axman, on Jan 31 2005, 07:42 PM, said:

Cyn, on Jan 31 2005, 06:56 PM, said:

if  birds hover or fly constantly around a house, or when resting on a window sill tap against the glass, then this too portends a death.

This reminds me of Hitchcock!

BTW, I've read something about sparrows being the carrier of spirits or something like that. They are supposed to be the transporters of the spirit into the afterlife.

Regarding "Sparrows"

"The sparrow is said to be an ill-omened bird in much of Europe, because it was present at the Crucifixion and encouraged the Romans to torture Christ by continually chirping "He's alive, he's alive". It is for this reason that sparrows hop rather than run, their legs seemingly tied together by invisible bonds as punishment for their lack of sympathy. Perhaps, not surprisingly, it is said to be an omen of death if a sparrow flies into the house, but is also very unlucky to kill one. Further, one should never be caught and caged, or misfortune will follow. Sparrows serve as weather omens by chirping in a very agitated manner when rain is on the way. In may parts of Britain the sparrow is regarded as the symbol of the gods of the household, and as such is important to the wellbeing of the family, and much cherished."
:rolleyes: