Luck. Do you believe in it?
As defined, luck is “success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one’s own actions.”
It seems to me like luck might be a real thing. Like when the guy is strolling down the sidewalk, and the grand piano falls from the 28th floor. It smashes down to the ground, landing right where that fellow stood a half second before. Most people would say that was lucky for him. Although, truthfully, it was his own actions — the “walking” and the “decision to walk” — that actually saved him.
Conversely, getting hit by a bus seems unlucky. Yet the same premise goes there. The guy that was hit most likely was walking on his own accord, with the intention of walking from point a to point b.
So. Who is to say if luck truly exists or not?
Well. Some people are big believers in luck. Legends from around the world have warned us about bad luck all throughout history. Superstitions abound in our cultures. And with that, the “luck experts” say there are things that are unlucky to keep in our homes. And here are some of them. This is according to feng shui and many other cultural traditions.
Some of the supposed unlucky things in our homes:
• Rocking chairs
Now I like to rock in a rocking chair. But from my own personal experience, sometimes, those chairs go on their own. Perhaps there is a logical explanation, but I’ve seen it with my own eyes. For that very reason, it is easy to understand why superstitious people are leery.
And. According to Irish legend, an empty rocking chair is an open invitation for evil spirits to take a seat. They also claim that if a chair moves on its own, it means a specter has already moved into that spot.
•Green paint
It is interesting that this particular superstition has a solid basis in historical fact. You see, at one time, green dyes were actually deadly. During the 18th century, synthetic green dyes were made with a compound called “cupric hydrogen arsenic.” Arsenic. So any green-painted (or papered) wall could have been releasing toxic gases whenever it got damp. Any type of humidity would have done the trick.
Sadly, some factory workers fell ill and died from exposure to those green dyes back then. Somebody figured out the “danger” of arsenic in 1822. So the practice was stopped. But today, some superstitious homeowners view green walls as a very bad omen.
• Broken or stopped clocks
Feng shui warns against keeping broken items, period. They are merely clutter. But they say broken clocks are particularly bad. Apparently, you risk becoming stuck in a rut. You stop moving forward in your life. The same goes for keeping outdated calendars. They create bad energy.
• Cacti
Feng shui principles again. They claim that plants with spiky or thorny exteriors are magnets for bad vibes. The prickly surfaces bring tension into your home and relationships. Youch.
• Unmade bed
This superstition warns that not making your bed will guarantee a sleepless night.
• Open umbrella
This goes back all the way to ancient Egypt. Apparently, bringing any item meant to protect you from the weather into your home was disrespectful to the guardian spirits who were keeping watch over your abode. It was like telling those guardians that their protection wasn’t good enough. So. Keep them closed.
• Dead or dry plants
Dead things in your home equal dead energy.
• Taxidermy
Same thing. If dead plants are believed to bring negative energy into your home, be absolutely sure that dead animals are a bad idea in the way of energy. Dead deer heads on the wall. Dead fish. It just seems wrong to me.
So, there they are. A few, at least. The things that are supposed to be unlucky in our homes. I’m sure horseshoes facing downward, and the tail sides of pennies have their own list somewhere. But for now, I’d avoid sitting in your rocking chair, in your green living room, next to the dead grizzly bear head, while watching the broken clock just after you water your cactus.
And good luck. To you.
Especially with this Daylight Savings Time crap. Crap. Crap.
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“You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from.”
― Cormac McCarthy, No Country for Old Men
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“Since Alice had never received any religious instruction, and since she had led a blameless life, she never thought of her awful luck as being anything but accidents in a very busy place. Good for her.”
― Kurt Vonnegut, Slapstick
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“You know, Hobbes, some days even my lucky rocket ship underpants don’t help.”
― Bill Watterson
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