Let's make some luck!

​March is said by some to be an unpredictable month; a time when it is never clear what might happen next. In my case, the joy that March brings me is always predictable. I remarried in the month of March and during this marriage my youngest daughter was born; also in March. My youngest daughter and I both share a love for all things hand-made. We sometimes obsess over crafting and only we can understand why. So, one of us is always there to enable the other. I am very lucky to have such a relationship in my life!

There are a lot of great quotes about luck, but one of my favorites is one made by Jimmy Dean; "You gotta try your luck at least once a day, because you could be going around lucky all day and not even know it."  I guess I like the implication that luck is just there, floating around, invisible, and whether it goes your way or not depends on your ability to react; your ability to seize an opportunity or just take a chance. Practically everyone wishes to be lucky, so knowing that the ability to "get lucky" starts with an action on our behalf, leads us to believe that we are the makers of our own luck. And we all know how much I like the word "maker".

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for hard work and sweat, but, at the same time, I don't see anything wrong with trying to make sure luck doesn't just pass us by. That explains why I am such a fan of the many stories of talismans that are believed to attract luck.  Some of my favorites are the four leaf clover and good luck stones.

​Four leaf clovers have been considered a symbol for luck since biblical times. The leaves of the shamrock (the three-leaf clover) were believed to represent hope, faith, and love. Legend has it that, every so often, God would add another leaf to one shamrock, for luck, thus creating the four-leaf clover. Of course, this is only one justification for this superstition. The belief may also have alot to do with the fact that the four leaf clover is extremely rare to find. Your chance of finding one is about one in ten thousand. It's no wonder you are considered lucky if you come upon one!

​Finding a four-leaf clover is considered an omen of good luck for the finder, but giving it to someone else conveys the message that the recipient is very important to you! In this same spirit, I have created a four-leaf clover granny square for you this month (free pattern here). It is my hope that you will always remember that "Hard work puts you where good luck can find you."

​Other amulets that are believed to influence your luck are the so-called good luck stones. These stones (or crystals) are said to collect energies that are found in and around your body so that they can be used to aid you in achieving your greatest aspirations. Some good luck stones include: amethyst, aventurine, citrine, sodalite, and malachite. Even though it is not a gemstone, amber is also considered to bring good fortune.

​If you have been around for a while, you know that I love gemstones and that over the years I have crafted a large amount of gemstone necklaces, bracelets and rings. Recently I  promised myself to reenergize them with each full moon and to wear them as frequently as possible. So whether you carry them in a left pocket or use them as ornaments, the idea is to allow them to pull the good luck towards you and then, act and react! Make that luck yours!

Disclaimer: The effectiveness of good luck stones and the existence of the energy fields that they are believed to work in are not theories sustained by scientific research. The positive benefits claimed by those who believe in this practice are attributed by many to a placebo effect of mind over body.  But we have a saying in Spanish that goes, "Ante la duda... saluda." That's a bit hard to translate but, basically, "Just in case!".