Talisman

An object made and charged to draw something towards you, such as courage or success.

A talisman is an object that has been made or chosen for one purpose and charged with it: to draw something towards the person who carries it, such as courage, luck in an exam or success with a plan. The word reached English in the seventeenth century through French and Arabic from the Greek telesma, a consecrated thing.

Modern witchcraft separates it from the amulet: an amulet protects and keeps something away, a talisman attracts. The distinction is useful and fairly young; older writers use the two words for the same things.

The classical talisman of the old books of magick was a piece of metal or parchment engraved with signs at a carefully chosen hour. A talisman of today can be a coin, a key, a stone or a pendant. What makes it one is that it is made for a single goal, by the person who will carry it, and that the goal is named in clear words.

A talisman reminds you of your goal each time you touch it. The steps towards the goal remain yours to take.

Related: charm, correspondence, intention.