Many years ago in Seoul, South Korea, a manager at the media company where I’d been working as a consultant gave me a key chain charm “for good luck in making money.”  I’ve often worn it on my key ring since then, although I don’t believe it has any powers to bring me wealth.  No anomalous financial reward came to me since I’ve carried it.  I wasn’t given any indication that the charm was anything other than a gift shop purchase, nor was I told the item had been blessed by any Korean priest, monk, shaman, or adept.  Still, I won’t be removing the charm from my keys anytime soon, and therein lies the springboard for a discussion. Charms, amulets and talismans have been worn and carried since time immemorial, to lend us help and comfort along the difficult road of life.  Even in our highly developed, technologically advanced cultures […]

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