There's an old Romani saying:
1 bird flies in the house means someone is going to die
2 birds fly in the house means good luck
As yet whenever ANYONE I love dies, a bird has gotten in the house (or store, or other building I'm in) within a week of their death. Whenever I notice a bird in the house, I freak. And guaranteed, each time, I lose someone. When my great grandmother in law was sent to the hospital with a 'massive stroke not expected to live' I wasn't worried. Why? No bird. She's doing *great*. Speech, motor, everything. When my son was ill, you've never SEEN a person so intent on keeping doors and window shut, and just sneaking through them as I was, and always checking for birds before opening the durn things anyway. (Auto doors on the hospital gave me the willies).
2 birds flew in our house when I was a child. It was an "awful" day, that later we were incredibly thankful for. We were supposed to be moving to Italy, but got the call a few hours later my dad was being sent to Japan, instead. Effective immediately. So they put him on a chopper, and instead of our month long road trip, he didn't even get to come home, but was shipped to Japan. The next day the submarine he was choppered off of blew up. No funeral to plan. He wasn't supposed to change command for a few more weeks.
2 birds flew in my apartment the week my son was conceived.
How about you? Any superstitions ring true in your own life?
A bird flew in my house several years ago -- and all was fine.
However, if I had bats in my belfry -- I might worry!
If a bird flew into my home I'm sure there would be a death, death of the bird that is... my cat would go insane.
I often wonder how gritty Rachael Rays kitchen floor must be with all the salt she throws over her shoulder.
I often walk under open ladders just to freak out the superstitious people for fun.
I do think of dead family members when I see butterflies tho.... for some reason. Just don't know for sure which one it's representing at the time, so I think of several... sister and grandma mostly.
I believe superstition leads to coincidence, the mind is a powerful thing, if you think it--it will happen.
those are amazing parallels. I've had lots of birds get into my house my whole life and this has never happened. I think the natural tendency for humans is towards superstitions. Having battled a mild case of OCD I know this is especially true for me. I still hang on to one and that is to not touch my cards until they have all been dealt. However, once I became stronger in my faith with God and read some books that were truly life changing in terms of understanding the spiritual world, how it works, and the sovereignty of God, I have let go my superstitions. God is in control and no power can touch me but what God allows. Prayer is important in all of this. I have a painting I painted of a peacock (I'm an artist). I had many people stop and ohhh and ahh over it but said, "i could never buy it, images of peacocks in your home will bring bad luck." So i hang the peacock in my living room, I know that God created this bird, and while it may be a hijacked occult symbol, God has first dibs. I claim Gods power in my life and who can hurt me? Yes i believe in a spiritual world, and I believe spirits can mess with us. But you can choose to be on the side of God and stand with confidence.
Reading about the pole from a previous poster, I still have to go out of my way to follow my husband around any poles because if I don't i'm afraid I'll enter an alternate universe. LOL, I guess I still have some work to do on my OCD.
R., the queen of knowledge, superstitious?
No, no superstitions ever rang true over here.
We've had birds fly into my folks house regularly. If it meant that someone cared about was going to die, I think my family would be extinct by now. :)
The only thing that I follow is to not give out good news until it is a done deal. Like I had an agent ask for a copy of my manuscript and I was excited about it, so I told my mom. Turns out the story was too close to one she was already representing so she rejected it. Things like that happen all the time, I need to learn to keep my mouth shut until it's a done deal!
Something is usually a sign in my life to indicate death.
We were getting an unusual amount of life insurance phone calls one year my mom staved one off by joking "we arent planning on dying"...she died the next day.
My dad wanted me to come over to discuss something about his will, My friend went into labor and i had to leave to go be with her, by the time i returned my dad had died.
My husband was driving home one night and passed a funeral home that was completely dark, there were two lit up...opened coffins in the window display. He thought to himself....how odd and ominous. By the time he got home he received phone call from the police that both of his parents were dead.
Birds never indicated anything with me. One day a bird flew directly into my window then dug its head in a crack on my porch to die. Later that day we were pumpkin hunting and my daughter found the perfect one and picked it up........dead bird underneath it. I was watching my back all week, but nothing bad happened.
No, but I've heard some interesting superstitions during my life. If you drop your comb, it means company's coming. If you're walking with someone and you have to walk around both sides of a tree or a pole (you walk on one side and the other person walks on the other, with the pole between you), you both have to say "Bread and butter" or you'll have bad luck. If the hem of your dress is turned up and you kiss it before you fix it, you'll have good luck. Has anyone else heard of those?
And how about this one? If you kiss your elbow, you'll turn into a boy!
that's one I've never heard before. No didnt come true for me . . . I definitely remember the morning we had a bird in our apt. and nope, no one passed away. I have heard that birds inside the church at a wedding are good luck.
It would be interesting to learn where all these superstitions come from - maybe it will be the next show on TLC.
have a good one!
I knock on wood.
From what I've heard the expression begun on the seas. Sailors would knock on the sides of their wooden ships when they'd speak of the calm waters they were in, or of the good health of their crew, or of the wonders they'd discover upon arrival. The knocking would drown out the sound of their voices. Otherwise would be to tempt the Fates who were always listening for the boasting voices of men.
While I love mythology (present and past) I don't take much literally.
Knocking on wood is sort of a ritual that reminds me of how much is not within my control, to be grateful for the blessings I have been given, and that truly, when things are going well - it's not because I am any more or less deserving of ease. It is simply the present way of things.
Basically, it is a small reminder of the importance of humility and of the ever changing reality we live in. I always liked that bumper sticker, "Change, the only constant."
Does it ring true in a literal sense? I'm not sure. I always knock ;-)
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Sort of related, I am superstitious when it comes to my relationship with the ocean. The sea is far more great than I am and to dishoner her is insanity or death. Maybe it's because I'm a (shell)fisherman's wife and our financial security is based solely on the whims of the water (be they weather, tide, pH, seed strength/number, or my husband's life). Maybe it's because I'm a strong swimmer and have come close to drowning. I just dig the water and feel lost when I'm not near a shoreline. I'm not sure. Anyway, in language and in action I am careful. I don't wish to tempt the ocean. (I am being pretty darn literal).
My mother in law used to say, "if you wear red to a wedding it means you are wearing no underwear"
Sure enough one day at a wedding, this woman was wearing red, she tripped over, her dress flew above her head, and there was her snatch on display, for everyone to see.
LOL, they are just coincidences, superstitions, are not real!
I have had no superstitions come true for me, but my boss always said that dragonflies meant someone who was departed was coming back to say 'Hi". Years later, her husband died suddenly and tragically. All of a sudden dragonflies were everywhere when I was with her. We will be sitting outside at work and a dragonfly will come and land on her shoulder. I have never seen anything like it. I truely believe its her husband stopping by to check in on her. I never see dragonflies any other time, only when I am with her. Weird, yet comforting.
The house we used to rent was an atrium model Eichler. (the front of the house was in indoor garden area with no roof over it. ) Birds got in that house all the time. Nobody died and I can't say that we had any incredible lucky happenings either.
I had a huge praying mantis in my garage for about a week a month ago. I read that was very good luck! Possibly, a messenger. I googled them. Very interesting. Birds... yes, freak me out. My dad told me at a young age they were bad luck, especially if you hit one in your car. It bothers me for awhile after that happens. I make sure I tell my husband to be careful..etc/. The closer I get to God I have let my superstitions go a bit. Only HE knows what's going to happen.
Red sky in the morning,
Sailors take warning
Red sky at nigh,
Sailors delight.
It actually works. It has something to do with the amount of moisture in the sky. More clouds, more storm possibility. Of course now with all the pollution we have more particulates in the sky all the time. Beautiful sunsets and sunrises.
