A Guide to Charms and Talismans; An Exploration
Ciara Courtney LODGE Words by Ciara Courtney
Charms made by LODGE
“The important factor here is the merging between body and object to create a sense of intimacy that can cultivate magic. The wearing of an object is ritualistic, as it often goes unquestioned becoming a part of our daily routine”. – Ciara Courtney 2019
Ciara Courtney is a Liverpool based Fashion Designer. Her work explores the Occult, British Folk Culture and Craft. Her (in-progress) graduate collection explores these subjects while also maintaining a focus on sustainability. Her practice explores hand embroidery techniques and antique silhouettes.
LODGE is a Leeds based artists. His practice explores the realms of magick and it’s crossovers throughout human history; particularly European magical rituals . He is a multimedia practitioner with his work venturing into performance based soundscapes, paintings and sculpture.
Charm: an object, act, or saying believed to have magic power. A charm or talisman is usually a small object, that’s often homemade to promote an idea or purpose that, is often only percipient to the user of the object. This collaboration was born out of the idea of creating objects/charms that can become integrated into garments for my 2020 Graduate collection; instilling the garments with meaning through the use symbolism. This document explores this collaboration while putting the objects and pictures into context; using our combined interest in symbolic magical meanings. The charms have been created by LODGE using research strands from my collection combined with his own intimate knowledge and interest in religion and magick. We have created a magical visual literacy together; while also considering the placement of charms on garments. We have future plans to expand the collaboration as my collection progresses. Particularly the incorporation of charms into accessories.
Fish Charm made by LODGE Research Images exploring medieval depictions of Fish and Fish costume from 1973 film the wicker man.
The symbolism of fish can be seen throughout religious teachings; an example being it’s prevalence within the Catholic Church. Equally many Pagan Gods and Goddesses are represented as manifestations of fish; linked with sexuality.
Bird charms on drawstrings by LODGE. Research images and illustration exploring birds within folk festivals and medieval art.
Birds feature throughout a number of religions; often associated with creation and also death. For Instance in Jewish scripture, a dove is portrayed as the soul guide to the afterlife. In Christianity a Dove represents a soul going to heaven. In Celtic mythology, both deities and the sly supernatural beings called fairies or fays were said to have the power to transform themselves into birds.
Sun/moon charm by LODGE. Illustration by Courtney. Images exploring Walter Ryder Tarot.
Night
Day
“ …(My research explores) Northern European religions and Kybalion hermetic teachings, and then through that mixed with alchemy and how they all join in, and how you can mix and find those ancient teachings across the world. How they can be mixed up with pop culture, and how you can use almost childish things, for example the sun in the Teletubbies, mixed in with religion, how important the sun is yet it’s a child in a kids TV program”LODGE 2019
In many Paganistic teachings the Sun and Moon are vital points of reference, both holding deep symbolic meanings. The sun omits masculine energy while the moon omits feminine energy. In the Charms created by LODGE, they explore this idea of giving these forces a humanisation- giving them faces. Something throughout religious and mystic iconology; for example their use within tarot cards.
Top: Picture taken from Bear in The big Blue House Bottom: Baby sun from the Teletubbies
The black sun is the meteoritical opposite of the sun. The (gold) gives power whereas the Black Sun takes power. It also holds associations with dark matter; which can be interpreted as negative energy. It can be used in Rituals especially when the sun is at an eclipse.
Fabric Charm by LODGE. Research Images exploring Austin Osman Spare Tarot and sun symbol from 1973 movie The Wickerman.
This charm explores the religious symbolism saints and halos; which are seen throughout history- From Greek representations of heroes to what is represented here; Christian Saints. This highlights the highly intwined nature of religious teachings and their paganistic roots.
The diagram is an page taken from my Grandmothers (who is a Wiccan Witch) Book of Shadows. It explores the ‘The Kabblah’ or The tree of life. This diagram is associated various mystical traditions and explores the existence of God and or the Human psyche.
“(Speaking of becoming a Wiccan Witch…)Well you do have to study, you have to study the Kabbalah and you take part in rituals from the start, you have to, to be part of the Coven. You start writing your book of shadows from the very beginning”. –Rosalie Corrin (My grandmother) 2019
The connection to death is a key factor in the potency of these objects; skulls. Skulls are believed to hold traces of life energy and are representative of life and death, thus hold a connection to the other world. The charm harnesses this idea of death becoming a symbolic representation of it.
Charm by LODGE. Skull picture from the Museum of Witchcraft Collection. Illustration by Courtney
Samael by LODGE Watercolor, acrylic on canvas 20x30 March 2020
Hand Charm inspired by tin hand charms from The Edward Lovett Collection. Edward Lovett was a folk collector of charms from inner city London, in the 1900’s. Showing that charms are not just used by people from all sectors of society. These hand charms, could indicate they were used as a form of protection. The LODGE made charm has been integrated into embroidery- becoming part of the embellishment.