Luck Is Where You Find It

Luck Is Where You Find It
by Cassandra Curtis

I imagine most of you reading this know what today is, right? An unlucky number on an unlucky day, the combination of which causes the more superstitious to stay home and bolt the doors.

In my own family, Friday the thirteenth is considered very lucky. A child born on Friday the thirteenth is said to be blessed by the magic of the old ones. I have a sister born on that day whom we all love very much, even if she did hog all the mirrors when we were growing up. lol.

For many people though, it is a time to beware of walking under ladders, crossing the path of black cats, or handling any mirrors. But how did the concept of luck, of superstitions, Fridays and the number thirteen, ever get started in the first place?

Paraskavedekatriaphobia is the psychological term for those individuals afraid of Friday the 13th. Fear of the number thirteen has been around for ages and although we aren’t one-hundred percent sure where it started, many believe it stems from the story of the of the Last Supper, where thirteen sat down to eat, and one of their number, Judas, betrayed Jesus.

Others insist the unlucky association dates back to Friday, October 13, 1307, the day that many Knights Templar were simultaneously arrested in France, and then executed.

But I’ve found that much of luck depends on who you ask and what their culture or religion believes. While most people in England, Germany, Portugal believe Friday the thirteenth is unlucky, it is Tuesday the thirteenth that is bad luck for those in Spain and Greece.
However, Buddhists believe the day is a lucky one, as did the ancient Aztecs and Egyptians.

Personally, I think it all has to do with math.

Yes, I know for most of us, math is inherently evil anyway, but let’s think for a second. Thirteen is a prime number, and very different from all the other numbers before it. That was probably very scary to the slide-rule challenged cavemen who first discovered the uniqueness of the number thirteen.

I believe we make our own luck. Serendipity is there for the taking, and whether what we experience is good or bad is more than a toss of a coin. Sometimes all we need is to focus on is what we want.

So how do you make good luck?

Expect to get as good as you give and allow yourself to be lucky. That’s right. Know it and it will be. Simple, huh?

Now, I’m not saying for you to act like a Pollyanna and recite affirmations while your car is being towed. ::grins::

A positive attitude is only going to take you half-way. You must use your innate senses, your inner ESP, your knowledge, and careful attention, to take you the rest of the way.

Clear the way for the magic to happen. Watch for potentials—be observant—and expect to be lucky.

Thirteen is nothing to fear. In fact, I’ll prove just how lucky it can be!

The first 13 readers who email me at cass@cassandracurtis.com (with their name and mailing address) and leave a comment here, will win a nifty author bookmarks and more prize pack of goodies.

Remember to use the subject line: TRS Blog Lucky 13 on your email!

Good Luck!

::sees black cat arching it’s back across the street::

Ahh, excuse me while I go 'talk' to that black cat. To me and mine, they happen to be very lucky! :D


Contest ends midnight, Friday the Thirteenth, regardless of the number of final commentors. Winners will be contacted via email and posted the following day on my blog. http://cassandracurtis.com/blog

Anyone who doesn’t follow both of the contest requirements before midnight, March 13, 2009 will be disqualified.

~*~

Cassandra Curtis is the bestselling author of the Shifting Tides series from Amber Heat, a division of Amber Quill Press. Ms. Curtis is also a founding member of the author website and blog The Midnight Moon Cafe. For more information about her books and upcoming events, check out her website at www.cassandracurtis.com.