Apotropaic magic

Apotropaic magic is a kind of magic that is meant to keep bad things away. It's like when you use bug spray to keep mosquitoes from biting you or wear sunscreen to keep from getting sunburned. People have been doing apotropaic magic for thousands of years in lots of different cultures.

One example of apotropaic magic is the evil eye. Some people believe that there are certain people who can give you bad luck just by looking at you with their eyes. To protect themselves, they might wear a special kind of amulet, like a charm bracelet or necklace, that is supposed to reflect the bad luck back at the person who is trying to give it to them. The amulet might have a picture of an eye on it, or it might be a small hand-shaped charm that is supposed to grab onto any bad luck that comes their way.

Another example of apotropaic magic is using certain plants, like sage or rosemary, to cleanse a space of negative energy. People might burn the plants and let the smoke fill the room to get rid of any bad vibes that are hanging around.

In some cultures, people might hang a horseshoe above their door to keep bad luck away. The idea is that the horseshoe will catch any bad luck that is trying to sneak into your house, and then hold onto it so it can't affect you.

Overall, apotropaic magic is a way for people to protect themselves from bad things that might happen to them. It's like a shield that they can use to make sure that they stay safe and happy.