| For generations, the main aspiration of mankind was | | | | suffer of sterility. A blue cloth serves as virtue for |
| to obtain luck and success. This ambition has lead | | | | the birth of a boy and a red cloth, as a virtue for the |
| people to seek the help of sorcerers and | | | | birth of a girl. As we can see, a certain color was also |
| fortune-tellers, in order to amend their lives and | | | | a virtue for protection. In Arab traditions, the blue |
| destiny. The tradition of using lucky charms and | | | | color is used to drive ghosts and demons away. |
| amulets is common to most religions, cultures and | | | | The use of the blue color is also present in the Arab |
| nationalities, from historic times to modern civilization. | | | | symbol known as "Hamsa" (also called "Hand of |
| People have always been looking for earthly link to | | | | God"), and as components of plant and spices |
| spiritual properties by using lucky charms and cameos. | | | | packages. |
| The use of charms and cameos has a variety of | | | | Different plants have also inspired the infusion of |
| manifestations and forms. Charms are used to | | | | protection symbols. Some religions used garlic to |
| enhance prosperity, success, marriage, health, finding | | | | scare away demons and evil eye. |
| companionship, restoring lost love and happiness. | | | | Unlike other religions, Judaism has made a unique |
| They served as a remedy for security, luck and | | | | usage of a cameo: the Mezuzah (doorpost). |
| protection since ancient periods. | | | | According to the Jewish belief, troubles and |
| The Amulet (Cameo) | | | | sicknesses at home are directly linked to a |
| The name "Cameo" was first mentioned in the | | | | disqualified, invalid or the absence of a Mezuzah. In |
| Jerusalemite Talmud, in tractate of Sabbath chapter | | | | certain periods, the Jews used tattoo symbols on |
| 36, paragraph 71. ; The name "Cameo" indicates a | | | | their bodies. Religious leaders did not allow these |
| means of connecting the body with an object, such | | | | customs, as they related them to pagan witchcraft |
| as "Tefillin". | | | | rituals. |
| Cameo names are variable in different cultures. | | | | Hand Written Amulets: |
| However - in most cases, the cameo functions as an | | | | Most hand written Kabbalistic cameos contain verses |
| object that attributes luck, success, cure, as well as a | | | | from the Torah (the Jewish Bible) angel's names and |
| remedy against evil eye, bad spells, black magic, etc. | | | | God's names. |
| The cameo is most effective while being held close | | | | In order to prepare them properly, the Kabbalists put |
| to the person, either in the pocket, around the neck | | | | a great emphasis on writing the precise combination |
| or inside the house. | | | | of saints and God's names (the letters are retrieve |
| History researches have concluded that the cameos | | | | from the asking person and his mother's names). |
| were used in different cultures as early as the iron | | | | There are Cameos that contain combinations of |
| and Neolithic periods. The cameo is one of the most | | | | consecrations retrieved from the Kabbalah and |
| important artifacts in human history. It was used in | | | | ancient sacred scriptures. |
| religious rituals of the Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks, | | | | During middle ages, mystics have created amulets |
| Romans, Buddhists, Arabs, Indians and Hebrews. | | | | according to Séance and channeled |
| Ancient Egyptian leaders used to wear the cameo | | | | instructions. These cameos were written |
| regularly on their necks. These traditions are still in | | | | combinations of letters and symbols. They were |
| use at modern times as amulets and charms are still | | | | written according to the person's request and his |
| in vast use today. According to the researchers, | | | | particular problem. |
| most of the cameos found in caves from the | | | | This tradition continues until today and evolved with |
| prehistoric periods were ordained against the evil eye. | | | | time. |
| The cameo has a special power to give its owner a | | | | We can see the connection between the mystical |
| sense of protection. | | | | mediums who serve as a channel between the |
| For example: The cameo was a necessity among the | | | | supernatural and the human being. |
| Turkish warriors who never departed from their | | | | Through channeling, the medium concieves the letters |
| cameo in the battlefield, even for a split of a | | | | and symbols that are to be implemented in the |
| moment. Another example is taken from the Sumo | | | | amulet. Written combinations of these letters and |
| wrestling tradition, where the wrestler carries the | | | | symbols are placed inside the cameo mantle along |
| cameo inside the diaper on his groin. | | | | with other components from the vegetation or |
| In Middle Eastern countries, the cameo serves | | | | animal's world. |
| women as well. Pregnant women do not depart from | | | | King Solomon Seals are the most powerful symbols in |
| their cameo throughout their pregnancy. | | | | Judaism and Christianity. Each symbol carries its own |
| Along history, cameos were elaborated and used as | | | | typical characteristics and conceals powerful |
| jewelry. The most famous cameo in history, for | | | | attributes. |
| example, was the Pharaoh Beetle, which was an | | | | According to practical Kabbalah, the King Solomon |
| emblem dedicated to RA, God of the Sun. | | | | Seals are famous for their tremendous powers, and |
| According to the ancient Egyptian faith, the litter | | | | are used widely for amulet writing. |
| beetle was a symbol for universal creation and | | | | The sercret of writing amulets properly, is laid in the |
| divinity. According to the Jewish Kabbalah, this beetle | | | | hands of a few masters who know how to write a |
| was a symbol of infinity .The Egyptian cross "Anah" | | | | faultless and full-required Seal. A specific script is used |
| with the ring around its head, was a sacred cameo | | | | for each person's individual request,. The text is |
| like the beetle, and similarly represented the power | | | | written in ancient Hebrew scripts and angel writing on |
| of eternity. | | | | a special kosher (legal) parchment, made of deer's |
| In Christianity, the crucifix played a major role as a | | | | skin (same material that is used for Mezuzah |
| cameo. Since middle ages, Kabbalah was the | | | | scrolls),using feather and ink. It is well elaborated and |
| inspiration to creating cameos which contained angel's | | | | written according to the name, the birth date, and |
| names or names related to God. Kabbalah and the | | | | the mother's name of the person ordering it, and |
| use of the Hebrew letters have also influenced | | | | fitted to solve the problem or the request. |
| Christian mysticism. | | | | The most effective hand written amulets are the |
| The Many Faces of the Cameo: | | | | ones dedicated to the requester personally and |
| Cameos are divided into two main categories: | | | | prepared according his/her name, mother's name and |
| One type serves as jewelry, and the other is based | | | | date of birth. |
| on virtue writing, and contain ancient scripts, angel | | | | Is it necessary to carry a cameo in everyday life? |
| writing and King Solomon seals. The cameos that | | | | Yes, it is. |
| appeared later in history were considered as giving | | | | When everything is running smoothly and there are |
| powers or solving problems to those who carried | | | | no restrictions or negative energies on our way, it is |
| them. In Egypt, the belief was that carrying a snake's | | | | still important to carry a Cameo. |
| skin was a virtue for medicine, probably because | | | | In fact, exactly when we feel that luck is with us, |
| snake's slough symbolized rebirth and was associated | | | | these are the moments that we are exposed to the |
| with cure. Marteseger, the Egyptian snake goddess | | | | evil eye. Some are people may envy us when they |
| was considered as the guardian of the Kings Valley. A | | | | see us succeed in everything we do. Jealousy and |
| women who could not conceive knelt in front of her | | | | bad energies that are aimed at us may cause |
| image or sculpture for blessing. | | | | blockages and restrictions. In order to prevent such |
| The symbol of Aesculapius, the Roman Medicine God | | | | cases and protect ourselves, it is important to hold a |
| was a snake wrapped around a bed. | | | | Cameo. |
| Among Indian tribes, the American snake is | | | | You can see it as protection of our home from |
| associated with lighting and thunder. The snake rod | | | | strangers by locking our doors with a latch. Same |
| served the Indians in rituals to bring rain and ensure | | | | way - it is important to carry a means of protection |
| plentiful harvest. | | | | close to our body, a personal cameo for our security, |
| Apart from the snake, another fertility symbol is the | | | | success, to enhance our family member's security, |
| fig leaf that serves as virtue for men or women who | | | | our business place, or our closest relationships. |