the trappings of fandom

[fufaraw]

I own a copy of Dean's amulet, vintage Season one, the real deal, solid brass. I'm familiar with the reason Jensen wanted to stop wearing it--I've had it smack me in the mouth more than once when I was in motion. I had a copy of Dean's silver band with the single groove, until someone admired it, who would wear it more than I did. And I have a bracelet of wooden, skull-shaped beads. Supernatural isn't the only fandom where I've adopted trinkets--I had an IDIC patch, and I had a "Tyrell Corporation: More Human Than Human" patch on a jacket. I had a Blue Sun t-shirt, and another tee with Chewie and Han as Calvin and Hobbes, sledding. I'm a fandom magpie.

Seeing the onamori Alec gave to Magnus on Shadowhunters, I set out to explore exactly what onamori are small amulets for directed good wishes: love, success in business (or a school exam), good health, fertility, other aims and goals. I learned that the charm Alec gave Magnus was for protection, and for love. My fandom magpie kicked in, and I decided an onamori would be a good thing to have, and also a way to celebrate Malec and Shadowhunters.

So I set out to find a red onamori--so many! So many designs, all of embroidered red silk, but with different figures in the background, different characters embroidered on the front. I wanted one as similar to Magnus' as I could find.



Enter your cut contents here.




























































I found it. Mine!

Comments

[meus_venator]

So pretty. And I'm slowly making my way through Shadowhunters Season 1. I can see the appeal. It's very easy on the eyes and the brain. Just a nice adventure with a few jump scares. Reminds me of Buffy in a way.

[fufaraw]

It does remind me of Buffy, too. S2 picks up rather dramatically. I think they stepped away somewhat from the books, and the social relevance kicked in. It's one of the most woke shows for being eyecandy slick pop I've found on tv.

[tabaqui]

Oh, very neat! I have that impulse sometimes, too, though i tend not to spend the money (i'm broke more often than not).

I do have a Hot Wheels Metallicar, though. :)

[fufaraw]

So do I! The one that came with Season three? four? DVDs.

I don't really go in for a lot of merch--just the occasional quirky reminder. I always wanted patches for Yoyodyne Systems and Cyberdyne Systems, too. Cover my jacket like something from NASCAR, only with fictional movie corporations.

[tabaqui]

Yes! That i could totally get behind. :D

[stir-of-echoes.livejournal.com]

I started watching Shadowhunters after seeing you post about it and am really enjoying it :) I really like the idea of the onamori, lovely.

[fufaraw]

I'm glad you're enjoying the show. I haven't felt as giddy about a show since early SPN!

The onamori come in different shapes--tiny animals on cords with tassels, but most are these little embroidered silk bags--and they're all so beautiful. I'm tempted to buy several, for things I want to concentrate on, myself, and for friends who could use a little help with things: finances, health, relationships. No, I don't believe the charms have real influence, but they can be focus points for our attention to things we want to work on. And did I say? So pretty, and small enough to tuck in a pocket, or on a purse or a car mirror.

[stir-of-echoes.livejournal.com]

Me too, I've tried other shows but none of them stuck after more than a few episodes, but I really like Shadowhunters.

I may have to look into them myself, there can never be enough pretty, and like you said, a focus point.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Oh I just realised that the dangly thing I use as a Christmas decoration that friends brough back from Bejing is, in fact, one of these onamori! Cool!

[fufaraw]

Yes, as I said, above, they come in different shapes and styles--but just the embroidered silk bags are all of such different and beautiful fabrics.

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

Oh how EXCELLENT!!! As a complete fandom trinket collector this is just amazing :D

[supernutjapan.livejournal.com]

Japanese omamori 😊
My kids got some from their Japanese grandma who bought them at a shrine. Yours have most likely been prayed over at a shrine too. My oldest has one for good exam luck, my youngest a white one with pink letters, I think for road safety.

They are pretty, aren´t they :)

[fufaraw]

I think it's so lovely they have a onamori specifically for "traffic safety." There's a lot of traffic in the cities, and I think good luck in travel is a very good thing to have.

I've done some reading, and while you're never supposed to open onamori you're given or you'll let the luck out, and they're only supposed to last a year, when you're supposed to return them, ideally to the shrine where they were purchased, but actually to any Shinto or Buddhist shrine. Shrines usually have an annual ceremony where they burn "expired" onamori. There's a Zen temple in town, so I could drop it off there. Or, you can keep it, understanding the luck spell has run out. But you should never throw it away, because of disrespect.

You can also make your own. In fact, I bought some empty wee bags to do just that. These don't have characters on them, so I plan to just write the intent for a specific friend on a piece of paper, fold it, tuck it into the little bag with maybe a button or a tiny pebble or a tiny carved stone animal who represents my wish to the person, or nothing but the wish paper, knot it closed, and give it to the person. It's a way of reminding them I'm wishing them well and thinking of them when we're apart.

[supernutjapan.livejournal.com]

Traffic safety is quite a nice omamori to have, especially in Japan where kids often go out on their own :)

Making omamori for your friends is a beautiful idea ❤❤❤