Many people, myself included at one time, consider concepts like Fate and destiny to be interchangeable. When you read their definitions online, you will even find that they include both words to mean the same thing.
Many cultures had similar deities that ruled over a person’s life. You may be familiar with the Norms (Norse/Germanic) Urdr, Verdandi, and Skuld. The Greeks had the Moirai Atropos, Clotho, and Lechesis, and the Romans had their Parcae named Nona, Decima, and Morta. Each of these triads represented a part of the life and death cycle. The past (the beginning of the life), the present (their fate and the measurement of their lifespan), and the future (the moment and manner of the end of that life). This is often represented by the spinning, weaving, and cutting of the thread of life. There are so many more, spanning many cultures (not all are triads); too many to name here, but I think this imagery suits the theme well.
While the interchangeability of these two concepts seems pretty widespread, it is not absolute. I was reading a book on shamanism the other day, and it presented a different perspective. What if they are not the same, or at least not entirely so.
Fate is considered the predetermined inevitable direction and outcome of any situation, including one’s life (as a whole). In order to believe in or accept that something was “fated”, one must first give up the idea of having free will. Accepting that, no matter what, the final outcome was “beyond your control”. This explanation focuses solely on the final destination of the situation or of life.
On the other hand, Destiny, as explained by the shaman* in his book, focuses more on the journey. It encompasses the choices we make and the actions we take to achieve the desired outcome. This definition suggests the existence of free will, and the idea of individual power and sense of purpose.
Given these definitions we can look at these two concepts in a couple of ways. First, that they are two separate theories that involve choosing whether we believe we have free will or not. This could be overall, or on a situational basis. Second, they could be seen as two parts of the same system. That our overall Fate is determined by a “higher power”, but how we get to that fated destination is up to us. It would seem it would all boil down to one’s beliefs in free will.
So, do you see Fate and destiny as the same thing? Do you believe in either Fate or destiny, or a combination of both? Is it situationally dependent? I would love to know.
 
*The shaman and author was Alberto Villoldo.

We all have times in our lives when we feel as if everything is always going wrong, as if bad luck follows us wherever we go. We complain, pray, second guess ourselves, and maybe even question our faith. In these times it is common, if it has been going on long enough, that we might question if we have been cursed.
Curses are a popular topic in novels, movies, and TV shows. They really do make for some interesting plot lines. However, they are not as common as fiction writers would have you believe. A really effective curse requires an emotional investment in the situation, and, therefore, the outcome. The specifics of a curse depend on what harm the spell crafter wishes to do. It may include chronic bad luck, great loss (money, love, health), or other hardships. Curses are usually very personal. Due to the wide spread belief in the rule of three (what you send out comes back to you 3 times stronger), as well as karma, most people who practice magical traditions avoid cursing all together. (I will not be covering generational curses in this particular post. Maybe in a future one). 
That doesn’t mean, however, that people don’t (or won’t) send negative energies your way, which can be just as harmful. The difference here is that a curse is more of a carefully curated spell designed to do specific harm to someone, usually a specific someone or group of someone’s. Sending negative energies can be directed to target someone specific (the evil eye is a good example of this), or just out into the universe generically. It can be done specifically and with intention, in a moment of anger or frustration, or even by accident. When sent out in a generic way it can land anywhere, affect anyone close enough to catch it (whether they have anything to do with the situation or not), and cause more wide spread harm.
There are some signs/symptoms that may lead you to believe that you are being targeted by some very nasty energy . These can include* (always make sure you have ruled out a medical explanation for any of the following “symptoms” first):

• Drama or “bad luck” seems to follow you everywhere
• Feeling of being watched
• Chronic and consistent fatigue
• Unexplained anxiety or sudden mood swings
•  Spacing out or disassociating for seemingly no reason
• Frequent nightmares (particularly reoccurring ones or ones with consistent themes)
• Technology constantly glitches/turns off or on when you are around

 
Remember that these things should feel “out of place”/not normal for you, and not have any other plausible reason for happening, medical or not.
If this seems familiar to you, there are things that you can do to help protect yourself. You can choose one or more of the following, depending on what feels comfortable and “right” for you. This by no means a comprehensive list, but it is a good start.
First, keep in mind that even if someone is sending you harmful energies/wishes, it will not have nearly as much power behind it if you don’t let it. I have said in a few other posts that words have power, and they do, but they can only have the power over us that we give them. You can choose to not let it bother you, and keep living your life. Much like a grudge, it is more likely, in the long run, to hurt the person sending that energy than it is to hurt the one it is directed at. Here is where the power of positive thought also comes in handy. You are not just surrounding yourself in positive energy, you are refusing to take on negative energy as well.
Remembering to shield yourself daily is both a protective and preventative measure. The more you practice shielding yourself, the easier it becomes to do, and eventually, it may just “pop up” when needed, without you having to work at it. There are many good sources available online and in print to help you learn how to shield yourself, if you don’t already know how.
Regular smudging, clearing, and/or cleansing of your space and your person are also good ways to help get rid of those negative energies. This can be done through smoke, bathing (herbal or salt baths work well, and there are special soaps available for this purpose as well), sprays, or any other method you prefer.
There are plenty of herbs that are used to dispel negative energies/entities or curses**. These can be carried in a small pouch on your person, placed around your house at entry points like windows or doors, or burned like incense. Always use caution when carrying or burning herbs. Be sure they are not toxic and that you are not allergic to them. The first herb we usually think about is sage, however the following list, though not comprehensive, offers some other common plants that can be used.

• Vetivert: Silences those who are speaking badly about you
• Nettle: Believed to be a curse breaker / wards off fear and evil
• Anise: Works against the Evil Eye
• Cayenne: Drives your enemies away from you
• Chamomile: Believed to remove curses

 
Another effective tool for dealing with negative energies is crystals*. Again, definitely not a comprehensive list, but these should be relatively easy to find, and can be carried on your person (in your pocket, in your bra, etc..) in a bag, or not, placed around your home or office at entry points like windows or doors, or set out like decorative pieces (protection hidden in plain site).

• Smokey Quartz: Absorbs and transmutes negative energy
• Jet: Absorbs malicious energies
• Black Tourmaline: repels negative forces / protects against bead intentions
• Tiger’s Eye: Used against Evil Eye
• Onyx: protects against negative energies and promotes mental toughness
• Sardonyx: Repels negative energies/entities (can help prevent them from following you home)
• Hematite: Intercepts dark energies
• Fluorite: Acts as a psychic shield against attacks, and unconscious attachments to negative forces

If you can find one, a Vogel Crystal (a specific cut of a crystal from the quartz family like clear quartz, smokey quartz, citrine, or amethyst) can help remove negative energies and entities when placed on the body; a technique used by some healers.
Symbols and Sigils afford the user the same kind of protection. They are easily carried (in a pocket, on a keychain, drawn on the body, etc..), worn (privately or publicly) as jewelry or as tattoo (permanent or temporary), drawn into your aura energetically, written down and burned, displayed or written on windows or in doorways, or any other way you like. The blue Evil Eye charm so popular in metaphysical stores is a great example. Others include:

• Pentacle or Pentagram
• Witches Knot
• Triquetra
• Runes or Bindrunes
• Cross or Solar Cross
• The Eye of Horus
• The Helm of Awe
• Hexagram (6 pointed star)

 
There are so many that span many cultures. You just need to choose one that resonates with you and your beliefs. You can create your own sigils for protection as well. I did cover that in a previous post, but there are plenty of written and digital tutorials available as well. You can enhance its protective qualities by charging the symbol with that intent before wearing/carrying/using it.
If you are using crystals or symbols/sigils remember to cleanse and charge them.
A couple of  last options. If you know who is sending you the curse or bad energy your way, you can always try a cord cutting. There are people who will do this for you for a fee, but you can do them just as effectively yourself. I did write a blog post about this back in 2024 on Oct 21st if you would like to read it. As always, there are written and digital tutorials out there. Before you go to sleep at night you can also ask your guides/angels/etc.. to protect you from any negative energies, entities, or astral travelers that may wish to do you harm. I found this particularly helpful after leaving a rather toxic relationship and was having troubled dreams and terrible sleep. The final option I will provide is Reiki. If you are a practitioner you can perform a healing session on  yourself, however, if you are not, there are plenty of practitioners out there. You should be able to easily find one in our area, and if not, it can be done over distance. Just be sure to do your research on them.
If you are uncertain if it is a curse, negative energy being thrown your way, or just a run of “bad luck”, you can always consult your pendulum, tarot/oracle, or other divination technique you fancy. You could also consult your guides (maybe ask for a sign), the trusted reader or psychic of your choice, or other spiritual group/leader/professional you trust. Sometimes it helps to just talk it through with an impartial and subjective second party.
So, have you ever thought you were cursed? Have you been the target of negative energy from someone you knew or a random entity? I was once attacked in my sleep. It was a dream within a dream. The oddest experience I have ever had. I would love to hear your story, if you are willing to share.
 
*Extrapolated from https://yourhomeofwellness.com/blog/holistic-therapy/what-crystals-to-wear-for-protection-from-evil/
** Extrapolated from https://waxspiritual.com/herbs-roots-poweders-resin-guide/
 
 

Before we used symbols or markings to communicate, approximately 350,000 years ago, people used pigments made from things like ochre or manganese to communicate family or social ties/groupings. 250,000 years later, they upgraded to personal adornments, such as jewelry, to help communicate these concepts. By approximately 40,000 years ago our ancestors were creating 2 and 3 dimensional objects to depict the world around them. By 8,000 years ago man had begun creating basic symbols to communicate, which developed into the complex written languages we have today.* Many ancient cultures, like the Egyptians, the Norse, and Eastern cultures, used symbols that not only were used to write words, but also had deeper and more extensive, even magical, meaning as well.
Since then, the symbols we recognize and use have changed and evolved with us, our experiences, and our needs. Some have evolved to expand their meaning, some have had their meaning completely changed, and others have or are becoming irrelevant in our current world. Some symbols are pretty much universal. If someone says the word heart, your first thought is likely the symbol we are taught to draw from childhood, rather than the anatomically correct version that beats within us all. If you drew what we know to be a tear drop shape and coloured it blue, others would recognize it as water, however, colour it red, and they would likely think blood instead. We can use these kinds of symbols to communicate general concepts to people, even when we do not speak the same language.
We don’t usually consider the origins of the symbols we use, especially the ones we use every day, like the alphabet we write with. However, despite our daily use that can make them feel common and not that significant, they do have power, which we can tap into. We know that worlds have power, and not just when spoken. We use the written word in spell work every time we write a spell ourselves, write something down and burn/bury/carry it to manifest or let go of things, etch it into a candle, or however else you use words in your practice. If you create sigils you may be using letters or symbols to form them.
Some symbols, while having a generally accepted meaning (to which there are many books available on the subject depending on your use), can also have more personal meaning that depends greatly on your own personal beliefs and life experiences. This is especially true in dream interpretation. For instance, two people may have a similar dream about a spider, but the first dreamer may be afraid of spiders and see this as a symbol of being trapped or caught in a web of deceit (being lied to), while the other dreamer may not mind (or even like) spiders, not be afraid, and interpret it as a sign that they are “weaving” their own destiny, or to take control of their own fate. The emotions that a symbol or sign elicits has a direct affect on how it will be interpreted by the seer/user of it. This is why some symbols that have been deliberately changed or “hijacked” by certain groups have evolved from a more positive or neutral state to now evoke a strong negative response instead. A prime example of this is the swastika. This symbol, derived from the Sanskrit word svastika, is at least 7,000 years old. Originally it represented prosperity, fortune, and well-being, and was used in many religions including Hinduism, Odinism, and Buddhism, and was even found on pre-Christian European artifacts**. It is extremely unfortunate that this beautiful symbol has been used to represent such vulgar and despicable crimes against humanity. I hope one day that we can cleanse it of this negative connotation, and help it reclaim its former peaceful vibration.
There are plenty of magical alphabets out there that one can use in their practice as well. While these symbols have been created by others, and may not have any significant meaning to us at this time, if we learn them and use them consistently we can create a bond with them that will only deepen over time. That said, we can create these bonds with any symbol we use consistently and with intent. Choosing to learn a magical alphabet can also help keep your work private, even if you use or wear them in public, as well.
I really enjoy working with symbols. I love using my runes and rune cards, I quite enjoy sigil magic, and, as you may already know, reading and writing are passions of mine, so symbols are a very important part of my life as well as my practice. How do they fit into your life? Your practice? Do you give much thought to how you use them in your practice, or are they just a form of communication for you? Do you think symbols, warped over time, can regain their positive vibrations after being used to represent such heinous acts? I would love to know.
 
 
*Info taken from https://humanorigins.si.edu/human-characteristics/languages-symbols
**Info taken from https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/history-of-the-swastika