Omamori

Omamori are Japanese good luck charms. According to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, "The omamori is an amulet that is a fusion of the Buddhist amulet tradition and Shinto charms, such as the ofuda, that became popular in their current form during the Tokugawa Period in 17th century Japan."

Each beautifully-embroidered fabric pouch is said to protect its owner from various ills, usually inscribed somewhere on the outside of the pouch. But there are some ground rules:

1. Never open the omamori. This releases all the blessings and the omamori becomes useless.
2. Carry it close, so it has the maximum effect.
3. Treat it with respect and gratitude, as omamori are symbols of protection.

Each omamori comes wits a protective plastic pouch to prevent stains and dust wherever it hangs, and is packaged in a maple wood box.