13 Ways to Find Good Luck in the Garden this Friday the 13th

Today is Friday the 13th. For those of you who are superstitious and immediately started wondering what sort of bad luck today is going to bring, I encourage you to take a walk around your garden this morning and look for some of these critters, plants and other garden finds that are thought to bring GOOD luck. If you keep looking long enough, you'll be sure to find at least one! And even if you don't, starting your morning in the garden is sure to provide enough pleasure to get you through whatever the day has in store for you.

1) Four Leaf Clover - The four leaf clover is a universally accepted symbol of good luck. According to legend, Eve even carried one with her as she left the Garden of Eden. What do the leaves symbolize? One leaf is for FAITH. The second for HOPE. The third for LOVE. And the fourth for LUCK! All I know is, I was holding a 4 leaf clover when I won a VERY LARGE prize in a local contest and I haven't stopped looking for them since.

2) Crickets - Hearing the chirping of a cricket is said to bring good luck to all that hear. In this case, however, imitation is not the sincerest form of flattery since imitating the sound of a cricket is said to bring bad luck.

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3) Ladybugs - Having a live ladybug land on you is said to brighten your day, give you patience with those around you, and most importantly, lessen your burdens. It must, however, be allowed to fly away of its own accord, and must not be brushed off. You may gently speed it on its way with a soft puff of air, and by the reciting the rhyme , "Ladybug, ladybug, fly away home. Your house is on fire and your children are gone." The deeper the ladybug's color, the better luck it brings. The number of spots on its back are also important. The more spots...the better the luck! Killing a ladybug is considered bad luck.

4) Bees - A bee landing on someone's hand is believed to mean money is on the way! Yay! If the bee settles on someone's head it means that person will rise to greatness. They were once considered to deliberately sting those who swore in front of them, and also to attack an adulterer or unchaste person; it was once held to be a sure sign that a girl was a virgin if she could walk through a swarm of bees without being stung.

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5) Dragonflies - Dragonflies are another lucky insect and were once considered to be a sign of "a good harvest". Other symbolic meanings associated with dragonflies, are prosperity, strength, courage, peace, harmony and purity.

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6) Birds - A bird call from the south is good for crops; from the west is good luck; from the east, good love. Some believe that if a bird poops on your car (or even your head - yuck) it is supposed to mean good luck.

7) Crows - Seeing crows are good luck, depending on how many you see. Two means luck, Three means health, Four means wealth.

8 ) Acorns - In Norse folklore, both the acorn and the oak tree bring good fortune. Carrying an acorn on you somewhere is said to ensure good luck and prosperity. Others believe that carrying an acorn will keep you young. Placing a single acorn on a windowsill is said to ward off lightening.

9) Rainbows - Rainbows are considered lucky because we all know if we find the end of the rainbow there will be pot of gold.

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10) Eggs - Eggs are thought to bring good weather, encourage the growth of crops and protect both cattle and children against misfortune, and ward off evil. I didn't find anything that said what KIND of egg, so maybe bird, lizard and butterfly eggs all count!

 11) Turtles -Turtles are believed to have power over all kinds of Bad luck.

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12) Frogs - The frog has been a symbol of prosperity, wealth, friendship and abundance in many cultures for centuries. For the Romans, the Frog was believed to bring Good Luck to one's home. The native Aborigines of Australia, believed that Frogs brought the thunder and rain, to help the plants to grow. Frogs are also said to be effective in speeding up recovery from disease. The Frog is also said to attract true friends and to help you find long-lasting love.

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13) Rabbits - A Rabbit's Foot has been a good luck symbol for the common man for ages. I think keeping the foot and the rabbit attached are better luck. Rabbits are supposed to symbolize fertility so seeing one could be lucky if you are trying to have more children.

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If you don't see any of these things on your garden walk, you can always try a couple of things to change your luck for the day.  

Knocking on Wood - It was once believed that good spirits lived in trees and that by knocking on anything made from wood, you could call upon these spirits for protection against misfortune.  

Put your clothes on inside out - No one seems to know how this superstition originated, but the belief that backwards or inside out clothing brings good luck continues to be widespread .

Happy Friday the 13th!