Le Chat Noir�

Charm 

Charm is a loose expression for words, a ritualistic action, or an emblematic object, formula, gesture, potion, or precious stone believed to have the capacity to insure against the undesirable or to promote good luck.

The essence of a charm is that it has a magical efficacy derived from tapping the supernatural power. To judge from the etymology of the word (from the Latin, carmen, meaning song, verse, or incantation) the key to such power appears originally to have been verbal; but now adays the word charm lacks precision and may refer to other forms or combinations of forms. A charm has relative simplicity, so that more complex manifestations of magical practice should not be included. Charms in the simplier societies are ussually shared and transmitted only among relatives and close friends, thier private character being emphasized by the fact that they are not in a public domain but are aquired through gift, purchase or inheretance. In urban societies, charms often become comercialized. Some scholars feel that many religious symbols and actions--images, crosses, relics, rosaries, sacred texts, prayers, genuflection, sacrifice-- eventually become indistinguishable from magic and so may be included with charms. Converesely, some maintain that charms occasionally become religious objects. These view do not invalidate the fact that charms are essentially magical, for they rely for thier efficacy on some inherent power rather than the help of a spirit being.

There is considerable latitude in the things that are embraced by the word charm, but a classification into spells, magic gestures, amulets, and talismans may be used as the basis of examination.