What kind of information did our ancestors leave behind about money omens and signs?  What kind of portents tell us that finances are about to dwindle or improve?  How can we offset a predicted negative trend, or accent a positive one, through proactive magick?

Here are some things to watch for and suggestions as to how to take the greatest advantage of them:

Ant: An ant colony taking up residence near your home might be pesky, but it’s also an omen of wealth and security.  To improve this energy, give the ants a small dollop of honey so they can scatter more sweetness into your life.

Apple: When you dunk for apples, be sure to try and bite the biggest one you can.  This indicates the size of your financial success the following year.  I’d suggest drying the peel of this apple and using it in prosperity incense.

Broken Pottery: If a glass or plate is broken at an engagement party, it indicates that the couple will always have plenty of money.  This may have given rise to the custom of breaking a glass after toasting couples�?good fortune as a way of sealing the magick.

Butterfly: Mexicans believe that if a butterfly lands on you, you will soon know wealth and fertility.  Note that fertility can be literal (physical) or symbolic (like a fertile garden).

Cards: To determine what’s happening presently with your finances, get a deck of cards and randomly draw out one.  If you get a club, you’ll make money on a professional endeavor, so enter into it with confidence.  An ace of clubs indicates extreme success.  The seven of diamonds indicates you’ll be making slow but steady progress, and the nine of diamonds or spades reveals the need to tighten your belt as money will be delayed.  This last result may indicate that it might be good to wait on any deals or large expenditures for a bit.

By the way, you can adopt this omen into spellcraft and charms by using a club, ace of clubs, or seven of diamonds as a component.  For example, you might bless the cards, saying, “Seven of diamonds, wealth to me bond!  When carried in hand, that’s where money lands!�?nbsp; Keep this in your pocket or wallet, and take it our just prior to accepting money in a transaction.

Cherry Blossom: Burn a handful of cherry blossoms on your hearth fire.  According to Roman tradition, if they flare up brightly, it bodes well for your money situation.  Save some of these ashes and use them in money charms or spells.  Alternatively, add dried cherry blossoms to your money incense blends.

Cloud: Go outside on Winter Solstice and watch the clouds.  Chinese tradition tells us that if you see a yellow one moving from the North, the following year will be filled with bounty and plenty.

Cricket and Cat: If a stray cricket or cat shows up at your threshold, treat it kindly.  This is an omen of financial improvements, and the greater kindness you show to the creature, the greater the reward!

Cuckoo or Lily: Go to the country on the first day of Spring.  If you hear a cuckoo calling or find the first lily to open, you’ll have a prosperous year.  Carry one of the lily leaves or petals with you in the days ahead as a charm to keep the positive energy rolling!

Daffodil: Go out in Spring and look for the first daffodil to blossom.  The Welsh believe that if you find this, you will obtain more gold than silver this year.  Mind you, that can mean gold-colored clothing, golden beverages, or gold-tone bric-a-brac, too!  This also means that daffodil petals make a good component for prosperity magick.

Dice: Another way to check the progress of financial matters is to toss a die.  If it lands on a six, you can be sure that unexpected money will soon arrive to meet your needs.

Egg: Dreaming of eggs means money will soon be coming your way.  The amount is often portended by the number of eggs themselves, such as a dozen indicating $120.  Just to support this dream a little more, have eggs for breakfast, and internalize that energy!

Fern: Toss a fern frond into the air.  If it falls perpendicularly to the ground, that is a good place to dig for buried treasure!

Fly: Finding a fly in a glass from which you were about to drink might be unappetizing, but it is also a sign of forthcoming prosperity.

Itching Hand: If your left hand itches, spit on it and rub it against your pocket.  Money will soon arrive.

Keys: Keys that rustle for no apparent reason on a Wednesday portend an inheritance.  Put this omen to good use!  Find an old key and bless it on a Wednesday for financial improvements, then keep it on your key chain as a charm.

Ladybug: If you find a ladybug in your house during the Winter season, count the number of spots on her back.  This indicates how many dollars or a multiple of that amount you’re about to receive.

Magpie: Should a magpie build a nest near your home, it’s a very fortunate sign.  Put a bay laurel leaf and some bread crumbs in that tree to honor the bird, look upon it before going on business deals, and you’re insured of success!

Money: In Norse tradition, if you happen to dream of money on the Winter Solstice, you will know wealth and success in the coming year.  With this in mind, you might want to tuck a coin under your pillow and burn rose incense to try to inspire such a dream!

Moving: If you happen to move to a new house during the waning moon, it’s an omen of providence.  Should you be unable to schedule the move for that time, keep at least one personal time outside until the waning moon begins (in this case, the symbolism is that of troubles waning).  At that time, bless the token by the light of that moon and bring it indoors to keep with your piggy bank or financial papers.

New Home: Watch the physical attributes of the first person to come to your door.  According to Scottish tradition, a brunette male or a young boy both portend prosperity soon to follow.  You might want to ask a friend over who fits that description!

Nuts to You!: Finding a double hazelnut presages wealth and luck.  Carry this as a charm or eat it to internalize its positive energy.

Oak Gall: If you find an oak gall and it yields a larva, this portends financial increases.  Clean this out thoroughly and keep it near your wallet or checkbook.

Pea: If you open a pea pod and discover either one or nine peas within, this is an excellent omen for your finances.  You can eat these to internalize the energy, or dry them to “preserve�?your wealth!

Ruby: If you own any piece of jewelry with a ruby in it, watch the stone carefully.  If it ever dulls or breaks, be prepared for financial trouble ahead.

Sewing: Thread that wraps around your needle while you sew portends good fortune on the horizon.  You can save this piece of thread and use it as a component in other forms of money magick, snip it fine as part of an incense or bury it in your garden so money grows!

Shooting Star: If you can say the word “money�?three times when you see a shooting star (before it goes out of sight), it portends prosperity.  This would be a nice addition to prosperity rituals and spells during those nights when meteor showers and the like have been predicted by astronomers.  Check your local newspaper for this information, which is often located in the weather section.

Spider: Finding a spider in your clothes speaks of money returning to you, especially funds you considered “lost�?in some manner, such as through poor investments or a stolen wallet.  Similarly, a spider in your dwelling is considered a good sign.  As the old proverb says, “If you wish to live and thrive, let the spider stay alive!�?/EM>