I remember my dad wearing a gold chain necklace with a gold and diamond-studded Santo Niño pendant—an image of the child Jesus holding the globus cruciger ("cross-bearing orb" in Latin) in one hand and making the gesture of benediction with the other. The globus cruciger symbolizes Christ’s dominion over the world, while the blessing hand represents divine favor and the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). By the way, I've always wondered why the mother got replaced with a spirit in the form of a bird. Perhaps it should have been: "Father, Son, and Mother?" Just my two cent tangent.
As a child, the deeper meanings of these symbols weren’t fully explained to me. What I did understand, however, was that these pendants held spiritual significance on multiple levels. They reflected both Catholic beliefs and folk traditions, where the Santo Niño was seen as a source of protection against demons and negative energies. The diamonds symbolized royalty, wealth, and enlightenment—powerful light energy to dispel darkness. Gold, a sacred metal used since ancient times, has long been associated with protection and illumination. My dad’s necklace was more than an accessory; it was a testament to his faith and identity.
The first amulets I received as a child—when I was just three years old—were a gold-capped crocodile tooth, a gold cornicello (horn of plenty), and a pink coral bracelet, gifts from my Filipino-Chinese relatives. Each carried its own protective and symbolic power. The crocodile tooth, considered a Visayan anting-anting, served as an amulet of protection against evil and a link to ancestral guidance. The Italian cornicello guarded against the evil eye while inviting good luck and prosperity. The pink coral bracelet, associated with royalty, was believed to protect against injury and illness. From birth to the start of my youth, I was introduced to the power of amulets and talismans, shaping my spiritual beliefs and deepening my connection to God and the Universe—especially as I navigated profound spiritual experiences at a young age.
Amulets, Talismans, and Charms
An amulet is an object believed to hold protective power, warding off harm, illness, or negative forces. A talisman, on the other hand, is an object designed to attract, amplify, or manifest certain energies and qualities, such as strength, love, or success. While distinct, an amulet can also act as a talisman, both repelling negative energy and attracting beneficial forces. All of the Diwata Adornments necklaces are made to have this dual purpose action.
Both amulets and talismans fall under the broader category of charms, objects imbued with magical potency to either repel unwanted influences or draw in positive energies. They can be handmade or naturally occurring, crafted to harness specific energies and frequencies. Many cultures create talismans for manifesting intentions or enhancing certain traits, shaping their forms and functions according to available materials, local beliefs, and trade influences. Think about the movement of people and cultures across lands and waters, and the kinds of objects they brought with them to trade or sell to others. The further away a desired object came from, the more valuable it was.
These sacred items have been made from a wide range of materials, depending on their cultural origins and environmental resources. Common amuletic compositions included bones, animal parts (hair, teeth, skin, tusks), metals, crystals, shells, coral, plants, glass, and faience. Faience, an ancient material made from crushed quartz and coated with a bright, glossy glaze, was commonly used in Egyptian amulets and had strong spiritual associations. In some traditions, amulets incorporate human relics, such as the bones or hair of saints and revered holy figures, often encased in pendants to act as vessels of divine protection.
Worn as jewelry or carried in pockets, amulets and talismans have served decorative, social, and religious purposes for thousands of years. They can be placed anywhere on the body, from head to toe, to maximize their protective or empowering effects.
Adornments of Prehistoric Times to Now
The use of amuletic jewelry dates back to the Stone Age (around 142,000 years ago), when the earliest adornments were made from natural materials such as shells and beads. Archeological research suggests that jewelry has long served as a means of connection—to family, place, and the spiritual world. Ancient people, attuned to the mystical forces of their environment, recognized the energetic properties of crystals, the totemic power of animals and plants, and the cosmic events that inspired awe and reverence. They recorded these experiences in cave art, leaving behind evidence of humanity’s enduring belief in the unseen. Even today, many of these early materials continue to be used in contemporary jewelry, serving as a tangible link to our ancestors and our shared desire to express identity, protection, and connection to both the physical and spiritual realms.
Ancient and Cultural Uses of Amulets
In Ancient Egypt, amulets were deeply tied to spiritual practices, often imbued with spells for protection and power. Most jewelry held spiritual significance. Turquoise symbolized new life, carnelian represented blood and vitality, and lapis lazuli embodied the skies and cosmos. Cowrie shells functioned as amulets against the evil eye while enhancing fertility. The scarab beetle, one of the most famous Egyptian symbols, signified regeneration and the cycle of rebirth. Metal fish pendants called nekhaw were attached to children’s hair to prevent drowning.
In Ancient China, jade—or nephrite—was revered for its spiritual and magical qualities. It was fashioned into discs (bi) and arcs (huang), often placed with the dead to guide souls to the afterlife while protecting them from demons along the way.
In Western Asia, amulets often took the form of animals and objects. A white stone bull pendant discovered in Nineveh symbolized incredible strength and power.
In the Philippines, pre-colonial amulets and talismans were naturally sourced from plants and animals of land or sea, rocks and crystals, and other available materials found in the environment. The tradition of the anting-anting developed more recently as a way to preserve indigenous animistic beliefs while disguising them under Catholicism after the arrival of missionaries and colonial forces. (More about the history of anting-anting in another blog.) These amulets, often made of brass, contain inscribed prayers, symbols, or relief carvings of the all-seeing eye, angels, and divine figures. As a form of agimat (charm), the anting-anting is used to ward off hexes, exorcise spirits, attract love, enhance fertility, bring luck, and provide overall protection. Beyond physical objects, anting-anting can also take the form of prayers written on paper, symbols embroidered into clothing, or even sacred tattoos ceremoniously placed onto the body.
The Power of Belief
Amulets and talismans serve as psycho-spiritual support tools, imbued with specific intentions that set thoughts into motion—activating their power through faith and patience. Thoughts carry energy, and when directed with intention, they initiate the forces that lead to manifestation.
The intentions I instill into Diwata Adornments necklaces are ritually activated, but it is ultimately up to the wearer to maintain their intention and build a relationship with their anting-anting. In animism, everything has spirit. By this belief, an amulet is not just an object—it has a life purpose: to protect the wearer and attract what they seek.
As for me, I still wear my crocodile tooth, and now my batok (tattoos) have also become my anting-anting. I share a spiritual connection with our buwaya Goddess ancestor, who visits me in my dreams and to whom I have dedicated an altar in my healing space. My tattoos are a message to the spirit realm: I am protected, loved, and watched over by my ancestors. I honor them daily by caring for my body with Bayabas Guava Skin Oil, which keeps my batok vibrant and serves as an offering to those who came before me.
I am deeply grateful to my parents for never concealing our indigenous beliefs and practices. Through them, I’ve come to understand that faith is more than religion—it is the recognition that we are connected to something greater, and that protection, strength, and guidance are always within reach.
Resources:
Garside, Anne, editor. Jewelry: Ancient to Modern. The Viking Press, 1979.
Illes, Judika. The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells: The Ultimate Reference Book for the Magical Arts. Harper Element, 2004.
Malbrough, Ray T. Charms, Spells, & Formulas. Llewellyn Publications, 1999.
Tate, Hugh, editor. Jewelry: 7000 Years. Harry N. Abrams, Inc. Publishers, 1986.
Villegas, Dennis Santos. You Shall Be As Gods: Anting-Anting and the Filipino Quest for Mystical Power. 2nd ed., Vibal Foundation, 2022.