CLOVER. An ancient Irish symbol of luck. The Celts believed that a four-leaf clover could help them see fairies and avoid their mischief, which was believed to be a common source of bad luck.The four leaves were supposed to have mystical powers representing faith, hope, love, and luck. Another legend has them standing for fame, wealth, health and faithful love.

HORSESHOE.  One legend says that horseshoes are lucky because they were traditionally made of iron. Mischievous fairies could not stand the touch of iron, so they shied away from houses that were adorned with it.

EVIL EYES. While you may give someone the evil eye when they annoy you, people used to take malevolent looks much more seriously. Usually triggered by jealousy, giving someone an evil eye was supposed to cause all manner of suffering including mental illness and physical maladies. For thousands of years, people have been using evil eye talismans, to ward off the bad luck caused by these curses.

ELEPHANT. Protection, good luck, wisdom, and fertility are the energies brought by the symbol of the elephant into any space, be it home or office.

NUMBER 7. The number seven has been connected with luck, with perfection, and with gaining knowledge in many cultures throughout history.One reason for this might be that the number seven has special mathematical properties. The ancient Greeks called 7 "the perfect number," the sum of 3 (triangle) and 4 (square), which are perfect forms. Seven also crops up in a number of prominent places:

• There are 7 days of the week.
• There are 7 colors in the rainbow.
• There are 7 planets visible to the naked eye.
• The 7th son of a 7th son is supposed to be especially gifted and lucky.
• 7 is a winning roll in many games of chance.