AMULET – a spiritual death protection object

what’s the story about:

It poked fun at a prevalent in Poland at the time, custom of blessing city’s amenities by catholic priests. Highways, shopping centres, even manholes seemed to require clergy person’s services. It seemed that without sprinkled holy water the city would come to a halt. City councils would fall into disrepair. There was a widespread belief that the ritual can protect the amenities from abuse.

what’s the method:

AMULET – a spiritual death protection object /

a wooden box, a copper bullet engraved

Superstition – so attractive.

It gives a comforting illusion of control in an unpredictable world. Why accept a random chance, when on offer, there are some simple, easy to act on rules. Quick fixes to reduce anxiety. A quasi-psychological comfort. A help to feel safe and prepared for the worst.

In a society, where mechanism of control go to any extend to control an individual, superstition becomes a perfect tool. Unpredictable realities disappear replaced by a rigid, rule-based systems. Once in action, there is no need to oversee the system. The followers willingly police their own behaviours.

Private Baldrick, a character from Blackadder Goes Forth said:

~ ‘You know how they say that somewhere there’s a bullet with your name on it? (…) Well I thought that if I owned the bullet with my name on it, I’ll never get hit by it. (…) And the chances of there being two bullets with my name on it are very small indeed.’

So why not create an amulet for the city of Łódź. Hard hit by the economic changes in Poland. For a few days, Łódź was protected from all misfortunes. Catholic priests could rest from sprinkling new estates, roads and manholes with holy water. People could put their minds to rest. All was good. All was safe.

An engraved bullet, inside a glass box (provided by EPAC), protected all irrespectively of gender, religion and political believes.

Polish title: AMULET – duchowy obiekt chroniący przed śmiercią