A segula (, pl. ''səḡulloṯ'') is a protective or benevolent

incantation An incantation, spell, charm, enchantment, or bewitchery is a magical formula intended to trigger a magical effect on a person or objects. The formula can be spoken, sung, or chanted. An incantation can also be performed during ceremonial ri ...

ritual A ritual is a repeated, structured sequence of actions or behaviors that alters the internal or external state of an individual, group, or environment, regardless of conscious understanding, emotional context, or symbolic meaning. Traditionally ...

in Kabbalistic and

Talmud The Talmud (; ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law (''halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of Haskalah#Effects, modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the cen ...

ic tradition.

Etymology

In medieval magic, " sigil" () was commonly used to refer to occult signs representing various angels and demons the practitioner might summon. In this context, the term sigil derives from the Latin '' sigillum'' "seal."

Maimonides Moses ben Maimon (1138–1204), commonly known as Maimonides (, ) and also referred to by the Hebrew acronym Rambam (), was a Sephardic rabbi and Jewish philosophy, philosopher who became one of the most prolific and influential Torah schola ...

strongly urges against writing sigils on the back of a '' mezuzah'', turning it into an amulet, in Mishneh Torah, "Laws of Tefilin and Mezuzzah", 5:4. ''Segula'' appears in the Hebrew Bible in Exodus 19:5 and Deuteronomy 7:6, where God refers to the Jewish nation as his ''segula'' (treasure). The root of this word, segol, is the name of a Hebrew vowel-point represented by three dots. According to the Chaim ibn Attar, a ''segula'' is "a charm that supersedes logic".

List of ''segulot''

Following is a list of popular or well-known segulot.

Fertility and childbirth

*Distributing '' chai rotel'' (about 54 liters) of drink at the Tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Meron on

Lag BaOmer Lag BaOmer (, ''LaG Bāʿōmer''), also Lag B'Omer or Lag LaOmer, is a Judaism, Jewish religious holiday celebrated on the 33rd day of the Counting of the Omer, which occurs on the 18th day of the Hebrew calendar, Hebrew month of Iyar. Accordin ...

is considered a propitious remedy for infertility, as well as for helping a person find his mate or recover from serious illness *Acting as '' kvatterin'' "godmother" for a baby boy at his '' brit milah'' is a ''segula'' for childless couples to have children of their own * Studying the works of the kabbalist Zera Shimshon *Eating an '' etrog'' or ''etrog'' preserves facilitates an easy childbirth *Drinking from the waters of the spring of Sataf in Israel across from the Monastery of Saint John in the Wilderness prevents a breech birth

Protection from harm

*Wearing a red string cut from a longer length that has been wound around Rachel's Tomb is an ancient tradition that protects the wearer from danger The only classic source which does mention the red thread expressly forbids its use, saying that tying a red thread on one’s fingers is an idolatrous practice (''darkei emori''). *Giving tzedakah (charity money) to a traveler to donate when he arrives at his destination helps protect the traveler from harm *Concentrating on the phrase "There is none but Him od () shields a person from danger

Marriage

*Praying at the Tomb of Jonathan ben Uzziel in Amuka, Israel is considered propitious for finding one’s spouse within the coming year *Praying at the Western Wall for 40 consecutive days is considered a ''segula'' for finding one’s spouse *Holding the jewelry of a bride while she is escorted to her chuppah is a ''segula'' for finding a spouse

Other

* Buying a burial plot is a segula for a long life *Placing a pigeon on a person’s navel is efficacious for curing jaundice *Giving ''tzedaka'' in the merit of

Rabbi Meir Rabbi Meir () was a Jewish sage who lived in the time of the Mishnah. He was one of the Tannaim of the fourth generation (139–163), and a disciple of Rabbi Akiva. He is the second most frequently mentioned sage in the Mishnah and is mentioned ...

is a ''segula'' for finding a lost object *Buying a new knife for

Rosh Hashanah Rosh Hashanah (, , ) is the New Year in Judaism. The Hebrew Bible, biblical name for this holiday is Yom Teruah (, , ). It is the first of the High Holy Days (, , 'Days of Awe"), as specified by Leviticus 23:23–25, that occur in the late summe ...

is a propitious remedy for livelihood *One can hang a special note around the neck of a chicken and use it to identify a thief

References

{{Reflist

External links

Spiritual Tips (Segulah) – spiritual solutions – Index of topicsWhat Are Segulos and How Do They Work?
Kabbalistic words and phrases Hebrew words and phrases in the Hebrew Bible Talmud concepts and terminology