Charms are objects or words which are considered to be magically endowed and thus effective against evil and able to attract goodness. Amulets are charms or inscribed ornaments worn on the body.

• Are such items used in your new culture?
• If they are worn openly, ask why the object is worn (just decorative, for warding off evil, illness or accident, for insurance of good health, good business dealings, or good crops, etc.)
• If none are noticed, ask how a person is protected against evil influences.

What types of objects are used as charms or amulets?

• How do they get invested with their power?
• By the prayer of a religious leader?
• Where are the objects placed on the body?
• Do they have writings from their holy book inscribed on them, or tucked inside them?
• Are some of these writings designed to be eaten or drunk in some way?

Are there icons or pictures in the worship place?

• Who made them?
• Are they honored in any way during the service? by individuals?
• Do people have such objects in their homes? Where?
• What is done with them?
• Are they on display at all times or only on special occasions?
• How do these help the individual or the congregation as they worship?

What other charms are used and for what purpose?

• Look for magical designs hung in public transport, evil eye pictures, black rags hung in certain places, old cooking vessels on the corners of buildings, small pictures of objects used in the business hung on the walls, anything else that seems out of place or different to you.
• Ask what the meanings of these are.
• Some may have magical powers, but some may be strictly decorative—but you won’t know the difference until you ask!

What natural things have magical powers (like bits of wood, certain stones or plants, animal parts)?

• When are these used?
• Are there certain places that have magical connotations, as a mountain, a tree, a river, etc.?
• What legend or story is behind such locations?