…and why symbols feel like tiny spells we carry with us
Humans have always loved symbols. We can’t help it, we’re meaning‑makers by nature. Give us a shape, a word, a colour, a scrap of fabric, and we’ll turn it into a story. A reminder. A hope. A charm. A version of ourselves we want to grow into.
It’s one of the most magical things about being human: we don’t just live in the world, we interpret it. We stitch meaning into everything.
We’re Wired for Meaning
Our brains are constantly searching for patterns.
Not because we’re irrational or superstitious, but because patterns help us make sense of the world.
As a child, I used to stare at the curtains and wallpaper in my bedroom and see faces, animals, and strange little characters hidden in the folds of the fabric. Cats appeared where there were no cats. Eyes stared back from floral patterns. Entire stories unfolded in the shadows.
There’s actually a name for this: pareidolia.
It’s our brain’s tendency to find familiar shapes and meaning where none was intentionally placed.
And honestly, I think that’s beautiful.
We’re meaning-makers by design.
We look at clouds and see dragons.
We look at stars and create constellations.
We look at ordinary objects and turn them into symbols.
A symbol is simply a shortcut to a feeling.
Courage.
Belonging.
Hope.
Comfort.
Identity.
The things we need reminding of most.
My Daily Affirmation (and why it works)
Every morning, I repeat the same affirmation:
“Every day, in every way, I am getting better and better.”
It’s a phrase made famous by French psychologist Émile Coué, who believed in the power of positive autosuggestion.
I don’t say it because I expect to wake up transformed. I say it because repetition turns words into a belief. A tiny ritual that nudges my brain toward hope, progress, and possibility.
Over time, the phrase stops being a sentence and becomes a state of mind. A direction. A gentle push forward.
It’s the same mechanism behind lucky charms, tarot cards, stitched mantras, and meaningful jewellery, they’re all tools for remembering who we want to be.
Why We Wear Our Symbols
Clothing might be one of the most personal forms of symbolism we have.
Every day we choose what to put on our bodies.
And whether we realise it or not, those choices often tell a story.
Sometimes quietly.
Sometimes boldly.
When you wear a meaningful symbol, you’re not simply getting dressed.
“This is who I am.”
“This is what I believe.”
“This is what I’m calling in.”
“This is what I’m healing.”
A mantra tee becomes armour.
A sigil becomes a shield.
Wearable meaning hits differently because it moves with you. It becomes part of your daily rhythm.
Isn’t It All the Same Language?
The more I think about it, the more I realise that so many of the things I love are really speaking the same language.
A tarot card.
A mantra.
A geometric design.
A lucky charm.
A meaningful piece of jewellery.
A child’s drawing stuck proudly to the fridge.
Different forms.
Same purpose.
They’re all containers for meaning.
They’re all helping us tell stories about ourselves.
Who we are.
What we value.
What we’re becoming.
Because perhaps that’s what humans have always done.
We give meaning to things so we can give meaning to ourselves.
How Lucky Threads Fits In
When people ask what Lucky Threads is about, the honest answer is that it’s never really been about clothing alone.
It’s about reminders.
Symbols.
Stories.
Tiny pieces of meaning that people choose to carry with them.
Whether that’s through a stitched mantra, a symbolic design, a tarot card pull, a personalised canvas, or a phrase that arrives at exactly the right moment.
The format changes.
The intention stays the same.
To create things that help people feel a little more grounded.
A little more hopeful.
A little more themselves.
A Gentle Invitation
Choose a symbol that feels like you today.
A word. A shape. A colour. A card.
Something tiny that helps you remember who you are, or who you’re becoming.
And if you want to wear it, stitch it, or turn it into something magical…
you know where to find me.
About me
Artist, thread enthusiast, creator of Lucky Threads, collector of meaningful objects, and someone who still occasionally sees faces hiding in curtains.
🖤Claire
Made with thread, coffee and a slightly chaotic brain.