Omamori

Omamori are good luck charms sold at Buddhist and Shinto shrines and temples. Omamori should never be opened, otherwise their power will be diminished. Omamori should be kept on one's person at all time, either in a purse, a wallet or attached to a bag or backpack. Around the New Year period they should be taken to a shrine or temple where they can be disposed of properly, usually burned. Throwing them into the bin with regular household rubbish is considered disrespectful to the deity to whom the omamori is dedicated and bad luck will follow. The omamori in this photo are hanging on a huge bin at Ikuta Shrine. Most people buy a new omamori after disposing of their old one.