A Little Superstition
You might spare it little thought, but the items you keep in your car can be just as important for safe driving. In fact, if you're superstitious, certain objects are believed to invite bad energy, while others have long been carried as lucky charms and protection. Even if you're not superstitious, you should still take a closer look at what’s in the car with you.
1. Dried or Wilted Flowers
Fresh flowers are one thing, and they can certainly brighten up a car when they're still vibrant, but leaving them in the car after they’ve wilted can significantly change that luck. Dead or dried flowers are sometimes associated with stagnant energy and a lack of growth, so it's best to not let them sit in your car indefinitely.
2. A Stopped Clock
Got a broken clock on your dashboard? You might want to get it fixed as soon as possible. Better yet, take it out if you can. After all, a clock that no longer works has an unsettling reputation: it can, for one, symbolize time coming to an end.
3. A Cracked Mirror
Broken mirrors have been associated with bad luck for centuries, so make sure to never leave a cracked one inside your car! Some believe damaged mirrors can signal conflict or fractured relationships, but even beyond the folklore, damaged glass is a legitimate safety concern on its own.
4. Loose Coins Scattered Everywhere
Loose change can come in handy, but letting coins accumulate can actually be a bad thing. Scattered money may even be linked to difficulty holding onto wealth, since you're treating your money carelessly. It's better to keep those coins in a small container instead.
5. Belongings from Someone Who Has Passed Away
A sentimental object belonging to someone you've lost can carry enormous emotional meaning, but still, it's strongly discouraged by some traditions. Plus, if a keepsake is especially important to you, you wouldn't want it to get damaged anyway, so keep it at home.
6. Broken Lucky Charms
Like flowers, small charms might bring fortune, though their good luck may fade once they break. Continuing to display a damaged charm may therefore only bring you the opposite of prosperity, so it's advised against leaving it in your car.
7. Decorative Knives or Swords
If you shouldn't keep broken glass in your car, you should probably skip sharp objects, too. Plus, in feng shui-inspired traditions, decorative swords or knives can represent conflict, tension, or aggressive energy—not the best thing to have when you're driving! Unsecured pointy objects can also become dangerous during sudden braking or a collision.
8. Empty Bottles
Having a collection of empty bottles rolling around your back seat is also considered bad feng shui, since empty containers are linked with energy that has been depleted and not replenished. That aside, you don't want your car to look like a cluttered mess, anyway.
9. Trash You've Been Meaning to Throw Away
Speaking of clutter, it's a good time to get rid of all those receipts and food wrappers piling up in your car—all that garbage can carry negative associations, even if you're not worried about looking like a slob to your passengers. Regularly cleaning out your car makes it considerably nicer to spend time in.
10. Zodiac Symbols That Clash with Yours
Interestingly, Chinese zodiac traditions assign particular relationships between different animal signs, including combinations that may arouse conflict. For highly superstitious drivers, it's probably best to avoid decorating the car with an animal that clashes with their own. Don't know what yours is? Search it up!
All that said, not every object inside your vehicle has an ominous reputation. Even then, it's better to keep these charms in your car instead:
1. Chinese Coins Tied with Red Ribbon
Ever seen those traditional Chinese coins that are tied together with red cord? If you see one, pick one up—they're commonly associated with prosperity and favorable fortune. The coins themselves, too, represent wealth. Just make sure you hang it somewhere that won't interfere with your view.
2. A Jade Charm
Jade as well has been valued for centuries in Chinese culture. For that reason, some drivers carry a small jade pendant or ornament in their cars as a protective symbol. But like the Chinese coins with red ribbons, make sure to put it somewhere that won't swing into your view!
3. An Evil Eye Charm
This beloved blue-and-white eye charm, found commonly across Turkey, Greece, the Middle East, and the Balkans, is traditionally carried to guard against harmful energy. You'll likely be able to find versions of all sizes, so it's easy to add to a set of car keys or hang over your rearview mirror.
4. A Saint Christopher Medal
If you're Catholic, a medal bearing Saint Christopher's image is a great protective keepsake for motorists embarking on long journeys. While there are many other charms you can use for safe travels, this item can be a particularly lucky one.
5. A Four-Leaf Clover
Four-leaf clovers are notoriously hard to find, but you don't need us to tell you that they've long been associated with good fortune. Even if you can't find one in the wild, just having a small clover keychain or charm can carry the same symbolic meaning.
6. A Horseshoe
Horseshoes, too, have served as symbols of luck and protection. Though you might see differing opinions on how they should face, either method (facing up or down) can bring fortune. Don't want to hang it on your car? Get a keychain!
7. An Elephant with Its Trunk Raised
Elephant figures can bring favorable fortune and prosperity as well—especially when its trunk is pointing upward! If you keep one on the dashboard, though, make sure to choose one that's small and secure so it doesn't slide around while you drive.
8. A Maneki-Neko
You know that cat with a waving arm you sometimes see in stores? That's the Japanese maneki-neko, and it's commonly associated with welcoming good fortune and prosperity. They might not bring you business (not unless you sell stuff out of your car), but they can still bring luck!
9. A Hamsa Charm
The hand-shaped hamsa has a long history in many cultures and is widely used as a symbol of protection, believed to ward off misfortune. Like the others on this list, you can choose to either have a small hamsa charm attached to your keys or display one somewhere in your car.
10. A Lucky Red String
One for minimal design? If you don't want too many bulky charms potentially blocking your attention from the road, even a simple red string can bring meaningful fortune. In fact, simple as it is, it's frequently connected with protection, and it's one of the least intrusive ways to add a little superstition to your car.
