In North Africa and the Middle East, the artichoke is a symbol of peace between nations. But before conquering these grandiose ideals, shouldn’t we first attain inner peace? We can do this through following the architectural plan of the artichoke. Work carefully through the spiky exterior, with its layers, thorns and thistles, until you reach the heart of the choke, the core of being: vulnerability, softness, serenity. Only then can we start on world peace, and perhaps one day live harmoniously with our fellow man. Can you imagine a world in which the only question that divides us is butter or mayonnaise? Wear the artichoke for peace, both internal and among nations.

The avocado is indigenous to Mexico and was sacred to the Aztec people. The word is derived from the Nahuatl, and means, well, “testicle”. In the Yoruba tradition of West Africa the avocado is sacred to the trickster god of sex and intoxication. Have you ever been beneath an avocado tree as the heavy ripe fruit falls with a thud? This is a dense and buttery fruit, with a smooth and nut-like seed and earthy green flesh. It fairly exudes sex. Allow yourself to yield to pleasure, to our animal nature. Forget reason, abandon sobriety. Embrace your wild nature.

Beautiful, bountiful, fragrant green basil is sacred in India — in fact, she is a goddess named Tulasi. Women in India still worship Tulasi (holy basil), and in return she grants them husbands and children, good fortune and prosperity, and banishes evil spirits. She’s the original Wonder Woman, without the tall boots and slinky one piece. In ancient Rome, Basil was considered an aphrodisiac (but what wasn’t foreplay for those lusty Republicans?) The word basil comes from the Greek, a kingly root, and is also related to the basilisk, mythological serpent extraordinaire. Wearing basil promotes balance, absolves stress, and wards off evil; your own personal superhero.

Cacao may be the best plant Mother Nature ever came up with, because without it there would be no chocolate. We love chocolate because it is a stimulant, an intoxicant, a truly mind-altering substance. This delicious drug gives us both the confidence to court what we want and provides solace when the world fails us. For early Mesoamericans cacao was currency. It symbolized the power that wealth affords. And while power and wealth can be vices, they are not inherently bad when properly harnessed. Wearing the cacao charm is a gentle reminder to appreciate all the earth’s gifts and the distinctly human conundrum of neither exploiting nor denying what is rightfully ours.

We cannot fault our historical counterparts for an occasional lack of imagination regarding symbols of love and aphrodisiac powers. They were awfully busy trying not to catch the plague or get burned at the stake. Sometimes a carrot is just a carrot. But sometimes – lots of times – it’s not. We all see why carrots are connected with sexual potency. But the carrot goes deeper than that. It remains under the earth, a mystery until it is pulled up, given to the light. Be rooted, like the carrot, and rise from the dirt fully-formed and strong. Embrace its phallic power, and the masculine energy that balances feminine strength by wearing the carrot talisman.

Before they were so unceremoniously reduced to nuggets and wings, the chicken was considered a messenger of the gods, a link between Them and Us. The cock crows at dawn, that liminal hour when we come into consciousness again and was therefore seen as having knowledge of worlds unseen. The chicken’s crow signifies a clean start, a good morning call from heaven, and a way to dispel the dark, the day before, whatever haunts us. Wearing this charm can provide protection from the impinging past. The humble chicken is not a coward, but in fact absorbs and bears all fears. Consider that act of generosity the next time you casually snack on its parts dipped in honey mustard.

Have you ever eaten a basket of spicy wings and felt ready to fight an army of Huns and/or frat boys? It’s the heat in the capsicum that causes the spitfire reaction. Indigenous to North America but celebrated the world over, chili peppers are considered a cure for the evil eye by some, and an offering to the Devil by others—cleansing and cursing, all at once. In pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, corn, squash, and beans were food staples, along with the chili pepper as the go-to condiment, spicing up the mundane. The chili pepper can change our perception and provide energy, both physical and psychic. Behold the humble, holy chili pepper: wear it as a charm of extreme power in small, pretty packaging.

Coffee berries are native to Ethiopia, discovered (at least mythically) by a goatherd and spread worldwide by Arab traders. At first it was treated with distrust by Europeans, as it represented the dark mysteries of the East. It has been said that the Arabian mullahs used coffee to stay awake during prayers and that the angel Gabriel gave coffee to Mohammed. A plant that fortifies us while we praise: what a miracle. Perhaps if we concentrate hard enough we can drown out the noise of the world and hear the true word of God. Coffee excites the mind, so that we may be singular in our focus. Meditate on the coffee bean, as a symbol of spirituality, and the reality of magic in the world. Brew some for yourself.

Corn comes from the Americas, where it was deified and revered as the basis for life. Without one reliable grain to sustain a people there could be no civilization, no time for anything other than subsistence. Early Mesoamericans personified corn a gracious, glorious woman; she is the giver and the gift. And in fact the ancient Mayans believed that human beings were created from corn. When we wear the corn charm we are reminded to be filled with gratitude for our daily food, for the fertile earth, for this good life. Corn can be ground into tortillas, popped as a communal matinee snack, and distilled into potent liquor. For these delicious things we are eternally grateful.

Strongly associated with the sacred feminine, the cow is a symbol of fertility at its most benign. It was because of the cow’s link to motherhood and fertility that their slaughter became the highest form of sacrilege in India under the worship of the deity Krishna, who grew up among the milkmaids and their cows. Cow’s milk and butter gave Krishna nourishing strength, and in return, they became the sacred cow. (Literally.) Wear the cow to invoke gentle strength and good fortune. Holy cow — that animal body which contains all the gods, and everything good under the sun — especially when cooked to medium rare.

The crab is a creature of the shoreline, occupying both the land and the sea, but connected to neither completely. The crab emerges where the waves pull back from the sand, scuttling out of holes, approaching its existence with its sidewinding gait. The crab is tenacious—occupying two worlds at once—and it has the power to regenerate. It is a powerful symbol of the earth as well as a constellation of stars in the night sky. Invoking the crab is beneficial for those who are in transition, and looking for a way of navigating life’s varied and ever-changing elements. The crab reminds us to yield, that we can be more than one thing in a lifetime.

From the cradle of civilization to the top of a croque madame, the egg is a potent symbol of renewal and the sacred feminine. In so many cultures, an egg signified the birth of our universe: the egg came first. It expresses the mathematical perfection of the oval and demonstrates a paradox through its fragile strength. Eggs are often considered nature’s most perfect food, enclosed in their very own brown, white or speckled packaging. Wear the egg as a reminder of limitless rebirth and a talisman of fertility and creativity. In order to make an omelet you have to crack an egg.

Fish reproduce prolifically; they are therefore a symbol of life in abundance and of fertility. They also represent change and transformation, as they are forever swimming through the inconstant ocean in fathomless depths, breathing water. But fish are also a potent symbol of spirituality; in India, fish symbolized rebirth, and in Christianity, the fish represents the soul. An ancient secret and sacred sign, this charm tells others you are with them–a school, of sorts. Wherever you are in your journey, wearing the fish talisman provides confidence to keep swimming, even if it’s upstream.

Garlic is a pungent member of the lily family, a medicinal food with antibacterial properties. Throughout human history and all over the world, garlic has been used to protect against evil influences, the Devil, vampires, and other monsters lurking in the dark. It can be worn as a charm against whatever forces out there conspire against us. Wear the garlic charm to boost your psycho-spiritual immunity, purify your being and strengthen your mind, body, and soul.

Ginger is the herb of paradise, associated with the phoenix, a mythical bird consumed by its own fire and reborn from the ashes. Self-creating and sustaining, ginger heals as it burns yellow-hot. In Asia, ginger was used ubiquitously, as a seasoning for meats and oils, a tea, perfume, medicine and an aphrodisiac. Ginger has always risen above its station; though a lowly root, it is linked to the sun and fire by cultures around the the world. Wearing the ginger charm will serve as a reminder to ignite and rise cyclically, like the phoenix. If you have fire in your belly, ginger is your ally and your remedy.

Grapes have been cultivated since antiquity and their power to intoxicate has intrigued us ever since. For ancient Greeks and Romans wine incited ritual madness and sensual orgies—basically the very same overflowing of procreative energy seen every Saturday night the world over to this day. Grapes therefore symbolize passion, that critical aspect of the psyche that balances reason. Grapes are the fruit of soul without doubt or self-criticism. Wear the grapes to stay true to your heart—in vino veritas, so they say. Grapes also help us celebrate life and to remember laughter in our sorrows.

The lobster molts. It sheds its exterior and lives through a period of vulnerability while the new shell develops and hardens, providing protection. An ancient, long-lived creature of the sea bottom, the lobster teaches us fluidity, with its connection to deep, primeval elements of the sea and the cyclic nature of life: the moon, the water, the tides. Contemplate your personal past, look inward, be vulnerable. Is there something negative you’re holding onto that you could let go? Invoking the lobster brings strength in weakened times. The lobster is tenacious and present, clinging to what is crucial and sloughing off what no longer applies. And when all else fails? Pop the champagne, tie on your bib and dip its sweet meat in warm lemon butter.

What is the octopus if not the unknown? It resides in the depths; it is the monster that lurks on the edges of our psychic map. There are always warnings not to go too far afield, which (sometimes) must be heeded. But mostly those cautions are only our fears or the past attempting to control the future. So dive down deep and go in search of the tangled mass that is the octopus. It may be fearsome; it has tentacles and a beak. It looks large in our imagination but in reality is smaller than our nets. Wear the octopus to push you toward the fathoms that frighten you. Be confident that you will emerge from the wreck, not unscathed but stronger—with a good story to tell.

The olive stands for peace, wholeness, and constancy. In mythology, Athena won naming rights of Athens through her gift of an olive tree to humans, signifying peace (Poseidon and his war horse never stood a chance). Olive trees appear immortal; when their roots are cut they send forth new shoots. The product of this intrepid plant is a savory fruit, a full round-bodied delicacy, considered by many to be a sign of victory and vitality. Wear the olive to remember that your roots are deep, you were planted by the gods, and you cannot be broken. This emblem also symbolizes the peace within, ever renewing.

Spherical in shape and consisting of concentric orbs, the onion represents the wholeness of the universe, eternity, and the divine quest of human existence. Peel back the layers on an onion, beginning with its thin and filmy skin and eventually you reach a juicy core, pungent and almost-sweet. The onion stimulates the senses and arouses the carnal serpent. And, much like garlic cloves, it also was tucked into clothing to protect the wearer against evil spirits, misfortune, and even Death. Keeping the onion close brings power over adversity, protection against nefarious forces, and the ability go deeper and attain true meaning in life.

Parsley, herb of death. (Better than parsley, anemic dinner plate garnish.) The Greeks created parsley’s association with death, and passed it along to the Romans, who used the pretty plant in death rites. Not a negative thing at all, as death is, in and of itself, innocent. Victorians, on the other hand, ignored Classical thought and believed giving away parsley was akin to giving away love; and that one must steal it back to recapture good fortune, particularly luck in love. So the fate of fresh, pungent parsley is of love and death intertwined. Wear parsley as a token of innocence and love—one that aids us to act without cynicism, and helps us make the most of our short time on earth.

The pig is sacred and the pig is profane. The pig is omnivorous and it is delicious. The pig divides us: many cultures celebrate it; some cultures abhor it. In the barnyard and in the wild the pig is a devourer, most often depicted as female, due to its chronic fertility. Because the pig roots forward with its nose down, never moving backwards, it symbolizes progress and prosperity. Wear this token to awaken buried creativity, that which rises from the deepest muddy recesses to lofty heights.

The pineapple is a symbol of hospitality, and makes a bold display of itself with a spiky crown and tropical yellow flesh. The fruit has its roots in Central and South America, where it was a sign of friendship among the Carib Indians, who took the plant from the deeper interior jungles of South America. Much later, it was brought to Europe, where it also symbolized hospitality and welcome. A kingly gift, the pineapple is a sign of our daring exploration, cultural trade, and common humanity. Give the pineapple charm as a gift of open-hearted welcome, a token of the divine guest. You never know when the stranger next to you on the bus is a god in disguise.

Rosemary for remembrance. The immediate association is Hamlet’s Ophelia, but if we want to parse the Bard we could be here all year. She drowns. Wear the rosemary to remember simple truths, facts, dates, and names that seem to have slipped away. With its name meaning "dew of the sea," rosemary also personifies Venus, the Goddess of Love, who (opposite Ophelia) rose from the water. Rosemary was tied into brides' hair and carried in bouquets to symbolize faithfulness and love. Be singularly focused and fall in love all over again with a woodsy whiff of the rosemary talisman.

Shrimp are widespread and abundant throughout the oceans of the world. They can lead a solitary existence or travel in schools, and they exist at the low end of the food chain. “Shrimp” is an insult, one half of a oxymoronic mouthful. You can’t think shrimp without cocktail, exactly half of a perfect combination. Meditate on what it means to be small, but not at all insignificant; integral, actually, to the larger ecosystem. The shrimp charm proffers humility and reminds us of the essential power of the collective; that we should spend more time serving others instead of ourselves. Allow yourself to be swallowed up by whales. Let go of your ego. The shrimp is a mascot for those who want perspective.

Tomatoes, a paradox. Deadly nightshade or symbol of love? Is it a fruit or a vegetable? (It’s a fruit). Yet, the debate rages on. (It doesn’t). Europeans were suspicious of the bright fruit introduced from the heathen west and considered it poisonous, creating associations with witchcraft and werewolfery. In reality, the tomato is pulsing with vitamins and nourishing life energy, both almost palpable when you pluck one ripe from a fragrant summer stalk. The tomato reminds us to embrace the inherent ambiguity and polarizing forces of life. Wear the tomato charm for balance and to express your dual nature.

10,000 years ago something revolutionary happened: human beings became farmers. This was an early and critical step toward establishing civilizations, cities and cultures; farming frees up time to create. Art is therefore a product of wheat, the most ancient cereal grain, often anthropomorphized as a beautiful mother. Many ancient cultures believed that wheat has a spirit that resides within, and considering all that wheat has afforded humans, maybe it does. Wheat symbolizes wealth and rebirth, fertility, art, and civilization itself. You can smell its significance in a freshly baked loaf of bread. Wear wheat to invoke the soul’s fallow field from which all art is grown.

This long noodle has a hidden dimension: it is hollow in the center, robust yet malleable, and super strong. Do you dream of skyscrapers, mountains, or traveling to space? If your ambitions are vast, this is your spirit pasta. Bucatini carries precious energy, like bone with its marrow, and is best served to those who can withstand surprise. Life is full of possibilities, the best of which are unexpected. Bucatini promotes strength, wisdom, passion, and perseverance.

The spiral shape of this whimsical noodle is inspired by childhood. It is a symbol of silliness, bringing us back to a time of simple pleasures when we allowed ourselves to experience the world without judgment. This is the charm for those who wish to reconnect to their inner child. If you don’t want to dwell on the past or worry for the future, but just simply live in the moment, let the rotini be your guide. Rotini promotes happiness, passion, and renewal.