Stuck On Bad Luck

Q: What can I do to change my luck? I feel like I’m trapped in a bad luck streak that’s never ending! Could I maybe even be cursed? Please help!

A: Keep in mind is that the concept of “luck” tends to be rather subjective. Some people seem to have this aura of “good luck” around them while it may take more work for others to seem to catch a break. Plus, what’s lucky for one person would be unlucky for another.

There can be many factors at play here: Universal life lessons, self-limiting beliefs, accumulated negativity, or, yes, even a hex or curse being thrown by another. While that last option is the least likely, unlike some out there who refuse to believe people can be so nasty, I will say it is possible.

No matter what the root cause is, the first thing you need to do is a good cleansing. I recommend either a coffee bath or smoke cleansing with sage or palo santo, but you can use whatever method you prefer.

If it’s an exceptionally bad case of “bad luck” you can take what I call my Mega Coffee Bath, which is a cup (or if you’re like me, a full pot) of really strong coffee, a handful of sea salt, and either a 1/4 cup of cider vinegar or the juice of one lemon. This will cleanse any negative residue and help you gain some perspective.

Next thing you need to do is start tracing the occurrences of your “bad luck”–did it start from a particular event or situation, a certain time frame, or can you not identify a specific starting point?

If you can’t, chances are that it’s yourself getting in your own way or the Universe trying to get your attention.

Pay close attention to how you view yourself and what you say to yourself. If you find yourself using phrases like, “That would be my luck…” or, “Just my luck,” then you could be creating your own misery here.

Start making a conscious effort to reprogram your thinking. Don’t label yourself as “unlucky” or assume bad things will just happen. Tell yourself you will attract good things, practice positive mantras of affirmations, or even post notes to remind yourself that you ARE lucky!

If it’s the Universe, look carefully at your decisions. Maybe something you really, really want won’t be good for you in the long run. Maybe you are missing the lesson. I would also suggest getting a reading from a trusted Intuitive or Reader to help see what the Universe may be trying to tell you.

If you can trace things back to a particular time or event, then it could be something thrown your way or it could be some sort of magical fallout. Did you do a spell or ritual around that time? If so, did you follow the steps, clean up properly, and release or thank all spirits or deities you called on? There are some deities or saints who will take back their gifts and cause you further problems if you don’t thank them properly and promptly, provide their required offerings, or renege on any promises you may have made.

If you try and use magic for someone that may not be good for you overall, the Universe may step in and it could feel like a bout of bad luck because you’re not getting what you want.

If any of these things apply, first, go back and fix it! Undo whatever magic you cast, thank whatever spirits of energies, and fulfill whatever promises you’ve made ASAP. Then, work on changing your luck back!

A good way to do this is to brew a bath made of ground nutmeg. Nutmeg helps cleanse the auric field turn one’s luck around quickly. (Be cautious if you have allergies! Always research any herb of additive BEFORE using!) Taking this bath once a day for 3 days will help get you back on track!

Now, say you’ve done all this and traced it back to an event involving a specific person. Then, it could be a curse, hex, or just ill intent being sent your way.

First thing, take one of the baths I previously described.

Then, you’ll want to wipe down with an unlit reversal candle. Pay extra attention around the top of your head, back of your neck, and bottoms of your feet. Curses and negative energies tend to attack us first in these areas and attach to us. Once you’ve felt the candle has pulled it all off of you (and you should feel it doing so, almost like a magnet) then light the candle and let it safely burn itself out.

You can then take measures to work on your protective measures– mirrors around the house, certain stones, salt, iron, etc.– and be sure to keep up with regular cleansings. You can also check out different baths and herbals used in Uncrossings, which will also help break curses and hexes. Van Van products are great for this, too, and will help you get your luck back!

The important thing to remember about luck is that it always depends on perspective!

Originally posted on Ask Polaris March 17, 2016 – Updated March 2022