Apparently fear of Friday the 13th affects between 17 and 21 million Americans.

Scholars have first tried to determine what about the number 13 rubs so many people across so many cultures the wrong way. Some have suggested that it’s nasty reputation dates back to at least 1780 B.C., when the ancient Babylonian legal document known as the Code of Hammurabi was enacted without a 13th law.

According to biblical sources, Friday was the day on which Eve offered Adam the forbidden fruit and Jesus was crucified. Another popular theory links the superstition to the demise of the Knights Templar, a monastic military order whose members were arrested en masse by France’s King Philip IV on Friday, October 13, 1307.

Popular culture further denigrated Friday the 13th as early as 1907, when Thomas Lawson wrote a book about a broker who tries to bring down Wall Street on that day. Then, the “Friday the 13th” horror film franchise debuted in 1980, forever associating the day with a machete wielding psychopath in a hockey mask.

There was a 1993 study published in the British Medical Journal titled, “Is Friday the 13th Bad for Your Health?”

It’s authors compared the ratio of traffic volume to the number of automobile accidents on two different dates, Friday the 6th and Friday the 13th, over a period of years in hopes of mapping the relation between health, behavior, and superstition surrounding Friday 13th in the United Kingdom.

Interestingly, they found that while consistently fewer people in the region sampled chose to drive their cars on Friday the 13th, the number of hospital admissions due to vehicular accidents was significantly higher than on Friday the 6th.

Many people avoid travel and avoid signing contracts on Friday the 13th. Floors in tall buildings often skip from 12 to 14. And while the superstition is believed to be fading, it nonetheless has deep roots in both Christian and pagan culture.

Before the Church cast its gloomy superstitions on Friday the 13th, this was a pagan festival day, devoted to guiltless indulgence in pleasure and love-making. Both the number 13 and Friday are sacred to the goddess.

Casting a Spell on or around Friday the 13th and a Full Moon

Is Friday the 13th a good time to cast a spell? Yes! The combination of the energy from this holiday, along with having a full moon gives each spell a double boost in power and strength. When energy levels in the universe are high, casting a spell that works becomes easier. The universe tends to take your spell request with ease and seriousness producing good results.

What does that mean for witches? This week is an extra special time to have a spell cast. Interestingly, luck spells work best when cast during this full moon phase. Other spells such as love spells, money spells, weight loss spells, prosperity spells, binding spells, revenge spells and curse removals are also very powerful at this time.

Friday the 13th is a day to celebrate the Goddess of Love, Prosperity and Good Fortune. In ancient times a 13 month lunar calendar was kept with seven day weeks. There were 13 Friday the 13ths each year and they were considered holy days with ceremonial Celebrations for the Goddess. Friday the 13th was also considered a day of great fortune and luck. This is why the Chinese would use 13 moon cakes as offerings for luck and prosperity. Every week, without realizing it, we honor the Norse Goddess of Love with “Freya’s Day”, the origin of the word “Friday”.

Actually the number 13 in hoodoo is also magical. It can be a very lucky and powerful number in terms of working conjure. For example, working on a spell for 13 days can be very powerful to either cross, or do “positive” work for yourself or someone else. In addition, there is a lucky 13 oil sold that is considered quite lucky for lottery, and other types of gambling. So why stop doing work on that day because it is seen as superstitious?

To boldly find the true magic of the day, go into a deep meditative state and find yourself in the midst of swirling, turbulent energy. See the energetic thoughts of others spin, noticing the contours, textures, and boundaries. Next, move swiftly and strongly underneath the boundaries. Cross the border of magic, power, and symbolism of this powerful, lucky day. Breathe in that magic and power as you come back into your space. Make Friday the 13^th the most magical day of the week and a lucky gift as well.