According to folk beliefs, lending certain items can bring misfortune and drain your energy. Here’s a list of items to avoid lending and the reasons why.
1. Salt
Salt is considered a powerful energy component, and lending it can allegedly attract misfortune, illnesses, or heartbreak. Many spiritual practitioners warn against borrowing or lending salt. If someone asks for salt, it’s better to gift it outright and say that it doesn’t need to be returned.
2. Dishes
Tableware is imbued with the energy of your household. Lending it is akin to sharing your personal energy. Borrowed or lent tableware may lead to health issues or invite problems into your home. Broken or chipped dishes should also be discarded, as they are believed to attract negativity and symbolize a “broken life.”
3. Clothing
Sharing clothing might seem harmless, but clothes carry personal energy. If exchanged with someone of questionable intentions, they could transmit negative vibes. Shoes are particularly problematic, as they accumulate a person’s energy and could pass on negativity. If you must exchange clothing, it’s advised to offer or receive something in return to balance the energy exchange.
4. Jewelry and Accessories
Jewelry absorbs the energy of its wearer, and lending items like bracelets, rings, or necklaces can transfer accumulated negativity to the borrower or lender. Protective or symbolic jewelry, such as talismans, should never be shared, as they are tailored to their original owner’s energy. Precious metals like gold and silver, as well as certain gemstones like diamonds and agates, are particularly sensitive to this energy transfer.
5. Brooms or Cleaning Brushes
Lending a broom or cleaning brush is considered bad luck, as it is believed to sweep away the protection of your home. Folk traditions also associate brooms with financial loss and a streak of misfortune if lent. If you no longer need a broom, discard it instead of passing it on.
6. Bread
While sharing bread is often seen as a kind gesture, folk beliefs warn against lending bread in certain situations. Never lend your last piece of bread, as it symbolizes attracting poverty. Avoid sharing bread across doorways or at sunset, as it is said to bring bad luck or curses.
7. Money
Lending money isn’t entirely taboo, but certain conditions apply. Avoid lending money after sunset, during religious holidays, on Mondays, Sundays, or during a waning moon phase. These situations are believed to invite financial loss. Additionally, never lend your last bit of money, as it symbolizes giving away your financial fortune.
If you lend money to someone wealthy, folklore suggests they will return it with a share of their financial success, potentially attracting prosperity to you.
Takeaway
While these beliefs stem from folklore, they highlight cultural attitudes toward energy and reciprocity. Whether or not you believe in superstitions, maintaining healthy boundaries and mindful practices when lending personal items can help preserve your peace of mind.