Happy Friday the 13th.

(Known by many as the unluckiest day of the year with superstitions and myths surrounding this day).

After experiencing writer’s block all week I finally made a decision to write about Friday the 13th just last evening.  Seriously, it wasn’t until I started doing some additional research on the origins of the superstitious day that I stumbled upon the identified “F-obia”-FRIGGATRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA!  How hilarious and coincidental that the phobia in fact starts with the letter F.  The word comes from Frigga, the name of the Norse goddess for whom Friday is named, and triskaidekaphobia, or fear of the number 13. It is also sometimes called paraskevidekatriaphobia, from the Greek Paraskevi for Friday, Dekatreis for thirteen and phobia for fear.

Here are a few links to some articles for anyone who may be interested in the history and superstition associated with Friday the 13th:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friday_the_13th

http://m.newbernsj.com/news/local/friday-the-13th-a-scary-day-for-some-1.450132

http://abcnews.go.com/International/friday-13th-time-breathe-easier/story?id=29583924

Personally, I’m neutral on the day.  This surprises me as I consider myself a bit superstitious in general.  I often read my daily horoscope and have long been intrigued by astrology. I have had my tarot cards read, I have consulted an “Angel Lady” whom I believe is connected to the spirit world and have had several psychic readings at various events or private parties over the past many years.  I’m sure there are some people who consider connections like this outside the church as voodoo, sorcery, black magic etc.  I simply view it as a different aspect of spiritualism and that there is a close connection between life on earth and in heaven.  I believe certain people are more open to an awareness to “the other side” or are “gifted” with that perception.  So even though I say I am neutral on the day, I have had a few significant Friday the 13th’s  in my past.  I got engaged to be married on a Friday the 13th in November 1992.  (They say that Friday the 13th can be a very LUCKY/AUSPICIOUS day too- Obviously a wedding engagement is a happy occasion and a particularly auspicious occasion as well for me!)

I also got a letter from the radiology department saying I had a questionable mammogram result on a Friday the 13th once-April 2007 I think? (It all turned out “normal”).

As for today, I think it’s not me experiencing “bad luck”, but rather my pet cat.  I chuckled a little bit to myself this very early morning when I dropped her off at the veterinary clinic, as she has had to undergo a neutering procedure and a front de-clawing procedure today.  (She isn’t black however). Poor Little Kitty…

So readers and friends, I’d really love to know how many of you consider this day as one to feel ominous about or if you have any good or bad stories surrounding this day?

How about we use my blog post as an informal poll?  Let’s see if the coinciding statistic about who fears Friday the 13th rings true for the readers of this blog!  There’s a documented estimate that between 17 and 21 million people carry the fear of Friday the 13th, some to the point of not being fully functional.

Chime in please!  Are you superstitious or not?  About what?  If you’re willing, please share your experiences and/or viewpoints here.