umamismak

Umamisamak is a traditional Finnish folk magic practice, originating in the Karelian region of Finland. The term is not well-documented and its exact definition can be somewhat subjective, encompassing various forms of folk magic and charm-making. Practitioners of umamisamak were believed to possess knowledge of charms and talismans for protection, healing, and prosperity.

Umamisamak ceremonies were typically organized during social gatherings, between family members and friends. Initiates would be instructed in the use of carvings (often on birch sticks), herbs, and amulets as tools to promote well-being. Various practices tied to the cycles of nature, corresponding to agricultural and natural rhythms, were also used. Individuals were thought to connect with spirit beings, believed to reside in trees, stones, and other elements of nature.

Practitioners of umamisamak collected and created protective charms that often appeared in the form of amulets or other pieces of art. These charms could combine an item's special properties with symbolic representations to create an amulet making it flexible and individualized for use. These charms were passed from the maker to other relatives and thus continued to develop and improve with each successive handler. Protection against all forces the practitioner considered outside their control, which could be seen as being connected to nature or forces beyond the individual's domain, were specific targets of umamisamak practice. The destructive capabilities and antagonistic forces implied in this category were diffuse, portraying difficulties, threats and risks driving and directing the lives of individuals.

Umamisamak however is a rare and poorly comprehensible practice, so some pursue ongoing discussion relates to verification and the question of dependable sources of this contemporary opinion on traditional origins and utility related experience.