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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To get rid of these masks because I think they're bad luck?

37 replies

BandOMothers · 03/01/2012 01:10

MIL sent a box full of little presents for the DDs and amongst them are some peacock feather masks....I was brought up to believe you dont have them in the house...bad luck....I was brought up in an area where there were loads of superstitions and just can't shake some of them off!

I haven't said anything to DH...they arrived (in a wrapped box) a couple of days before Chrstmas and since then DH has broken his hip and DD2 has had a horrible virus....I know I am probably being silly....but would you keep them?

Would you be feeling odd about them or not?

OP posts:
PeelThemWithTheirMetalKnives · 03/01/2012 01:13

YABU, but if it would make you feel better about things just get rid of them!

(They wouldn't make me feel odd but I am not at all superstitious).

BuntyPenfold · 03/01/2012 01:17

I don't like any feathers much, so I would get rid of them, and maybe you will feel better.
What an awful run of bad luck for you all.
I threw away a tribal mask once. DS liked it and put it on his bedroom wall, but it gave me the creeps. I know it was just a piece of carved wood, but I didn't like it and was glad to get rid of it.

AgentZigzag · 03/01/2012 01:19

When I have to deal with the OCD thought patterns I have, which can be similar to superstitions, I would find it helpful to wonder about how much power and influence the feathers could have on the world around them.

And the rational answer is not much.

But when you wonder whether you're going to take the risk and keep them when you believe they've caused your DH and DS pain, it's irrational, but that doesn't make it feel any less real.

It's ridiculous really, because I'd still probably get rid just to be on the safe side Grin

Original poster
BandOMothers · 03/01/2012 01:19

It's not masks in particula that bother me...just peacock feathers!

OP posts:
Original poster
BandOMothers · 03/01/2012 01:21

DH is like you agent but then he said "If you believe in that kind of things then you can bring bad luck"

Shock
OP posts:
CatPussRoastingByAnOpenFire · 03/01/2012 01:23

I love peacock feathers. Send them here! Grin
look here

BuntyPenfold · 03/01/2012 01:24

Charity shop?
Is your MIL likely to realise, or really mind a lot?

AgentZigzag · 03/01/2012 01:25

They just draw the bad things together in your mind BOM, I bet you can think of more than two positive things that have happened since they arrived?

Although saying that, your DH breaking his hip is awful, isn't it one of the most painful bones to break?

startail · 03/01/2012 01:32

Never thought of Peacock feathers as good or bad, just beautiful.
I have some in a vase in my bedroom. The peacock appeared in the garden one day, He let me watch him for ages. When he'd gone I found the feathers.
I took them as a gift from a beautiful creature.
Actually I later discovered his owner was away so he was blagging bird seed of next door.

Original poster
BandOMothers · 03/01/2012 01:34

I can think of 2 positive things Agent...DH also landed a cracking job! And Christmas was nice. Smile But you're right....they draw things together and those "eyes" n the feathers keep looking at me.....

catpuss there are certainly two schools of thought on them....MIL is an old hippy so often sends the DDs crystals and other healing type things....but these...well they're going to have to go...MIL lives on the other side of the world...she's not going to know and the DDs haven't played with the things...

OP posts:
Original poster
BandOMothers · 03/01/2012 01:34

Ah startail but yours were a gift from the bird himself! Mine could have been stolen...

OP posts:
CatPussRoastingByAnOpenFire · 03/01/2012 01:40

I only see the feathers as unlucky for the birds! I once tried to rescue a peacock that FILs dog had cornered in the greenhouse. I had it pinned down, and tried to lift it as I would a chicken. (One arm round the body/wings, another firmly round the parsons nose.) The unlucky bird made a misguided break for freedom, and I was left holding a complete peacock tail, while the bird flew away, completely bare arsed! Grin

CatPussRoastingByAnOpenFire · 03/01/2012 01:41

As for being stolen, peacocks shed their entire tail naturally, once a year. No need to steal them!

Linnet · 03/01/2012 01:45

I'd get rid of them. I was also brought up to believe peacock feathers amongst many other things were unlucky.
When I was little my granny was given a corn doll, she got rid of it after I broke my arm, which was the third "bad" thing that had happened since she'd received it.
I'm all for believing in superstition.

Jux · 03/01/2012 01:46

Peacock feathers are sooo beautiful. If your MIL won't notice that they're gone, if your kids will never know about them, if MIL will not ask the kids about them, then send them to me!

Alternatively, (being thoroughly selfless here, note) you could hang on to them so your kids enjoy them and you could break yourself of the superstition, which would be great for you and the children.

Jux · 03/01/2012 01:50

Though, having thought about it, I have realised how foolish I was and should warn you that you need to get them out of your family home and send them to me forthwith as I am the only properly qualified Remover of Bad Karma from Peacock Feathers in this country.... Don't try it at home folks Wink

CatPussRoastingByAnOpenFire · 03/01/2012 01:57

Shock I think you will find that I had first dibs, Jux! Grin just kidding op

Original poster
BandOMothers · 03/01/2012 02:04

Ya but these feathers are stuck into scary looking masks...not so pretty....Linnet I was brought up amongst that knd of thing too! I once picked some May Blossom and my Mum almost screeched when I came in with them "Get them out! Out!"

Bad luck too apparently!

OP posts:
Jux · 03/01/2012 03:03

Yes, but CatPuss, I think you'll find that I am a Properly Qualified Remover of Bad Karma from Peacock Feathers. Can you make the same claim? If you have them then they will drip their inherent badness all over you and your loved ones, but if I have them they will be rendered beautiful inside and out.

CatPussRoastingByAnOpenFire · 03/01/2012 03:13

But I dont think that they are bad luck in the first place.

Jux · 03/01/2012 03:39

Ssssshhhhhh CatPuss, I'm just encouraging BandOMothers to dispose of them. There's no such thing as a Remover of Bad Karma from Peacock Feathers.

yellowraincoat · 03/01/2012 03:40

When I first saw this I thought you were just going to mention some creepy masks and I was going to say YABU.

But now that peacock feathers have been brought into the mix: shudder. Someone sells them at the market near us and I see all the hipsters buying them and I just want to grab the things and fling them to the ground and tell them not to be so stupid as to bring those things into the house.

Seriously. There are some superstitions I just can't break and that is one of them.

flamegirl77 · 03/01/2012 03:48

Er, they aren't yours, they are your DDs'. If you won't have them in the house (new on me) then you should give them the chance to store them elsewhere.

Slightlytinsellyexpat · 03/01/2012 04:18

Hadn't heard of this superstition regarding peacock feathers. I just think they are beautiful, and that some of you are a tiny bit bonkers.

tigerlillyd02 · 03/01/2012 04:47

I'd get rid. If something terrible does happen at any point in the future you'd rid yourself of guilt for keeping them and go through all the "what if's". So for that very reason, I'd get them out asap.

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