The relationship between money and the sacred is as old as money itself. From the first metal coins to modern bills, the quest for prosperity has taken subtle paths. Thus, long before economic theories, our ancestors already involved gods, spirits, and rituals to explain wealth or scarcity. Exploration of the link between magic and money.
1. Gold and offerings, the sacred origins of money
Little known, the origins of money are closely linked to ritual and the sacred. Before serving commercial exchanges, money was born in temples and ceremonies. Some theories suggest that at the dawn of civilizations, coins replaced food offerings in sacrificial rituals. In other words, paying with coins was originally a religious, even magical act: money was symbolically offered where once bread or livestock was shared in sacrifice. In these sacred banquets of Antiquity, participating in sharing the consecrated victim created a bond of loyalty among community members and sealed an alliance with the deity. The appearance of coins of different values gradually "secularized" these exchanges, but at the time, a payment retained the trace of this original spiritual pact, where economic exchange extended the alliance between humans and gods.
From then on, money carried a dual nature: a concrete good facilitating transactions, it also retained a symbolic aura inherited from the sacred. The first coins struck in gold and silver – precious metals shining like the sun or the moon – had both spiritual and economic value. Gold especially, incorruptible and sparkling, was revered in many cultures as a divine metal. In ancient Egypt, it was called "the flesh of the gods" and associated with the sun. To possess gold was to hold a fragment of solar power, thus a bit of divine essence. Since Antiquity, an ambiguous link emerges: money attracts devotion as much as greed. Temples became the world's first safes, guardians of treasures offered to the gods. In Mesopotamia, offerings to the gods could be redistributed by priests as rations or precious coins, blurring the line between economy and worship. Money then circulated in an enchanted circuit: it passed between humans and their gods, materializing blessings or wishes in the jingle of a coin.
2. From gods of prosperity to spirits of wealth
If money has sacred roots, it’s no surprise that almost every culture has personified wealth as a deity or guardian spirit. Rather than a dry list of pantheons, imagine a spiritual world tour where abundance reigns, carried by different figures who, each in their own way, illustrate the link between wealth and transcendence.
Representation of Lakshmi
In India, a gentle light shines: it is the goddess Lakshmi, seated on a lotus flower, a symbol of purity and fortune. For millennia, Hindus have invoked her during festivals, especially at Diwali, the festival of lights, to grant prosperity and well-being to the household. Goddess of wealth, beauty, and abundance, Lakshmi is honored with prayers and lit lamps, her images showing her pouring a shower of gold coins from the palm of her open hand. This maternal vision of wealth – fortune that nourishes and protects – is found elsewhere under other names: thus, in ancient and modern China, Caishen, the god of prosperity, is worshipped, especially during the Lunar New Year. In every Chinese home at the new year, his portrait or statue is placed, incense is burned, firecrackers are set off to drive away evil spirits, and small red envelopes filled with money (the hóngbāo) are given as a sign of luck for the coming year. Here, money is tinged with red, the color of joy and a talisman against misfortune, and the bill becomes a messenger of good wishes.
Lamps in honor of Caishen
Still in Asia but in a very different context, consider the Shintō temples of Japan, where worshippers throw coins into wooden boxes and ring a bell to attract the attention of the kami, these guardian spirits, praying for business success or a good rice harvest (a symbol of wealth). This gesture recalls a practice found worldwide: offering a coin to the waters. Whether it’s a Celtic sacred well, a Roman spring, or a Baroque fountain, throwing money into water is a way to feed the spirit of the place in exchange for a wish. It is a late adaptation of a very ancient pagan rite: all living water houses a deity that can be appeased with an offering. Thus, the famous coin toss into the Trevi Fountain in Rome continues an ancient ritual where people sought the favor of water gods for luck and protection. Today, tourists mostly hope to return to Rome someday, but unknowingly they repeat an old propitiatory offering gesture.
Further west, in the Greco-Roman world, it was the goddess Fortune (Tyché among the Greeks, Fortuna among the Romans) who held the horn of plenty. Capricious, sometimes blindfolded, she dispensed prosperity at her whim. The Romans, as pragmatic as they were, prayed to Fortuna for the prosperity of the city and families, while stamping her image on their coins. Among the Greeks, the god Ploutos also personified wealth, depicted as a child holding a cornucopia, sometimes blind to symbolize the injustice of wealth distribution. Once again, mythology subtly acknowledges that money holds a mystery: it comes and goes according to laws beyond human understanding, almost divine.
Goddess Tyche holding Ploutos in her arms. Source: Wikipedia
Further south, the ancient African civilizations were also keen to integrate money into their spiritual world. In West Africa, among the Yorùbá, the spirit of wealth is called Ajé. In myths, Ajé is described as a powerful Orisha (deity) patron of trade and prosperity. A traditional praise chant, an oríkì, addresses her with these words: “Ajé, benefactor who provides for all human needs… You have made a servant a king”. Venerated through offerings of cauris – those small shells once used as currency – Ajé illustrates the idea that wealth elevates and transforms: it can both raise a humble person and mislead a wise one. The thousands of cauris found in West African graves testify to the ritual importance of these shells, treasures of the seas imbued with a power of abundance.
From India to China, from Greece to Africa, humanity has thus populated the realm of money with countless spiritual beings. These customs, far from naive, reflected a social reality: wealth was seen as the fruit of a cosmic order, not mere chance. Honoring the gods of fortune or performing rites to attract abundance meant aligning oneself with the harmony of the world, so that it would be favorable to us. But beyond established cults, there were also more secret practices to influence fortune: this is the domain of spells, talismans, and other operative financial magics, where the individual tries to sway monetary destiny through occult means.
3. Spells and talismans to attract prosperity
By exploring the magical papyri of Greco-Roman Egypt or medieval grimoires, one discovers a multitude of spells and enchantments designed to attract money. Far from being concerned only with love or curses, the magicians of Antiquity also thought about filling their purse! In the famous Greek Magical Papyri (dating from the early centuries AD), there are recipes to prosper in business or ensure the success of a trade. These documents, a mix of prayer and incantation, reveal a surprisingly pragmatic approach to magic: the goal is not to see a rain of gold coins fall from the sky, but to create the conditions favorable to success. One example: a spell recommends shaping a wax figurine representing a beggar, to place near one’s shop or home, in order to attract a large and generous clientele. The papyrus assures that "thanks to this figurine, wealth and success await the one who holds it". It is striking to note that the spell primarily aims to increase customer traffic – a kind of ancestor of magical advertising! – rather than to make money appear directly by enchantment.
Similarly, another ancient charm describes the making of a talismanic ring to grant its wearer the aura that attracts good business. By engraving certain formulas and consecrating the ring, the magician obtained a band that made its wearer "liked by all, trustworthy and pleasant, bringing qualities leading to being famous, great, admired, and rich". More than a simple money magnet, this magic sought to link social capital to financial capital: being rich also means being introduced to the powerful, being loved and respected, and these spells understood that. Greek magical texts call on the gods to "open the paths" to fortune, for example by forging friendships with wealthy people or gaining public favor. This is therefore a magic of opportunity: creating a favorable environment around oneself where good chances arise and money can flow.
In medieval and Renaissance Europe, where the quest for wealth sometimes clashed with religious prohibitions, financial magic took other forms. Alchemy is its most emblematic expression. Under the guise of scholarly pursuit, generations of scholars sought the Philosopher's Stone, that miraculous substance capable of transmuting lead into gold. Although rooted in a mystical worldview, alchemy also reflects an economic aspiration: to find the secret of unlimited gold production, that is, wealth. Alchemists, like Nicolas Flamel in Paris or Basil Valentine in Germany, described their experiments with spiritual vocabulary. For them, turning base lead into pure gold also symbolized the illumination of the soul. The Philosopher's Stone promised not only infinite gold but also the healing of all diseases and the prolongation of life. This ideal reveals a deep ambivalence toward wealth: is it a material good to accumulate, or the outward sign of inner perfection? In the alchemist's laboratory, furnaces and retorts become the stage for a double miracle – economic and spiritual.
17th-century Flemish painting depicting an alchemist in his workshop. Source: Britannica
For many alchemists, it was not enough to amass gold: one also had to be worthy of it. This moral requirement is found, reversed, in popular witchcraft. In the Middle Ages, the Church condemned greed as a deadly sin and viewed any attempt to make money through occult means with great suspicion. Practicing "money magic" in Christendom was thus equated with making a pact with the devil. This is how the figure of Faust or the greedy sorcerer who sells his soul in exchange for wealth was born. The motif of the demonic pact spread through European traditions: according to belief, a desperate individual could sign a contract with Satan, trading their eternal salvation for earthly favors – youth, power, and of course immediate fortune. But as the legend of Dr. Faust reminds us, these pacts rarely end to the mortal's advantage… This fear of ill-gotten wealth reflects the idea that money, if it comes from occult or dishonest sources, carries a curse within it. The story of King Midas illustrates this ambivalent moral well: for wishing that everything he touched would turn to gold, Midas was granted his wish – and condemned to famine and despair, as even his bread and daughter turned into solid gold. The much-coveted "golden touch" proved to be a punishment. Through this myth, the Ancients already taught that magical wealth, obtained without limits, can turn into a deadly trap.
Thus, between benevolent spells and cautionary tales, financial magic of the past swung between dream and fear. On one side, the hope of finding a formula, an amulet, or a pact to get rich; on the other, suspicion of money that came too easily, possibly tainted with spiritual impurities. This dialectic would span centuries, expressing itself differently depending on the era – from village prosperity rituals to modern philosophies of abundance. Before concluding, let’s pause for a moment on some famous symbolic rituals around money, to see concretely how this financial magic manifested in daily life.
4. Symbolic prosperity rituals around the world
Several customs aimed to attract financial luck or celebrate abundance. Here are a few, chosen for their historical and cultural significance, illustrating the diversity of the symbolism of wealth:
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Tossing a coin into a spring or fountain – A universal gesture found from Antiquity to the present day. This practice comes, as we have seen, from an ancient pagan rite of offering a coin to water spirits in exchange for a granted wish. Village wells in Europe often had their "lucky coin," and the Trevi Fountain in Rome continues this tradition: it is said that a coin thrown over the shoulder will ensure the visitor’s future return to Rome. Beyond the tourist wish, the act is a mini-sacrifice to the powers of water to favor us, a sign that money can serve as a silent prayer when it falls into the water.
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The Chinese New Year ritual – Every year, during the Spring Festival, Chinese families perform rituals to attract luck and prosperity. Homes are decorated in red and gold, auspicious colors, and homage is paid to the god of Fortune, Caishen, especially on his feast day when incense sticks are burned in his honor. One of the most well-known symbols is the exchange of red envelopes (hóngbāo), given to children and loved ones. These envelopes filled with a few bills carry wishes for wealth and success in the coming year – their red color is meant to ward off evil spirits, and the golden characters printed on them wish happiness (fu) and prosperity (cai). It is a ritual where the spiritual dimension (driving away evil, invoking luck) blends with material generosity.
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Prayer to Lakshmi during Diwali (India) – Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is one of the key moments in the Hindu calendar during which the victory of light over darkness and abundance over lack is celebrated. During this festival, the Lakshmi Puja is performed, a ceremony dedicated to the goddess of wealth. Families light rows of oil lamps (diyas) to illuminate Lakshmi’s path to their home. Beautiful offerings (lotus flowers, sweets, rice) are placed before her images, and mantras are recited to attract her blessings of prosperity. By tradition, doors and windows are opened wide that evening so that Lakshmi can enter without obstacle, symbolizing the welcoming of divine abundance. It is interesting to note that on this night, many Indian businesses do their annual accounting while invoking Lakshmi: the goddess literally presides over the closing and opening of the books, ritually uniting financial management and the sacred.
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Silver talisman and good luck charm in Europe – European magic is full of small prosperity rituals born from popular wisdom. It is considered a good omen to keep the first coin earned in a new business or the first paycheck, and to always carry it or display it in your office: this ensures that the money “stays” instead of slipping away. In some regions, a coin was nailed above the front door to attract fortune to the home. Another still widespread good luck charm is the horseshoe hung above the fireplace or door. Although it is mainly known for warding off evil, it is also said that a horseshoe found by chance and fixed at home attracts luck in general – including financial luck. The ancients explained that iron, a metal forged by fire, carried a solar and beneficial energy; its crescent shape reminded of the moon and symbolized fertility. Nailing this symbol at home was like inviting abundance under one’s roof. Similarly, in France, the tradition of the king cake on Epiphany hides a bean (formerly a small porcelain object representing a king or… a bag of money!) inside the cake. Whoever finds it becomes “king” for a day and is supposed to have good luck – here we find the idea that discovering a symbol of wealth in one’s slice of cake is a favorable omen for future finances.
Each culture has thus created its own rituals, sometimes modest, sometimes spectacular, to win favor with fortune. Whether it involves throwing coins, burning offerings, wearing a symbol, or celebrating a deity, these practices testify to a universal truth: money is not just a matter of calculation, it is also a matter of heart and belief.
5. Magic and money in a calculated world
By exploring the history of financial magic, one realizes that money has always been much more than a means of exchange or a number in an account. It crystallizes hopes, anxieties, and deeply human aspirations. In times of economic uncertainty, prosperity rituals multiply, reflecting the need to regain footing through symbolism when reality is no longer controllable. Conversely, during prosperous periods, gratitude is ritualized: gods are thanked, a share of gains is offered in sacrifices or alms, thus perpetuating the virtuous cycle of shared abundance.
Far from being a mere relic of the past, this spiritual influence of money continues today in other forms. Certainly, contemporary rationality has relegated gods and spirits to the status of myths for many, but quasi-ritual behaviors towards money remain widespread. Don’t people say "knock on wood" to keep their luck in gambling? From Las Vegas to the New York Stock Exchange, how many traders wear their "lucky tie" on big speculation days, unknowingly reproducing the act of a personal talisman? Modern lotteries, with their draws on lucky dates and grids played "because these are the numbers from my dream," recreate a form of popular magic where chance is warded off by the symbol.
Some current religious movements, such as the prosperity theology in certain evangelical circles, openly reconcile faith and wealth by preaching that financial ease is a sign of divine blessing – thus reconnecting, in another way, with the ancient idea that fortune smiles on the virtuous loved by God. In other contexts, we observe the return or reinvention of wealth cults.
Thus, exploring the link between money and spirituality shows us a constant: human beings, whether trading shells, minting gold coins, or speculating on the stock market, seek to tame fortune through meaning and the subtle. Financial magic expresses the irreducible uncertainty attached to wealth. Earning a living is not just a matter of effort and reason; it is also about dealing with the unpredictable, fate, luck – all forces that societies have personified and ritually courted. Through financial magic, humans dialogue with the invisible to ward off the fear of lack and invite abundance. Serious or self-interested, this approach subtly tells a very human story: that of our quest for a better life, where material well-being goes hand in hand with harmony.
Sources :
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William H. Desmonde, Magic, Myth and Money: The Origin of Money in Religious Ritual (1962) – theory of the ritual origins of money.
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Venticinque, Philip. F., “Wealth, Profit, and Social Capital in the Greek Magical Papyri.” Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies 59 (2019) – study on abundance spells in Greco-Egyptian magical papyri.
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Devdutt Pattanaik, “The ancient story of goddess Lakshmi—bestower of power, wealth and sovereignty.” Quartz India (2015) – mythological story about Lakshmi.
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Times of India, “Laxmi Mantras you can chant on Diwali to attract wealth and happiness.” (2024) – description of invocations to Lakshmi during Diwali.
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Wikipedia (en), “Caishen” – article on the Chinese god of wealth, Caishen.
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African Poems, “Salute to Aje, Goddess of Wealth” – translation of a Yoruba poem honoring the Orisha Ajé, goddess of wealth.
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Romecabs Blog, “Tossing a Coin in Trevi Fountain: Myths and Rituals” – pagan origin of throwing coins into fountains.
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Google Arts & Culture, “8 Things to Know About the Lucky Red Envelope” – symbolism of the red envelopes of the Chinese New Year.
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Britannica (en), “King Midas” – summary of the myth of King Midas and his fatal golden touch.
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Britannica (en), “Philosopher’s stone” – article on the Philosopher’s Stone and the transmutation of metals into gold.
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Wikipedia (en), “Deal with the Devil” – motif of the pact with the Devil to obtain wealth and powers.
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The Taoist Online (Jack Mason), “Prosperity Magick Part 2: The Ancient Greeks” – popularized analysis of prosperity magic among the Greeks, citing Venticinque.
