Most of us have been exposed to folklore that is based on various geometric patterns having a certain energy quality. As an example, after a trip to Ireland, my mother came back with a Brigid's cross for each of us, along with the instructions to place it over a doorway, for "good luck." It is a handmade "cross" made of reeds. As acknowledged by most sources, the Brigid's cross predates Christianity, and has pagan origins. I only realized much later that a Brigid's cross was much more than luck. Generally one muscle tests weak when passing under a doorway, but I Brigid's Cross prevents that from occurring. In this country, there is the rich history of the Pennsylvania Dutch putting "hex" signs on barns. The term "hex" is more recent than the practice of painting the barns with the geometric patterns, and refers to the patterns, not any sort of intention. The painted barns are meant for the protection of the barn. According to Wikipedia, the practice of putting these decorations on barns originated in pre-Christian Germany.