Usually amulets are gems , statues , coins , drawings , pendants , rings , plants , animals , etc. . Even words can be amulets , such as vade retro satanaâ '' ( Latin , `` go back , Satan '' ) , to make bad luck go away . Potential amulets include gems , especially engraved gems , statues , coins , drawings , pendants , rings , plants and animals ; even words said in certain occasionsâ '' for example : vade retro satanaâ '' ( Latin , `` go back , Satan '' ) , to repel evil or bad luck .