I initially believed these to be insect eggs when I discovered them beneath my mattress, but I was shocked to learn the truth.
I made the decision to flip my mattress that day in order to clean the bed and let it air out. Before I observed an odd small clump of tiny black seeds in the corner, everything appeared to be normal.
They resembled microscopic particles of charcoal and were matte with a hint of sheen.
I went cold. I initially believed them to be insect eggs, either those of cockroaches or some sort of beetle. A shiver went down my spine and my heart began to race.
I carefully collected some of the seeds on paper and started to study them.
They couldn’t be anything living since they were too dry and hard. Nevertheless, how did they get beneath my mattress?
To be honest, I was taken aback upon realizing what they were.Have you ever witnessed anything similar? In the first comment, I provide the specifics.
I texted a friend who is interested in herbs and Eastern medicine a picture of the discovery to help me relax. Her response was almost instantaneous:
— That’s Kalindji! Cumin seeds in black! They must have been intentionally placed there.
At first, I didn’t think it was true. She was correct, though, when I started reading it after looking it up online. For generations, these seeds have been used as a charm to ward against evil and sickness. To ensure that “the house wouldn’t let in envy or bad dreams,” people used to sew them under pillows, place them beneath mattresses, or place them at door thresholds.
I was initially alarmed; what if something had been done covertly and without my knowledge? Then I recalled that my grandmother had visited a month prior. She used to say that “a young home should smell of kindness, not fear,” and she was a firm believer in traditional customs.
I gave her a call that night.
— Did you place something beneath my mattress, Grandma?
She chuckled quietly:
— And you only now noticed? Kalindji is that. Allow it to keep you safe. You haven’t been getting enough sleep recently, I can tell.
