The Evil Eye
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What is the evil eye?
The evil eye, called the mal’occhio in Italian culture, is a curse given, usually unintentionally, by casting a jealous or envious eye toward another, causing them a sudden headache, illness, stomach pain, tiredness, dizziness, irritability, bad luck, or other misfortune. It is sometimes believed that even a look of admiration, or a small compliment can afflict the recipient with the evil eye. This is because it is believed that admiration can unconsciously cause envy, not only to covet what someone may have, but also to wish to diminish someone’s gifts or blessings, when the person giving the admiration feels a sense of lack, or compares themselves. In Italian culture, it is sometimes seen as taboo to compliment a child, without adding in a blessing afterwards, believing that fussiness in a baby can be the result of the affliction of the evil eye by a disingenuous compliment from a jealous admirer.
How can you diagnose if your sudden illness, headache, or pain is the result of the mal’occhio, or if it is from dehydration, lack of sleep, or other causes? Firstly, the evil eye usually comes on suddenly with no other known cause. In my family, the story goes, that whenever my grandmother would visit a certain aunt’s house, she would come home with an unexplainable headache. It was said this aunt’s daughter was not beautiful, but that my grandmother was, and that her aunt would give her the mal’occhio, each time she would visit, envying her beauty over her cousin’s. In addition to sudden affliction without another cause, there are ways to diagnose the evil eye, traditionally using olive oil and a bowl of water. It is said that if you drop three drops of olive oil into a bowl of water and nothing happens, then you are free of the evil eye. However, if you drop oil into the bowl and it spreads, or forms any of many different formations, you have the evil eye and must be cured. The cure is the same as the diagnosis. You dump the original water and continue dropping three drops of olive oil into a bowl until the mal’occhio is cured when the drops no longer spread, all while saying prayers and calling in your favorite saints and deities, commonly the Virgin Mary and Santa Lucia.
What does the evil eye symbol mean spiritually?
The evil eye, simply put, is a belief that the eyes can cause harm with a glance holding a bad intention. The most frequently given form of the evil eye comes from jealousy, but it can also be caused by greed, anger, blame, resentment, hostility, contempt, malice, ill will, or even just an awareness of inequality, leaving harm or destructiveness in its wake. It is believed that admiration can unconsciously cause envy, not only to covet what one may have, but also to wish to diminish one’s gifts or blessings, when the person giving the admiration feels a sense of lack, so even compliments should be guarded against. It is possible the giver does not believe you deserve your success, or wishes to knock you down a peg. It is possible the giver just unconsciously or consciously feels their own lack.
Many people feel you should not discuss your plans or successes until you can be certain the evil eye cannot sabotage them. Do not discuss the new house until you have keys in hand, do not announce your new baby until after the first trimester, etc. It is important to recognize that one person’s good fortune does not necessarily come at the expense of someone else, whether it is happiness, wealth, fertility, or success. The evil eye comes from a belief in scarcity and competition. Some people feel it is important to minimize your successes in the eyes of others in order to guard against the jealous curse, following a compliment with a self-deprecating comment, purposely.
How do some cultures use the evil eye in spiritual practices?
Belief in the evil eye is a cross-cultural phenomena found throughout Europe, the ancient Egyptians, North and East Africa, the Middle East, the Philippines, Latin America, among other cultures. There are many different kinds of evil eye amulets, talismans, gestures, phrases and prayers, which are all meant as protection against the jealous curse.
In ancient Egypt, the Eye of Horus or the Udjat Eye, or Wedjat Eye, was used as an amulet to protect against the evil eye. It adorned doorways, entrances, burial sites, providing protection, health, rejuvenation, and a guiding eye to all who entered. Horus was a falcon headed God, the son of Isis, who lost an eye in a battle with his uncle Set, while fighting to avenge Set’s murder of his father Osiris, whom Set killed in envy over his throne, as Osiris was the first King of Egypt. Horus’ eye was magically restored and order was restored in Egypt with Horus’ victory over Set.
The Turkish eye is probably the most popular talisman worn as a protective amulet against the evil eye that has spread through many parts of the world, even outside of Turkey. In Turkey, it is called Nazar Bonjuk or Nazar, which means “sight bead.” The phrase, “an eye for an eye,” is traditionally thought to guard against the evil eye, suggesting that a protective eye can be used to guard against an evil eye. Nazar is also deflected and cured through a ritual recitation of a verse or prayer from the Quran called ruqyah.
The Hand of Fatima, the Hamsa, or the Eye of Miriam is a traditional talisman known in Muslim, Jewish and Christian cultural contexts. The open hand, has an eye in the center of the palm and is known to protect the wearer as well as bring good fortune. In the Jewish culture, there is a Yiddish phrase, kinnehora, which means “no Evil Eye” frequently uttered after a success like a good grade etc., similar to the phrase, “knock on wood.”
In Greek culture, the evil eye is called vaskania. It is thought that to spit, make a spitting motion, or a verbalization, ptou, ptou, pretending to spit towards a person after giving or receiving a compliment is protective against the evil eye. The mati, or blue colored glass or plastic cube, is a talisman against evil eye. It is thought that it should always be gifted rather than purchased for oneself. It can be worn as a pin, necklace or bracelet.
In Italy, we see the cornicello, cornetto, or corno, also known as the Italian horn, as one such amulet, protecting against the mal’occhio. The cornicello was traditionally made of red coral, and was hollow, meant to be filled with salt, and always given as a gift of protection for the wearer. We also have the mano cornuta, an amulet in the shape of a human hand with the thumb and two middle fingers folded in. One can also make the mano cornuta gesture with one’s own hand to protect against the mal’occhio. Some see it as a horned hand, with the horn as the protective amulet, some say it is meant as a gesture to poke out the evil eyes. Iron is a very strong metal, and when reinforced with carbon to make steel, is the strongest metal on earth. Iron in the form of nails, keys or horseshoes were also traditionally used to protect against the evil eye. In Italian, this is known as tocco ferro. Garlic was also used to ward off the evil eye, hanging it in doorways. Medallions of saints, the virgin Mary, or other religious amulets were used to ward off the evil eye. Santa Lucia, the Sicilian Saint of eyes, eyesight, psychic sight, and light, is believed to assist with curing as well as preventing the evil eye. She is often seen with plate holding eyes. Certain snail shells are called the Occhio di Santa Lucia, the eye of saint lucy, and are traditionally used to ward off the evil eye.
In Ethiopia, the evil eye is known as buda, referring to the malevolent force or to the person casting it. It is believed that the person casting Buda has the ability to shapeshift into a hyena, allowing them to be anonymous during their attack, which can cause misfortunes like illness, accident, infertility, loss of livestock or crops. In this culture, the amulet is called a kitab, and holds tiny scrolls with scriptures to protect against the buda. One may shave their child’s head to avoid lice, thought to be caused by Buda, as well as cover their nose and mouth in public to avoid illness caused by Buda.
In Morocco, the evil eye is called Al-ayn. It is thought that if you hold up a hand, similar to the Hamsa, palm facing outward, known as “Five in your Eye” you can ward off a disingenuous compliment or threat. It is also common to cleanse with Sandalwood incense and use Henna to protect against the jealous curse.
In Iran, Zoroastrians protect against the nazar, or evil eye, by eating privately, so that illness cannot enter the body through the mouth. They believe that menstruating woman can cast the most powerful evil eye curse. Bathing is of utmost importance to remove the evil eye. Smoke cleansing and fire are used to remove the evil eye by cleansing away impurities.
In India, it is common to darken a woman’s eyes with coal or a black pencil known as kajal, or to use a tilak to mark the forehead or cheeks of infants, children, or adults to protect against the evil eye, known as kudrishti, nazar dosh, nazar, or drishti. The home is considered a prime target, which is why it is common to hang amulets in doorways.
Palestinians have traditionally woven amulets into embroidery on blankets and garments to protect against the evil eye. Beads and stones in the shapes of eyes as well as prayers written on paper are kept as protection.
In the Caribbean and Latin America, the evil eye is known as maljo or mal de ojo and is believed to be a source of financial issues, bad luck, or illness. The color blue is thought to deflect the eye and you see blue bottles commonly hung to surround homes, hung on fences, blue paint, blue handkerchiefs or beads. Sachets are created with specific herbs and carried for specific intentions to ward away the evil eye.
In Central and South America and Mexico, the mal de ojo, or evil eye is guarded against through the ringing of bells, or the use of an egg cleanse, or egg limpia to diagnose and cure the evil eye. Curanderas or folk healers use herbs and prayers to deflect or cure the evil eye.
In China and Japan, the red chili pepper is known to protect, as well as promote prosperity, getting energy flowing properly in a space.
What does the evil eye protect against exactly?
Things like birth, marriage, buying a new home, a graduation, a promotion at work, are all things that can inspire jealousy or envy, and are occasions when it is most important to guard against the evil eye. Many people protect the cribs of babies and their children with evil eye amulets, so the baby does not receive jealous glances from onlookers who may not have children or children that they are as proud of. It is thought to be important to guard your successes unless you unknowingly inspire the evil eye to direct misfortune toward you, and to protect yourself during times of greatest achievement. It is in these times of success and achievement that other people may compare themselves to you, feeling “less than,” recognize an inequality, unconsciously wanting what you have or wishing you didn’t have it. This is the evil eye.
The evil eye does not only apply to people, it can be given to objects and animals as well. The newly remodeled kitchen that immediately breaks down, the prized possession that is lost because it is coveted. Cattle, horses, or other livestock that were vital to the livelihood of a family could also become sick or ill due to the mal’occhio, or evil eye. Same goes for crops and fields. The home is considered a prime target, which is why it is common to hang amulets in doorways.
What’s the distinction between the evil eye and the amulet?
The evil eye is the jealous curse. Most of us know the feeling of being stared at, being looked at, even paranormally, many mediums recognize the feeling of a ghost as the feeling of being stared at. There is power in the gaze whether that gaze is positive or holds malicious intent that many of us experience so regularly we don’t pay it any attention. The evil eye is the curse that comes from these looks of envy, greed, or ill will.
There are many many cross cultural amulets that are said to protect against the curse. Amulets are usually paired with prayers to protect against the curse, as well as used in conjunction with magical rituals to remove the curse if it is found.
What are some different ways people use this talisman and how can people incorporate it into their life?
Many people place evil eye talismans near the doorways of their homes, in their purses, on their baby’s cribs, in their businesses to protect against the evil eye. Many people believe these talismans are best paired with prayers and positive intentions to guard against malice and ill will caused by the evil eye. There are many rituals that can be done to protect or remove the curse. You can braid your hair while reciting an incantation, you can pray an incantation into a bouquet of flowers before placing it as the centerpiece of a table, you can recite prayers while making knots on a string and tying it to your wrist.
What are some common beliefs about its negative energy?
The evil eye is believed to cause all manner of unfortunate circumstances including pain, headache, hair loss, eye twitches, insomnia, lethargy, dizziness, falls, accidents, break downs, nightmares, unexplained anxiety, sickness in the stomach that suddenly strikes, confusion, losing items, dropping items, seeing dead animals, losing money, all the way to severe illness and death. All manner of misfortune or bad luck can be attributed to the evil eye.
Leigh Ann Romano Rogers, MA is an Italian Witch, Psychic Medium, Artist, Writer, former Counselor, and the owner of Psychic Medium Witch, a metaphysical shop in Walnut Creek, CA. The store sells an eclectic variety of spiritual products and services in an open and welcoming community space and is home to a team of healing practitioners including tarot readers, reiki healers, psychics, mediums, astrologers, hypnotists, and witches. Find her at www.psychicmediumwitch.com.
Cornicello Mano Cornuta Mano Cornuta Gesture Santa Lucia
Occhio di Santa Lucia Nazar - Turkish Eye Mati Hamsa
Udjat Eye - Eye of Horus
