The Evil Eye

by Marguerite Elsbeth

What is the evil eye? Ethnic groups world wide throughout history have feared the evil eye and have performed eccentric rituals and have worn various bizarre charms to ward off the evil eye. A Nigerian woman marks her face with black to make her impervious to the evil eye, and a Greek woman may hang a starfish or crab's claw on the wall or rub soot from the fireplace behind an ear as protection.¹ Jingling bells attached to amulets were believed to avert the evil eye. During childbirth a mother's house would be sprinkled with urine to defend against overlooking. (meaning 'evil eye' with English speaking peoples) Others burned cloth cut from a witch's coat, some spat three times, others made the sign of the cross upon a child's forehead with the tongue, hung bells on children and cattle, or carried salt the symbol of eternal life in the pocket. The Greeks wore the amulet, Medusa. The Romans wore bronze phalli. In N. Albania eggs were given as a gift to a new mother to shield the child from the evil eye. One egg was smashed and thrown across the infant's face.

Origin

Belief in the evil eye commenced where civilization began. The oldest recorded references to the evil eye appear in cuneiform1 texts of the Sumerians, Babylonians and Assyrians, dating 3000 B.C.

Clay tablets in the royal library at Nineveh, disclose how sorcerers killed by casting a glance at their victims. The curse that is inherent in the evil look "reacts like an evil demon" reads one such tablet.

Envy and the Evil Eye

Zondervan Pictorial dictionary refers to envy as the root sin of the evil eye. "The effects of the evil eye believed to be rooted in envy so that when one expressed his admiration for animals or children he would often say, "God bless them" so that his motivations would not be questioned. " 

From Grolier's Encyclopedia we read: "The possessor of the evil eye may unintentionally cause harm to others. He or she is usually said to be motivated by envy. A belief in the evil eye may thus serve to discourage the provocation of envy and to underline the boundaries of acceptable behavioural; both for those suspected of possessing the evil eye and for their potential victims."

The dwellers of a Greek island in the Aegean Sea believed that all people possessed the power to cast an evil-eye spell because everyone had the potential of envy.

" They recognized all capable of one of the basest of human emotions, envy which they regarded as the driving force behind male violence. Beneath the smile and kind words could lie jealousy and the unspoken wish that harm befall the lucky person. All that was required to make such evil incarnate was a glance of the eye."

There is a Greek tale of an old olive press that split in half after a stranger glanced at it covetously. The evil eye was expected to attack anything valuable enough to be admired and envied. Envy, greed and the evil eye have been eternal partners.

Sorcery and the Evil Eye in History

The evil eye down through history implied evil sorcery, witchcraft, and magic. Historical references to the evil eye not only give reference to envy but to sorcery and magic.

Even Pope Pius ix (1846-1878) was noted as having the evil eye. After glancing at a nurse who was holding a child, the child fell to its death and the fateful occurrence continued.

Grolier Encyclopedia states: "The evil eye, the ability of certain people to convey misfortune through their gaze, is a feature of traditional belief in many regions of the world. Associated since antiquity with the Mediterranean area and the Muslim peoples of the Middle East, it also occurs among the Yucatan MAYA and the Ugandan Lugbara. Individuals in these societies often wear protective amulets to ward off all ill effects. 

Within the folk medicine of Mexican-Americans, their healing system included five types of folk illness. One illness is called "mal deojo" the evil eye.  Their shaman who claims to use white magic also claims to heal the disease of the evil eye with God-given powers. 

Howard Chambers associates the evil eye with the power of Satan. "Strong but wicked persons sometimes in league with the devil have the ability to curse with a look. Its effect may be vitiated or prevented by a preventative amulet or the burning of proper charms. Some occultists say it is a specific part of the mind, focusing its power through the organ of the eye. In some European countries, belief in the evil eye is so strong that persons suspected of possessing it are blinded or murdered in their sleep."

Mal occhio, the evil eye, is considered a very serious business in Italy, where the practice of witchcraft, abounds. However, Strege, Witches, swear by the following sure-fire ways to avoid getting hexed, ward off evil spells,  and to protect yourself from harm:

• Beware should someone give you a blackened lemon stuck with black pins. Even one black pin amongst a host of colorful ones indicates that someone wishes you harm. The lemon is a fruit of Diana, Queen of the  Fairies and the Goddess of Witchcraft, so to undo the evil charm hold the lemon in your hand and chant this incantation to her while looking at the sky:
•  
  • I call to Diana, queen of the Sun and Moon and stars
  • And, with what power I have, I conjure her
  • To Grant me a favor.
  • I have gathered a lemon to bring me luck;
  • I hold it in my hand.
• Then remove the black pins and bury them near running water. Stick the lemon with as many colorful pins as is necesary to replace the black pins. Now the lemon will bring you good fortune.

 

• If you see someone staring and pointing at you with arm and index finger extended in your direction, it is possible that he or she is putting you under enchantment. Ward off the evil by turning the spell around. Face the person and stand on your left foot with your right leg held off the ground, knee bent close to the chest. Close your left eye and then extend your right arm and index finger in their direction

 

• Anoint your forehead with three drops of olive oil, applied three times in the sign of the crossroads, to remain out of harm's way throughout your day.

 

• Burn your lose hairs or throw them into a place where no one is likely to look for them in order to save the hair from falling into the hands of evil sorcerers.

 

• Say this charm to Saint Anthony, patron saint of magic, when fairies, goblins, or other mischevious beings have spirited away your valuables, or even if you have simply misplaced your keys. Repeat three times:
• • Dear Saint Anthony,
  • Please come around;
  • Something is lost
  • And cannot be found.

 

• Protect yourself by placing a clove of garlic in ascapular (made from two small pieces of silk, wool, or cotton cloth joined together by strings), along with an icon of your favorite saint or deity. Wear it around your neck, concealed under your clothing.

 

• Call to Saint Michael, a Christianized version of Mars, the Roman god of war, when you are in danger. Say his name boldy three times and you will be safe from harm.

Here is much more fabulous information on "The Evil Eye"

DISTRIBUTION AND HISTORY of the Evil Eye Belief
VERBAL AND PHYSICAL AVERSION of the Evil Eye
DIAGNOSING AND CURING the Evil Eye
CASE HISTORIES of Evil Eye Customs Along the Texas-Mexico Border
APOTROPAIC CHARMS Against the Evil Eye
A WORLD-WIDE SUMMARY of Evil Eye Beliefs
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY and Credits