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What is the Evil Eye? : Meaning and Protection

The Evil Eye is a curse or human look believed to cause harm to someone else. The supernatural harm may come in the form of minor hurt, misfortune, injury to disease or even death. The evil eye is popular throughout history. It is mentioned in ancient Roman and Greek texts, as well as in many famous literary works, including the Koran, the Bible (Proverbs 23:6:), and Shakespeare.

Put quite simply, the Evil Eye meaning is one that inflicts bad fortune, harm or suffering onto the individual upon whom it is cast. It is a look that expresses malcontent and bad wishes for a person, often based on malice, jelous or hatred. The receiver of the glare is prone to these strong wishes of suffering purely from the undesirable energy transferred through the gaze; after all, it is believed that the eyes are the windows to our inner soul.



In different languages, the Evil Eye is popular as:
  • · Turkish Evil Eye – Nazar Boncugu
  • · Hebrew Evil Eye – Ayin Ha’ra
  • · Farsi – Bla Band
  • · Italian Evil Eye – Mal Occhio
  • · Arabic – Ayin Harsha
  • · Germany – Böser Blick
  • · Scotland – Droch Shuil
  • · Romans – Oculus Malus
  • · France – Mauvais Oeil
  • · Spanish – Mal Ojo or El Oja
Ancient Roots of Evil Eye throughout Different Cultures
The meaning of Evil Eye is believed to have first been documented in ancient Greece where it was tied in with extreme praise. This lead to excessive pride (also called hubris) which would bring about their own fate, often times under the evil eye. In Islamic cultures, even the Prophet Muhammad speaks of the evil eye in Book 26 of the Shahih, expressing one must bathe to reverse the harmful effects of the evil eye. Muslim cultures across the Middle East also believe in unnecessary praise and pride bringing the Evil Eye down upon mortals, so the phrase, “God has willed” something to come about is a way to praise somebody’s accomplishments without inviting the wrath of the evil eye meaning. Jewish cultures as well has a phrase meaning “no evil eye” which is repeated during periods of worry: Keyn anymore!



Indian Hinduism religions also believe that the Eye is the most powerful source of energy in the body, therefore giving additional load to the powerful Evil Eye effects. Admiration is seen as a form of the Evil Eye here, but jealousy is thought to be the driving force behind the Evil Eye meaning. Even though animals such as the snake can give the Evil Eye, it is believed in Hinduism that the main source behind the Evil Eye is women, thus causing them to paint their eyelids black for both protections for and from others and for themselves.
Europeans are not immune to the understanding of the Evil Eye meaning as they believe hateful and jealous looks bring about suffering upon the beholder. It is believed in Europeans that witches were thought to be the main culprit behind the Evil Eye and those with rare eye colors were thought to be powerful with the Evil Eye effects. Germans feared Red Eyed people, Italians with a unibrow and Irish with the squinty-eyed.
Protection against the Evil Eye:

Now the question is how one can protect themselves against the evil eye meaning. Following are the options below:

  • Evil eye amulets - Evil Eye Amulets is the most common protection. Many will wear the amulets or hang them in their home. E.g- Evil Eye Horseshoe Hanging, Evil Eye Horseshoe Keychain, etc.
  • Carrying incense or a cross.
  • It is also believed that to spit after either receiving or giving a compliment keeps the evil eye at bay.Once a person has been suffering with the evil eye, there are several ways to have it removed. When a person wears or carries an evil eye amulets or hanging with them, it guards against from bad things happening and misfortune in one's life. It protects you from "bad karma" that could have a negative effect on your well-being and helps to keep your life in balance.

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