The Turkish Evil Eye in Handmade Jewelry

You can usually determine someone’s emotional state just by looking into that person’s eyes. You can see if he or she is happy, sad, angry or tired by looking at the expression in the eyes. In some cultures, the eyes are believed to hold mystic powers, which can deliver misfortune to whomever the gaze is directed to.

The Turkish Evil Eye is a stare that is believed to cause bad luck and maladies. When someone stares upon another with disdain, envy or jealousy, the person stared at can be inflicted with negative energy that can bring about poverty, illness and even death. Even if the person with the evil eye stare had no intention of ill-will towards the other person, the gaze can still cause harm. Specifically in Turkey, the Evil Eye is a blue talisman and is known as nazar and is found in or on houses and vehicles or worn as beads.

The belief of the evil eye is widespread but is especially concentrated in the Middle East where Islamic doctrine states that the evil eye is real and presents a legitimate danger.

In response to the hysteria and fear of being harmed by the evil eye, talismans have been created as a form of protection. In Jewish culture, the Hamsa Hand is used as a charm for necklaces and bracelets as a way to repel the effects brought on by the gaze. Trinkets depicting the evil eye itself are also widely used as charms for the same intended purpose as the hamsa hand.

In Islam, talismans are generally prohibited as it is believed to be a form of idol worship. Muslims are instead encouraged to say “Masha Allah,” which translates to “God has willed it.” This is believed to invoke the presence of God to protect one from the evil eye.

Out of fear of becoming a victim of the evil gaze, people will often refrain from talking about subjects concerning their wealth, family or other positive points in their life as it is believed to attract stares of envy.

Those who strongly believe in the evil eye may even keep their children indoors as it is believed that they are vulnerable to the stares due to their innocence and young age, especially from childless mothers. In those cases the use of Hamsa Baby Pins and Hamsa wall decor for the children's room is sometimes used.

The eyes are believed to hold unseen powers and can cause misfortune to others even if no harm was intended. Even in modern time, people continue to turn to various forms of talismans and invoking the word of God to receive divine protection. Whether the eyes really hold such powers, hundreds of years of tradition certainly make it real for believers.

Hamsa and Evil Eye Protection Amulets

Belief in the negative powers of the Evil Eye and various amulets and protective charms against it has been around almost as long as the human race. Virtually every country, language, and religion has definitions pertaining to the evil eye's power to cause all types of misfortunes and even death. Dating back even before ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians and Mesopotamians, amulets to protect people against being 'cursed' by the evil eye have been excavated in the ruins of these societies, and are still very much desired by people today. These charms are particularly popular in African and Middle Eastern cultures, with evil protective amulets not only worn by people on their person, but also mounted near the inside entrance of their homes as well.

Some of the more popular amulets against the evil eye include the Hamsa, a five fingered hand, sometimes with an eye in its center. If mounted near a house entrance, the 'Hamsa' is intended to protect a house and all those who live within against sickness, financial misfortune, and sterility. Women are more believing in these charms than men, and are more likely to wear a Hamsa Hand necklace themselves, or give their kids a Hamsa bracelet to wear with the belief that it will protect them against evil. And while all languages and religions have special terms attributed to the powers of the evil eye, Jews and Moslems appear to harbor many beliefs against it; even more than those living in more enlightened countries.

The 'Hamsa' charm, or Hand of Fatima, along a blue glass eye charm found often in Arab souvenir shops are even found on boats and even aircraft in Arab and Muslim countries -so powerful are the beliefs in the power of these amulets and symbols to protect against evil. Protection can also refer to bringing good luck as well and conveying protective energy to people who believe in their powers. While not everyone has such beliefs, certain societies consider protection against the evil eye as one of the most fundamental that one can desire.

In some religions, including Judaism, the symbol of a fish and fish head is considered as good protection against the Evil Eye. For this reason, many charms against the Evil Eye also contain the likeness of a fish.

Hamsa and other Evil Eye protection amulets can be found in many shops dealing with jewelry and charms, as well as the occult. They are also available on many websites on the internet.

Please visit our Hamsa Bracelets & Jewelry section for some great gift ideas; Some of more popular Hamsa gift ideas include Hamsa Keyrings, Child Hamsa Amulets, Hamsa Gold Bracelet, Hanging Hamsa Amulets, Hamsa Mobile, Hamsa Earrings, Hamsa Anklets and more.

Evil Eye Jewelry & Evil Eye Bracelets

The Evil Eye is a belief that some people, often women seen as witches, can bestow a curse on victims by the gaze of their magical eye, the effects on victims vary, some are afflicted with bad luck of some sort, others believe the Evil Eye has even more powers, that it can cause disease and even death.

The Evil Eye belief is that a person otherwise not malicious in any way- can harm you, your children, friends, your livestock, or any other possessions, simply by looking at them with envy. That is, as a fatalistic consequence caused (usually without intention ) by someone who is envious, jealous, or covetous. A better understanding of the term "Evil Eye" can be gained from the old English and Scottish words for it as "overlooking", implying that the gaze has remained focused on the object, person, or animal for too long.

Some cultures hold that the Evil Eye is an involuntary Jinx that is cast unintentionally by unlucky people, others hold that the power is Called by the sin of envy, it may be that the term covet (to eye enviously) in the Tenth Commandment refers to casting the Evil Eye, in Hebrew it is called "ayin-Ha'ra",(the Evil Eye), in Italian it is called "mal occhio", (the bad eye), while in Spanish: "mal ojo" (the bad eye), and in Farsi it is "bla band" (the eye of evil).

The belief in the Evil Eye is strongest in the Middle east, Asia and Europe, especially the Mediterranean region, it also spread to the Americas, in some areas where light colored eyes are rare, people with blue eyes are feared to posses the power to bestow the curse, the belief in the Evil Eye is common in Islamic Mythology, but it is not a part of Islamic teaching, the Evil Eye is significant in Jewish folklore, and traditionally exclaim: "kein-aynhoreh" meaning "no Evil Eye".

To ward off a jinx, if something or someone has been praised or good news spoken aloud. The Evil Eye was "fascinum", the origin of the English word "to fascinate", in Greek its called "baskania" or "matiasma", in Brazilian Portuguese it is :"Olho Gordo", which means :"fat eye".

Attempts to ward off the curse of the Evil Eye, resulted in a number of talismans and Jewish jewelry items inscribed with blessings for protection. The common talisman in the Middle east: a Blue Eye found on some form of the "hand of Fatima", or Hamsa, an amulet against the Evil Eye, large eyes often seen painted on boats in the Mediterranean, to ward off Evil Eye are just a few. Talismans of different kinds are used in many cultures those include charms, statues and magical symbols to ward off the Evil Eye.

A selection of Evil Eye Kabbalah Jewelry and Evil Eye Hamsa Jewelry is available that includes:

Kabbalah Evil Eye Protection Bracelet

Leather Evil Eye Bracelet

Red Evil Eye Bracelet

Red Evil Eye Protection Bracelet

Hamsa Amulet

Hamsa Charm Earrings

Light Blue Hamsa Keyring