Evil Eye in Italy

Europeans have a traditional; test for the ‘evil eye.’ In Italy, the evil eye is confirmed by dripping olive oil into a vessel filled with water; if the drops of oil join into the shape of an eye, then the person has the evil eye. They then recite prayers until the droplets of oil no longer create an eye shape.

Often the release can be physically felt with yawning and eyes tearing up. Another test that eastern Europeans perform is with charcoal, coal or burnt match heads dropped into a pan of water. If the items float then the person is considered to be the victim of a curse.

Evil Eye in Greece and Turkey

Due to the powers of the ‘evil eye;’ many cultures seek out protective measures. In Greece and Turkey, glass blue eye charms are used to ward against the evil eye. They can be seen attached on a baby’s clothing, placed in doorways or worn as necklaces.

The Greeks wear a protective charm, or mataki, as well as the cross, around the neck. The Greek Orthodox Church has recognised the kako mati (evil eye) since religion began. The church calls it Vaskania and has a special prayer to recite that helps remove the curse from those fallen prey to it.

Evil Eye in Ukraine

In Ukraine, a form of candle reading is used to diagnose the evil eye. Melted wax drips from a candle into a pan of water. If the wax spits, splatters, or sticks to the side of the bowl then the person has the malefic eye. The person is cleansed with Holy Water and pronounced cured when the dripped wax falls to the bottom of the bowl in a round ball.

The original belief is that any person can harm your children, livestock, fruit trees or any other evidence of prosperity just by looking at the fruits of all your good will and hard work with envy. Ironically, the curse of the evil eye is thought to be provoked by displays of spiritual pride or extreme beauty. The evil eye is also said to be caused by jealousy or praise. The old saying goes ‘Pride Goeth Before a Fall’ and “Jealousy is a curse”.

Evil Eye for Those in Public

There is a theory that very famous people and celebrities suffer more personal misfortune than others because they are subjected to more public ‘viewing’ and envy through the media.

Evil Eye Symptoms

There is some interesting common folklore that the evil eye has a dehydrating effect on its prey. It is thought to cause vomiting, diarrhea, the drying up of the milk of nursing mothers and livestock, problems with the blood, dry eyes,lack of rain, the drying up of wells, clumsiness, stomach-aches, dry coughs, diarrhoea, itching, hair loss, dry skin, the withering of fruit and impotence in men, etc.. They are all thought to be physical symptoms of an evil eye assault. On an energy level, it is believed to cause the drying up of prana, chi, life force and limiting the flow of prosperity in a person’s life.

Evil Eye in Central America

In Mexico, rolling a raw egg over the body of the victim is the antidote. Afterward, it is cracked open, and if the metaphysician or healer finds that the yoke is in the shape of an eye then the person is considered to be cursed.

Several eggs may be repeatedly rolled over the person’s body until an egg without an eye appears. Sometimes the egg is placed underneath the person’s bed overnight and cracked open in the morning.

Evil Eye in China

In China, the remedy for the evil eye is the Pa Kua mirror, a six-sided mirror that is hung on the front door or placed in the front window to reverse bad energy back to the sender. Some of these mirrors are convex to reflect the bad energy of “poison darts” or “arrows” of multiple ill-wishers.

Some mirrors are concave to reflect energy in a definite direction toward anything that might be considered to be a conductor of Har Shui (negative vibrations).

Evil Eye in India

In India, the mirroring back of the evil eye takes the form of small mirrors that are sewn, braided or crocheted into clothing. This mirroring back of bad energy is also familiar to practitioners of Wicca and Lukumi or Santeria. In India, the human eye is also considered to be a mirror of the soul.

Evil Eye in Arab Cultures

In Arab cultures, superstitious types wear an eye in the form of a stone, cast in the centre of a hand-shaped bone or metal charm. A traditional Egyptian charm is the Buckle of Isis which represents the menstrual pad of the Goddess Isis who was the Mother of all living things. Placing a little prayer or spell inside a locket that hung around the neck, is the typical European custom for protection against deadly gazes.