The Evil Eye, or “Mal de Ojo” in Spanish, is a curse with a history of thousands of years found in cultures worldwide. It speaks of a person’s ability to cast an energy of death and destruction onto another with a single look or gaze. This dark power can cause physical suffering or injury, misfortune and bad luck, or financial hardship to its victim.
Often, it is said that those with envy or hatred can cast their evil eye on another, while others may accidentally do so by speaking too highly of someone. Still, whatever the cause may be, its effects can be devastating and only be stopped by those with the knowledge and tools to protect against it.
Fear of the malevolent power of the evil eye has been ingrained into many cultures through generations. Warding off negative energy is taken seriously, and methods vary from powerful symbols like the Hamsa hand, a hand-shaped amulet with an eye in the centre, and the Nazar bead, a blue bead in the shape of an eye often seen in jewellery, to making the sign of the cross and using defensive phrases or incantations.
However, it is essential to note that for some people, the evil eye is believed to be a supernatural power that can be used for good. They believe positive energy can be sent with their gaze, bestowing recipients luck and good outcomes.
Though some may treat the evil eye as mere superstition, it’s undeniable that our thoughts and intentions can shape our experiences and those of those around us. Thus, focusing on positive thoughts and good intentions is essential to guard against negative energy and create a more harmonious world. But, as Hemingway said, intelligent people can’t be happy because they understand what is happening around them. In the same way, intelligent people know you can have all the positive thoughts you want; ultimately, your actions make the difference.
H. S. Campoy 