You have probably already heard of the evil eye? This belief according to which a look, a piece of praise or even a compliment from one person to another has the power to impose a curse or bad luck on the latter. And if you're a bit superstitious, you'll probably want to protect yourself...

Origins of evil

But where does the evil eye come from? Does it really exist? Or is it just the product of a legend? In fact, our beliefs and our faith are preponderant, but it is interesting to note that each culture and each era has its own legends, which generates a rich diversity of symbolic representations.

The evil eye is a belief that dates back to Greco-Roman Antiquity. In mythology, it would be considered a manifestation of jealousy. In the Middle Ages, this belief was associated with witches, and it was fashionable to avoid crossing their path because beware of the curse! Meetings with them were seen as inevitable. Witches were often described as women of a certain age, probably post-menopausal, who were said to no longer purify their bodies through menstruation but now expelled their impurities through their eyes.

In her book entitled Encyclopedia of popular fears and wisdom (editions de l'Opportun, 2020) author Évelyne Keller explores more than 301 superstitions. We learn in particular that in Greece, it is Tuesday the 13th that is scary and not Friday the 13th. In Scotland, swans are birds of good fortune and purple is the color of mourning in Brazil and therefore wear purple, apart from the death of a loved one, would bring bad luck... In Morocco, you must avoid whistling inside a house, at the risk of seeing its occupants disappear.

“These irrational fears take on a supernatural and even sacred character”

So we all have superstitions. They are omnipresent in our societies and in our cultures. And even if these fears turn out to be irrational, they take on a supernatural or even sacred character, which is why we have learned to live with them. Yes, we have all had at least once in our lives, the fear of the black cat, of Friday the 13th, fear of going under a ladder, fear of the seven years of misfortune of the broken mirror... Just as we have also hoped to feel loved of the gods by coming across a four-leaf clover during a walk in the forest or by carrying a hand of Fatma . A way without doubt to rebalance things and our lives, like Yin and Yang .

Desperately seeking protection…

Yes, since childhood, we have crossed our fingers to thwart bad luck, not to have bad luck and to protect ourselves against the evil eye . Already in ancient Egypt, amulets or talismans were used to ward off any bad incident. These amulets could have the shape of an eye, identical to that of the eye of Horus . These amulets were judiciously placed at the entrance to houses, on the hull of boats.

The author Évelyne Keller, cited above, explains in her work that a ritual for protection against the evil eye was discovered on a Babylonian papyrus dating from the 7th century BCE…

Protection against the evil eye is not just an old-fashioned concern. All over the world, people use tricks, imagination and stratagem to protect themselves against him. For example, in Portugal, children are protected from the evil eye by making them wear necklaces adorned with small talismans - a complex association of a crescent moon (against spells), a horn (to attract luck), a pentacle and a hand making the fig gesture (to repel the evil eye).

“Called “ayn”, it is recognized as a reality by the Prophet Muhammad himself”

In Jewish tradition, it is the red thread that is used to ward off bad energies. In Ireland, the superstitious use clover, in Greece garlic is the protector and in Turkey, we wear the nazar boncuk : nazar for “ evil eye ” and boncuğu for “ amulet ”. An amulet originally made of glass.

In the Muslim religion, the evil eye - called " ayn » - is recognized as a reality by the Prophet Muhammad himself, meaning that it truly exists and has tangible consequences on our world. In order to protect themselves from its harmful effects, Muslims recite the last two surahs of the Quran, which are known as protective surahs. Their position as the last surahs of the Quran is intentional, in order to make them among the most recited by the Muslim faithful.

Thus, the evil eye is an integral part of many cultures such as in Turkey, Iran, Armenia, Greece and the Maghreb countries. The blue eye is displayed as a talisman with the hope of protecting oneself from the evil eye . If it breaks, it is a good omen because it means that it has fulfilled its protective function. However, it is advisable to replace it quickly because no one is safe from a curse.

The evil eye: mirror of our human vulnerability 

The omnipresence of this belief, of the evil eye in our societies, highlights the fragility of human beings. In a context of intense competition where each success can generate the envy of others, this belief reminds us of the importance of remaining vigilant in the face of the jealous looks of others. By wearing jewelry or integrating the eye motif into our decoration, we seek to ward off bad luck and chase away these negative energies. It is no longer just a matter of finding happiness but of protecting it from ill-intentioned minds.

“Warp off bad luck and chase away these negative energies”

But maybe it's all a question of mindset? Being able to thwart bad luck by believing in your lucky star is undoubtedly the best attitude to adopt. Life is made up of disappointments, misadventures, unfortunate coincidences... Continuing to wear a piece of jewelry, an amulet cannot do us any harm. And if it also helps chase away dark forces, why not. Whether we adhere to this belief or not, the evil eye remains a captivating enigma, inviting us to remain aware of the energies around us - negative or not.…