The Evil Eye

Have you ever had one of those days or weeks that everything just seems to go wrong? Did you ever feel as if someone cursed you? Sometimes it is easier to believe you are under a curse. A curse can be broken and it gives you an explanation for the crazy downward events that maybe occurring in your life. The ‘malocchio’ or the evil eye originated in Italy. This is a curse placed upon someone from a long gaze and words of praise. Often times the gazer is envious or jealous and may not intentional wish evil doing.

This tradition may seem a bit out there, but the evil eye is mentioned in the bible; therefore there must be some truth to it. In Proverbs 23:6, “Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meat.” Also in Proverbs 28:22, “He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.” The origins of the Evil Eye are Middle-Eastern and Mediterranean; although the concept was spread into the Americas, South Pacific Islands, Asia, Africa and Australia by European explorers.

In Italy, if you are down on your luck and have had many misfortunes, there are women who specialize in diagnosing you to see if the evil eye has been placed upon you. By dripping olive oil into a basin of water, one drop at a time, while reciting prayers that have only been passed on through other female family members the diagnosis can begin. If the drop runs together in the form of an eye, the evil eye is the cause of the issues.

Children and adult men are often the victims of the evil eye. In order to prevent the evil from occurring you can spit on the person being gazed upon or repeat, after hearing the praise, a negative comment.

Maybe the evil eye is just a belief, but it brings to light the importance of your thoughts and attitude. If you believe you are cursed, many evil things may occur. So, is the curse our own doing or someone else?