I saw a report which said that 40% of the world’s cultures believe in some form of the evil eye. Does that mean the belief in the evil eye is amongst the most popular single beliefs in the world today?

So, what is the evil eye?

Evil Eye, also known as a ‘Nazar’, is a ‘look’, ‘stare’ or ‘jealous glare’ that is believed to bring bad luck for the person whom it is directed towards.

Many cultures believe that receiving the evil eye will cause misfortune, suffering, bad luck, or injury. Evil eye talismans and amulets with the symbol of the eye were created to give the wearer protection against the evil eye of bad luck and misfortune.

An ancient mystical symbol of protection that is meant to protect the wearer from the ‘evil eye’. In Ancient Greece, it was believed that the ‘human eyes have the power to release invisible rays of energy that can be potent enough to harm humans or animals.’ Evil eye amulets help us deflect this negative energy from affecting us.

Amulets and talismans of the evil eye are also popularly known as "evil eyes" themselves, even though they are created to protect against the evil eye.

It seems that since time immemorial, people who do well and achieve great success in some way attract envy from other people around them who are jealous. The glare given by the envious people can bring misfortune to the receiver, who is usually unaware of the malicious gaze upon them.

Even if it's just for superstitious reasons, the power of the evil eye is still widely believed in. There are numerous myths about its origin and various methods of evil eye protection against it found in different cultures, the general idea of the curse is the same. 

The Evil Eye has more than 25 different names in different countries and cultures around the world today! 

For example, the Greek evil eye is known as ‘mati’, the Turkish evil eye is known as ‘nazar’, in Spanish it is known as ‘mal de ojo’, the Italian evil eye is called ‘malocchio’ and many other different names in different countries.

Protection from the evil eye is something that many people desperately want. People wear evil eye and hamsa hand jewelry as a symbol of protection against bad luck. The evil eye symbol is one of the oldest symbols in the world, and you’ll likely see the evil eye symbol staring at you wherever you go these days.

There are many unique charms and gestures people use to defend against the evil eye. They come in different shapes and sizes including pendants, charms, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, key chains, and car tags.

It is believed that the evil eye brings the wearer prosperity, protection, and good health. Different cultures have many different ways of protecting against the evil eye, but wearing eye jewelry and evil eye amulets are amongst the most common practices.

I started wearing evil eye jewelry when I was 19. My friend gifted me my first small silver evil eye bracelet, with a mini evil eye charm hanging from it. She wanted to make sure that any negative energy directed at me would be turned back and I would be protected and safe. 

Since then I’ve also purchased an evil eye ring, evil eye earrings, evil eye pendants, and an evil eye anklet too. I wear them regularly and have also gifted evil eye keychains and nazar amulets to my family and friends for protection.

The Evil Eye can also often be seen with other symbols. The most popular of these is the Hamsa Hand, also known as the ‘hand with eye’ or ‘evil eye hand’.

The Hamsa Hand is a symbol of protection and blessings, and like the evil eye, this hand symbol also transcends modern-day countries, cultures, and religions. It is also known as the Hand of Fatima, the Hand of Miriam, the Hand of Mary, and the Hand of the Goddess.

If that isn’t the sign of a divine symbol - I don’t know what is!

In fact, many celebrities have also been spotted wearing hamsa jewelry, including Rihanna and Jennifer Aniston. Hamsa hand jewelry includes hamsa necklaces, hamsa bracelets, hamsa pendants, hamsa rings, hamsa charm beads, hamsa earrings, and hamsa keychains.

To sum it up, before the alphabet, words, and languages there were symbols. And the Evil Eye and Hamsa hand are both symbols that have been with humanity since inception, and will probably come with us to the moon, mars, and beyond!