The Evil Eye

[KenazFilan]

[from http://kenazfilan.blogspot.com]



I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.

And I watered it in fears,
Night and morning with my tears;
And I sunnèd it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.

And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright;
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine,

And into my garden stole
When the night had veiled the pole:
In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.

- William Blake, "A Poison Tree," 1794 (http://www.online-literature.com/poe/622/)My friend and co-author Sophie Reicher (http://www.amazon.com/Basic-Psychic-Hygiene-Sophie-Reicher/dp/0615224253?ie=UTF8&tag=kenfil-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969)http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=kenfil-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0615224253 has just posted an excellent piece on a topic which has not received much coverage of late - the Malocchio, or "evil eye." (http://sreicher.weebly.com/1/post/2010/05/dealing-with-the-evil-eye.html) The Evil Eye is one of the more unsettling concepts of traditional witchcraft. The idea that someone can cause you psychic and physical harm with a dirty look is bad enough. Someone who has this gift doesn't have to burn a candle, sprinkle powder on your doorstep or sacrifice the neighbor's cat to the Prince of Darkness: a good (or bad) gaze is all they need. But to make matters worse, they don't even have to hex you deliberately. They might see you as a dear friend and be outraged at the idea they would wish you harm. Like most magic, the Evil eye is fueled by the subconscious: it operates not on the lies we tell ourselves but on the truths we wish to keep hidden.

Many Chaos Magic workings attempt to tap into the subconscious. Anyone who has ever worked with sigils knows they are to be charged with intense emotional and/or sexual energy, then left to ferment in the deepest parts of the magician's mind. In time the forgotten sigil will blossom forth to work changes in the magician's consciousness and in the surrounding world. It is a way to tap into the immense power of the hidden mind and to reorder Chaos in a shape more suitable to our needs.

Austin Osman Spare (http://www.amazon.com/Writings-Austin-Osman-Spare-Automatic/dp/1595477683?ie=UTF8&tag=kenfil-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969)http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=kenfil-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1595477683 and disciples like Kenneth Grant (http://www.amazon.com/Images-Oracles-Austin-Osmond-Spare/dp/0877283001?ie=UTF8&tag=kenfil-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969)http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=kenfil-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0877283001 and Peter Carroll (http://www.amazon.com/Apophenion-chaos-magick-paradigm/dp/1869928652?ie=UTF8&tag=kenfil-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969)http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=kenfil-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1869928652 have explored techniques by which we may introduce specific symbols into our subconscious. Another great scholar of the psychosphere, Sigmund Freud (http://www.amazon.com/Psychopathology-Everyday-Life-Penguin-Classics/dp/0142437433?ie=UTF8&tag=kenfil-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969)http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=kenfil-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0142437433, explored the non-consensual ways in which our subconscious can be reprogrammed. His name for one major impetus for this involuntary sigilization - repression - bears careful consideration. The process of adjusting ourselves to our culture and becoming a functioning member of society involves repressing many of our natural drives and instincts. Freud concentrated most of his efforts on exploring the suppression of lust and the sexual drive. He might have done well to explore the ways we try to distance ourselves from anger, avarice, envy or other states which were once classed as "deadly sins" and are today scorned as "unevolved emotions."

I've run into many New Agers and spiritually-inclined folks who work desperately to avoid any kind of "negativity." They rule over their psyches like a Victorian schoolmaster trying to save his charges from the evils of masturbation. Any hint of anger is greeted with a cold shower of mantras and a bland diet of affirmations and channeled transmissions. Expressing honest objections and setting boundaries is replaced by passive-aggression and the condescending smug superiority that masks itself as "tolerance and acceptance." After reading Sophie's report, I'm not surprised to see that some of these people are also manifesting the ability to cast malocchio. If you don't own your shit, it gets backed up and sooner or later it explodes in a fecal volcano. And those who are trying to tamp down anger and jealousy with sparkly crystals and soothing music are most certainly not owning it.

Many cultures have come up with traditional amulets, incantations and spells designed to ward off the Evil Eye. If you are spending a lot of time dealing with Highly Evolved Passive-Aggressive types, you may want to invest in some of these. At the very least you may want to pick up a holy symbol or other means of protection and wear it as a shield. If you have been zapped by someone who has been letting their jealousy and rage cook in a cauldron of benevolence, some of the remedies Sophie mentioned in her post may prove efficacious. Do not underestimate the power of the Evil Eye. If you can empower a sigil with a couple minutes of autoerotic asphyxia, imagine what kind of a charge you can get out of locking your shadow away for a decade or a lifetime.

[electricpeppers]

The evil eye is an interesting thing. When my dad came back from Iran years ago he'd bought me and my siblings each a pendant to ward off the evil eye -- it is still very much a deep rooted belief in a lot of cultures. It's interesting since he's very much atheist and rational/cynical otherwise, yet he never questions this idea. He also told me a little Persian folk remedy as to how my nan removes the evil eye.

There's a whole book on the evil eye, that has completely escaped me. I'll have to look it up again... Great post!

[David19]

Really interesting post, Kenaz, and electricpeppers, I'd be interested in knowing what book that is, if you remember at all? :).

[Cielamara]

Really good post. I like your principle of owning your shit. I used to be a very angry and tumultuous person, but when I found that when I OWNED my darker moods, they became much easier to deal with.

[rawrTigress]

Well said. I have not given much thought to the evil eye. I do not know the specifics and this post helped me. I've thought of negative energy that people send each other, so I suppose I've thought of it just under a different name. I agree, the power of it can be quite shocking if someone doesn't know how to deal with it. I find the best way to deal with negative energy sent my way is simply return to sender and move on.

I would love to learn different ways to ward of the evil eye... I read the article. Referring to the article... taking a bath with a can of dark beer? Has anyone here tried this before? How did it work for you? I'll also do more research or if someone has some links/books for me to start with that would be great.

And that is soo funny about the Highly Evolved Passive-Aggressive types... I was a part of this occult group for a while in LA ....so many of them where just that. There was all this tension about progression in their occult path and so much bitterness going around. Good people, good intent but like you said not owning their emotional stuff. There was also a lot of talk about getting rid of "resistance" and they charged a ridiculous amount for classes. I left pretty quick after I saw what was really going on.

[odubhain]

The evil eye is an interesting thing. When my dad came back from Iran years ago he'd bought me and my siblings each a pendant to ward off the evil eye -- it is still very much a deep rooted belief in a lot of cultures. It's interesting since he's very much atheist and rational/cynical otherwise, yet he never questions this idea. He also told me a little Persian folk remedy as to how my nan removes the evil eye.

There's a whole book on the evil eye, that has completely escaped me. I'll have to look it up again... Great post!

I've recently purchased and have begun to read:

The Evil Eye: The Classic Account of an Ancient Superstition (Dover Books on Anthropology and Folklore) (Vol i)
Frederick Thomas Elworthy

Evil Eye: A Casebook
Alan Dundes

The first is an older study while the second was done much more recently.

Each shows how a lot of customs in a wide number of cultures are based on showing that one is not using the Evil Eye when meeting or socializing with people.

Drinking to another's health is just one such practice.

Searles O'Dubhain

[SummersRain]

I know in the Italian tradition I believe the upside down hand giving the horns is supposed to ward off the evil eye, I THINK, but what I do know from my grandmother is a story handed down that her grandmother showed her during christmas time. You say certain prayers, she couldn't remember what prayers but you say it over a bowl of water and then you pour a little bit of oil into the water. Then something to do with the oil if it separates or not someone has given you the evil eye. It's a detection method not a prevention method. I think there might have even been something to do with a pin. I'd have to ask her again. She only just told me about it last christmas so excuse the slightly hazy details. And I do have an Italian magic book that has that exact or similiar spell in it but I'd rather get it from a real Italian than a book.

[omar]

What about giving the evil eye? Psychic darts from the eyes to harm another?

[Satori43]

I am newer to the magical world but lots of martial arts training. A book about unarmed combat written by a Special Forces soldier named Mike Echanis spoke about this. Back in the 1970's, a friend was taking martial arts and was really talented was telling me about this book and about Mike Echanis. He was a fan of him because he mentioned a technique he used which involved a look of intention from the "sender right eye to receiver's right eye", whether the receiver was looking at the sender or not. Psychic energy, intention (something negative, I'm sure) was then passed to the recipient- Echanis said that literally any intention could be psychically imposed upon the sender, if the skill was developed enough.
Has anyone heard of this?

[SarahFair]

Ive given a few people to a couple people not really meaning to. :hairred:
The most recent one was my own aunt. We were on vaca she got drunk nasty and talked smack about my SOs family and it upset me so bad I left the resturaunt and walked a mile back to the hotel crying. I thought to myself looking upon her, you will be taken care of, I dont have to use words, karma will take care of you.
Sure enough the next morning she broke her foot and got a speeding ticket on the way home. I never said a word, just sat back. While I did feel bad it happend I also hopped she learned from it.

[IndigoRising]

I ave encountered this before as well.. I routine go about shielded via personal shields and amulets/holy symbol but my daughters were gifted with amulets from their
West Indian Grandfather at their birth for just this purpose.. they wear them to this day

[EMP]

I am newer to the magical world but lots of martial arts training. A book about unarmed combat written by a Special Forces soldier named Mike Echanis spoke about this. Back in the 1970's, a friend was taking martial arts and was really talented was telling me about this book and about Mike Echanis. He was a fan of him because he mentioned a technique he used which involved a look of intention from the "sender right eye to receiver's right eye", whether the receiver was looking at the sender or not. Psychic energy, intention (something negative, I'm sure) was then passed to the recipient- Echanis said that literally any intention could be psychically imposed upon the sender, if the skill was developed enough.
Has anyone heard of this?

eye contact is one of the main avenues for spiritual energy, the other two being an open 3rd chakra and physical contact. people can literally "infect" you with their energy this way much more easily than by simply being in close proximity to you or concentrating on you for a long period of time.

http://www.algonet.se/~anki-p/solar%20plexus.html

http://www.surrenderworks.com/library/imports/alchemy.html

http://www.bemindful.org/emotalchem.htm

http://www.mit.edu/~rei/spir-aikido.html

http://www.aikido-health.com/aikido-strategy.html

[hypno_cossak]

I think, it has to do with the simple fact.

If you really wish someone harm so strongly, I think you can affect the energy around that person, and pretty much kill with thought. While I haven't seen any reported cases, but I have healed, with intense though... while watching. I set a bone with "Quantum Healing" So I think its logical to assume the other is possible. Really, just for kicks, I think thinking someones hair off, would be funny to watch. Talk about mind-games! :hyper:

[Lena C.]

I know in the Italian tradition I believe the upside down hand giving the horns is supposed to ward off the evil eye, I THINK, but what I do know from my grandmother is a story handed down that her grandmother showed her during christmas time. You say certain prayers, she couldn't remember what prayers but you say it over a bowl of water and then you pour a little bit of oil into the water. Then something to do with the oil if it separates or not someone has given you the evil eye. It's a detection method not a prevention method. I think there might have even been something to do with a pin. I'd have to ask her again. She only just told me about it last christmas so excuse the slightly hazy details. And I do have an Italian magic book that has that exact or similiar spell in it but I'd rather get it from a real Italian than a book.

I know this one. You thread 1 pin through the eye of another pin, drop them into the water, and cut through the oil with scissors or a knife while saying an incantation or prayer. I've done it both for me and for other people. I have a feeling I should check again since my life has recently took a downward spiral for absolutely no reason.

[EavanStar]

It was always my understanding and upbringing that the Evil Eye was given as a underhanded compliment. Something like a person saying "Oh, you have such beautiful hair" at the same time theyre thinking about how they "wished they had hair like that and how is it fair that you have it and they dont" and things like that. Its normal for new babies in my family to receive a small black fist on a red string bracelet thats bears the childs name.

Makes me laugh though. At family gatherings, its inevitable..someone will be eating a plate of food and someone else will come up and say "wow, that looks good!"...and the plate of food immediately after falls to the floor... :p We call the the evil eye as well. That person complimented the food, but in reality wanted if for themselves. Now, no one can have it.