Protection & Envy: The Old Beliefs of the Evil Eye

Table of Contents

👁️ The Shadow’s Gaze: Rays of Envy & The Calling

I often write about the Evil Eye in my articles. Therefore, I would like to delve deeper into this matter with this article, because it is truly fascinating and everyone has felt the “Evil Eye” at some point in their lives. The Evil Eye and calling (Berufen) or crying out (Beschreien) belong closely together.

The Sudden Turn: You certainly know the feeling: when you perhaps praise yourself because you rarely get sick or because things are going really well at work, and suddenly everything turns for the worse. You get sick, or perhaps you even lose your job. That is when the powers of the Evil Eye were at work.
Knocking on Wood: At the moment of saying this, you should have knocked on wood three times so that the energies of the Evil Eye would not notice your words and turn them into something negative.
The Hidden Envy: If you praised yourself in a circle of your friends, someone was there who begrudged you, and you immediately become sick or lose your job or whatever it was you spoke about. Some people know that they possess the Evil Eye, and some people are entirely ignorant of it. Those who consciously know it will also consciously use their power surrounding the Evil Eye. The ignorant ones cause harm merely through their presence.

🪞 Mirror of the Soul: Where the Envy Gaze Comes From

How does the Evil Eye come about in people? When a person’s soul is literally eaten away by envy, jealousy, and anger, it automatically sends out the Evil Eye.

Rays of Envy: These bad traits gnaw at the soul and intensely influence the rays of the eyes. That is why it is also called the envy gaze (Neid-Blick) or rays of envy (Neidstrahlen).
The Act of Calling: If the envious soul now also utters a word of praise, for example, that they find an object beautiful, then they cry out (beschreit) or call upon (beruft) the object. The general old belief perceives every kind of admiration as an expression of deep envy.
The Danger of Praise: And as written above: the Evil Eye and calling definitely belong together. In some countries, they even go so far that if someone says: “Oh, what a beautiful child,” or “What a beautiful horse,” that person is immediately accused of possessing and using the Evil Eye. Therefore, one should never praise exuberantly or find something overly beautiful.

The kidney vetch (Wundklee) was also known as the envy clover (Neidklee). In the old days, children were gently smoke-cleansed with it to protect them from the Evil Eye.

🪵 Knocking on Wood: Protection Mechanisms & The Third Eye

How does one ward off the Evil Eye? Here in Germany, we ward it off by knocking on wood three times. I think everyone is familiar with this old custom. There are also certain rituals, amulets, and plants that strip the Evil Eye of its power or protect you from it.

Psychic Energies: To be protected from the Evil Eye, many objects are used. Scientists (psychologists and anthropologists) agree that the human mind is capable of transferring psychic energies to its counterpart. These energies can be negative, but also positive. In any case, they deeply influence the one whom the Evil Eye is meant to strike.
The Third Eye: The Third Eye, which is located in the middle of the forehead between our eyes, is said to play a major role in this. It is considered the counterpart to our pineal gland in the brain. It sits on a direct line with our pineal gland, which releases the serotonin that is supposed to guide the psychic energies of our mind.

Devil’s bit (Teufelsabbiss). A venerable old magic plant against the Evil Eye

🌿 Green Guardians: Amulets & Plants Against the Evil Eye

What helps against the Evil Eye? Originally, it was the eye symbol itself that helped people as a protective amulet against the Evil Eye, but countless plants and charms also offered defense against it.

The Shielding Hand: Our common gesture of holding a hand over our mouth when yawning is also said to stem from the ancient lore of the Evil Eye. It was believed that doing this prevented the Evil Eye from entering a person’s inner being.
The Herbal Amulet: I am providing you here with a list of some plants that are said to help against the Evil Eye. These sacred herbs, woods, or roots are dried and tucked away into a small cotton pouch. This little pouch must always be worn in direct physical contact with the body of the amulet bearer.
Sacred Smoke: Various incense blends are also very effective in evading this dark gaze. The old belief of the Nine Woods belonged to this powerful magic as well: (Internal Link: The Nine Woods: Ancient Warding Magic & Customs).

The Protective Plants: