Pairing Down + Pouring In: Getting to Know the Evil Eye
Thanks to the energy of Cancer in both the moon and the sun, our emotions can run high and are amplified by the dark mirror of the new moon. This can be a tender time, y’all. And that’s okay. It’s complex to feel our feelings, but there is no healing without feeling. Often when we allow this natural trust fall of the soul to take place, we find many, many layers of self - until arriving at our inner child. There is some very opportune space for a fresh beginning with ourselves here. Just remember that you don't have to do everything at once, or with haste. In fact, it’s a good time to insert a little conscious slowness into your movements, thoughts and words. As the moon rebirths itself, nestled in the darkness of a twinkling sky, so does this current chapter of life. The choices you make now will affect the following phases in a big way as the moon continues to fill its own watery cup again - just as we fill ours. Pour slowly and intentionally.
This is not meant to be a magical torture chamber (though it can feel like one if we are resisting our own growth), but a bountiful opportunity to respectfully identify our feelings, witness them for what they are, and sit with them as we would a child - or our own layers of being. Just as the full moon demands to be seen, glowing through the vastness of the world in a given moment, the new moon demands us to see ourselves; to recognize that the same bright lunar glow that is reflected by the moon exists first within us all.
When I was younger, I used to have a reoccurring dream, which became a frequent vision of myself as a mother holding a child. This always confused me because at that age, I had a kind of rebellious aversion to the notion of having children. I didn’t feel like I’d be a good, safe, or, competent parent - so instead of engaging with those thoughts, or see where they led, I simply avoided it by denial. There was never a father in this dream, or any other partner to be seen. Just me and a small being in my arms. We shared the same eyes, dark and burning like hot coals. I always thought it was some kind of vision of the future. Now I know it was, and that the mother and child are one and the same. It was just me, learning to get closer to my inner child and nurture her in a way nobody else had been capable of. I didn’t know just how badly I’d need it later in life.
During June’s full moon in Capricorn, we did the rigorous and radically honest work of organizing our lifeboats. Now we must do the same, but for ourselves. What needs releasing? What is holding us back from blooming into the healthiest versions of ourselves? These sound like cliche questions, but they do nothing if they are only looked at and not truly asked. It’s not really possible to know the answers until we have openly appraised the full array of who and what we are, and why. Put a pen to paper and see what you might have to say. Thoughts have a tendency to hide, and the written word is a beautiful way to fish them out.
This is where the sweet, supportive energy of lemon balm, an herb found in SUNMOON’s Atlas Valley tea blend, comes into play. Known as a strengthener of the heart and lifter of spirits, lemon balm has been used to heal a wide span of ailments, from fevers, to depression, nervous tension, digestion, headaches and menstrual cramps, and even heart spasms. Growing wild in Morocco and taken often as a tea, it acts as a gentle friend, and a kindly protector of the body and spirits. Its bright demeanor enacts a kind of care-bear-share rainbow blast energy, repelling the darkness and creating a whole new light of its own. In some North African lore, it’s thought to have influences in love, success and abundant health. To gather extra support and sweet protection during this new moon, enjoy some lemon balm tea while journaling, or add a few drops of essential oil to a diffuser. The fragrance alone is will provide you with a safe haven while you jot in your journal, safe to explore your thoughts and feelings without the outer worlds chaos getting in the way.
So let’s talk a little about the lore and magic of the Evil Eye, the Nazar (in Arabic). Why bring up the evil eye during this lunation? One word: protection. There’s no doubt that this new moon is here to rattle your world. Having some protective groundedness now and always doesn’t hurt one bit, especially when experiencing a total sea change. And the good news - you can craft your own Nazar right this minute. We’ll talk about that shortly. But first, we need to understand that the Nazar does not do the work for you, but asks that you meet it in the middle. It exists in tangible form to take up its job and purpose, and you must give it one with sincerity and intention. As we do this work, we must reinforce ourselves against the dangers of false internal dialogues, and old decaying narratives that play and replay in our minds, which then create our worlds. It can be very difficult to know what is real and what is fake, what is intuition and what is trigger response. This is where the meeting-in-the-middle work happens. As you dig deep into your core, the Nazar is your lantern, fending away the threatening darkness of mind.
A symbol has meaning, and a talisman such as the Nazar contains baraka - magic, and is seeking a job. It wants to help you. All you have to do is ask it to. One of my old magic teachers would say that the secret to making magic effective was “daring to be dorky.” This essentially means that you have to be okay with vulnerability as you create and accept your new world. We’re told in so many ways to not ask for help, to not go against the grain, to simply accept the way things are, and to continue to repress our intuitive guidance. Magic is…not…that. Sometimes the turbulent seas of the soul move us. Imagine the swells and waves of energy at a concert of your favorite band. Now imagine that band is the most miraculous, mysterious energy of the sacred everything. Magic is that. Quietly and carefully stirring your spoon in your teacup while transforming and upgrading into a new self is a distraction, to say the least. Let yourself feel. Let the feelings lead you. Don’t be afraid of a little spilled tea. Magic lives in the freedom of feeling. Aunt Jet said it best in Practical Magic, as seen in the screengrabs above. You must commit, lean in and trust. Now that we’ve covered that detail, let’s move on to some of the meat and potatoes.
Seen below: Eye of Horus, The Eye of Providence, Eye of God, Hamsa, Hamsa with Nazar, Mesopotamian Evil Eye Family
The purpose of the Nazar is, first and foremost, to protect against the evil eye. It’s named for the very energy it shields against, acting as an absorber and reflector of negativity away from your body and spirit, channeling feelings of others such as jealousy, anger, or concealed intentions into its talismanic embodiment. It’s a kind of original glamour magic. It stares back into those who dare attempt to harm the wearer. Instead of someones negative wishes being placed on you, they would instead be directed to the beautiful, eye-catching item bestowed with the ability to capture and repel, thus protecting you from any energetic harm.
Though there are many visual representations of the Eye such as the popular blue Turkish rendition, the sentiment has been around for countless eras. Found in nearly every corner of the globe, rendered in slightly different ways and with slightly different interpretations, the Eye contains a common theme of watchfulness, all-seeing power, divinity, protection and healing. I’ll be mostly focusing on the lore and magic of the Nazar within Moroccan belief without oversharing since I’d like to avoid verging on Orientalism. This is a tremendously rich subject and worth continuing to delve into and share over time. In Moroccan lore, those who are afflicted with “the eye” are said to fall ill, be suddenly met with some bad luck, or come upon strange and seemingly out of nowhere roadblocks. The best way to heal from the effects of the evil eye is to pray, to sit in stillness, to honor the ancestors, to practice humility, and to not be overly boastful or shamelessly braggy. Admittedly, many of the old beliefs about who can cause the various damages of the evil eye are riddled with racist and sexist sentiments. And though these antiquated beliefs have naturally begun to wane, it’s healthy to continue to let these go, and to simply understand that the effects of ill will are felt — and possible to inflict — by all. As are the protective measures against negative energies.
HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN
EVIL EYE TALISMAN
This involves a little adornment magic. Will you dare to be dorky? Adornment is a visual craft and tangible language, and one that is invited to change along with us as its wearers. The benefits of a classic Nazar are mainly the clear expression of purpose, showcasing a design that is widely understood. Most folks are at least somewhat familiar with the design, and in noticing it, the Eye is already doing its job. Some good examples of the classic Evil Eye talisman worn as a charm can be seen on this necklace available here or earrings here. However, if you don’t have or don’t want this style of adornment, you can simply choose an eye-catching piece of jewelry or clothing and imbue it with purpose. I highly recommend cleansing your chosen item, and speaking its purpose aloud before putting it on. Don’t be flimsy - be firm! Ground into your conviction and speak directly from your core. As you do so, remember that adornment is not about being visually or energetically busy. It’s about concentrated intention. This act of assignment and dedication can be quite powerful. The moment someone says “ooo, I love your necklace,” or even thought to themselves that they want what you have, whether it be your chosen talisman, your job or your life, the piece has effectively done its job. It has absorbed the jealous desires or ill intentions, and reflected it away. A wonderful aspect of the Evil Eye as protective magic is that it asks to be seen — coaxing out the hidden, in order to remove that which may harm.
Take time under this new moon to adorn yourself with a new talismanic piece, to sip some lemon balm tea, and to journal a little with yourself about what needs releasing, what is holding you back, and how you’d like to step into your fullness.
Q + A
I recently had some questions asked on the gram about specifics of the Evil Eye. I’m going to do my best to answer some of them below:
Q: Why is the Evil Eye blue?
A: There are a lot of theories about this, from the oxides of available mud appearing to have a blue appearance, to the association with the sky. However, the most prevalent and yet widely undiscussed belief from North Africa that I’ve come across is that blue eyes have been thought to contain evil, and therefor able to repel it. This gets into some of the inherently racist rhetoric I mentioned earlier. Nowadays you can find the Nazar in a whole variety of colors. Take your pick!
Q: How should a white person approach it?
A: What kind of “white” are you? I say this lightheartedly since so many of us come from such a varied background. It’s worth noting that the Evil Eye is not from one place only. It’s been found throughout history in places such as Egypt, Greece, Italy, Turkey and beyond. It’s also a signifier of faith as well, found amongst Jewish, Hindu, Christian and Muslim iconography. I personally feel that the Evil Eye has made some significant rounds, and therefor is less precious as a cultural appendage, though there is still care which must be taken. Approach it with reverence as you would all things, and consider investigating whether your lineage contains its own rendition of a protective Eye. I’ll bet you a dollar it does.
Q: How does the Evil Eye fit into my culture?
A: I had a few folks ask about whether the evil eye had differences or significances specific to their own heritage, and from what I have found, the most apparent way in which it is different is within the name. There are also culture-specific beliefs of how and when it should be used, though it seems that many of these specifics are dying out, and now exchanged for more intuitive approaches. It’s worth noting that many cultures will offer a Nazar as a gift to a baby upon birth, or adorn their homes with one for protection. These are general practices, and flexibility along with personal preference has begun to be more invited when using the Evil Eye. I always advise those who have questions to ask the elders of their community. Even if they aren’t sure of specifics, their intuition is deeply valuable. Remember, these practices and beliefs are not based on stone-written rules of any legal authority. They are based upon the traditions of our being.
Q: How do you dispose a broken Evil Eye? Can I just toss it?
A: What a great question! In my magical practice and from what I have learned from instructors, you are the ultimate authority in this realm specifically. In Morocco there is a known practice of burning corners of an Evil Eye, using the smoke for cleansing. After it’s burned, the Eye is still perfectly useable - because it’s given use. Glass is a little different. The soft corners have now become sharp edges, and the intention could feel a bit more unhinged or dangerous. I also tend to believe that sometimes when things break, they are signaling that their job is done. I’d personally either restore with superglue, or say a sincere thank you, and pop it in the recycling.
Q: How has your relationship with protection developed with time?
A: Such a beautiful and personal question. I’d say that as I’ve become more aware of my lack of healthy boundaries, I’ve also ushered in more protection as part of my necessary work. Magic is life, life is growth. I don’t believe I felt any need for protection for the majority of my life. In the last few years, I’ve discovered that this has not only caused tremendous self-harm, but also a great deal of trauma. I can be somewhat avoidant of my own pain, and to acknowledge the act of boundary work and protection is to break down the barriers between the planes of being. My adult self and my inner child can see each other, communicate through some deep hurts, and heal together. This is done through the practices of joy, celebration, balance - and protection. Clear intuition is protective work, and I’m clarifying my intuitive abilities by taking out the trash, witnessing my pain, and being patient with myself as I do it.