Hamsa

The Hamsa is one of the oldest symbols with a history that dates back at least 1800 years, pre-dating all the major religions. The symbol first originated in ancient Mesopotamia (present day Iraq) and Carthage (present day Tunisia). It has great significance to Middle Eastern and North African people. Over time, it continued to be seen as a symbol of protection from evil, especially from the ‘evil eye’, that primal fear that has existed in almost all cultures.

The Hamsa has different meanings to different groups of people. However, the common thread is that it is a protective symbol that brings in luck, health, happiness and good fortune, warding off evil and negative feelings.
In many cultures, even today, there is a prevailing superstition that if a person with evil thoughts in their hearts gazes at you, their ‘evil eye’ can cause bad things to happen. So, by wearing a Hamsa, you intercept that negativity and it does not cause you harm.

The two main styles that the Hamsa comes in are with the hand either up or down:

If the hand faces upwards, it is a sign against evil. It is representative of protection and repels the negativity of others and protects you from your own negative thoughts, such as envy, hatred and greed. The fingers may be spread apart to repel evil.

If the hand faces downwards, the Hamsa represents abundance and goodness. It becomes a welcoming sign that invites good things into your life. In this position, the fingers are generally close together, as a sign of invitation for good luck.

🙏🏼 Namaste, K.