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Posted Thu Jun 21, 2007 6:02 pm...
Horns, Hands, and Eyes: Italian Charms for Protection
by Elizabeth Barrette
~from Llewellyn's Magical Almanac 2004
Mediterranean civilizations have given a great deal of culture to the world at large. This includes a rich heritage of magical concepts and artifacts that increase our ability to manage in the world. Among these are malocchio, or "evil eye," lore and the many protection charms used to ward against the evil eye.
Italy is the heart of evil eye territory, both in terms of the belief and the charms associated with the belief. As a result, Venetian glassmakers create artifacts to protect against the evil eye. You can find Italian protection charms worked into jewelry, or left loose - so you can make your own jewelry.
The Horn
In all its forms, the horn represents abundance, virility, fecundity, and protection. By virtue of the many cow goddesses and bull gods found in Mediterranean cultures, the horn can stand for either masculine or feminine energy. Italians call this cornuto or cornicello - that is, "horn" or "little horn."
The most common representation of the horn in Italian artifacts is a long, gently twisted, tapered object made of gold, horn, or blood coral. Giant crowned horns that are often hung in cars are usually made of red plastic.
In America, the cornicello counts among the most popular components of a charm bracelet or charm necklace. Ironically, in Italy only men wear this symbol, because they consider it primarily masculine. It combats those aspects of the evil eye that manifest as impotence or barrenness.
The Hand
The hand symbolizes humanity, for our dexterous digits symbolically make us human. Magically, the hand can convey invisibility, strength, and protection. In Italy, the hand takes two forms. One is the figa or mano fica, also called the "dfig hand." This is a fist with the thumb tucked between the first and second (or more rarely, between the second and third) fingers. These shape represents female genitalia.
Modern artisans make this charm of gold, but you can also find them in glass or wood. Traditionally, it was made of silver, to honor the goddess Luna, or blood coral, to honor Venus. If you hunt around, you can find these too.
A complementary charm is the corunuta or mano cornu, the "horned hand." In these, the first and last fingers extend, while the middle two fingers and thumb curl against the palm. This masculine symbol shares the same history and materials as the mano fica, but sometimes carvers make the mano cornu from bull horn. Put the two, mano fica and mano cornu, together, and you get a matched set of female-male, goddess-god symbols.
The Eye
The eye appears in many forms in Italian artifact, and it can represent an assortment of deities. Symbolically, the eye conveys thoughtfulness, vigilance, and protection. The preferred material for eyes is blue glass, either cobalt or a lighter turquoise blue. Some of the most gorgeous examples consist of Venetian glass, although Czech glass is also lovely. Eyes are engraves in metal coins and gold or silver jewelry, but the big blue yes hung under car mirrors are usually plastic.
The eye is probably the most popular charm against the evil eye, and it can take many forms. The simplest is a "bull's-eye" pattern with a blue background, white circle, and smaller blue circle inside. Many eyes, however, are designed with exquisite delicacy so that they really resemble eyes with white, then blue, irises, and black pupils.
Eye beads and pendants appear in earrings, necklaces, key-chains, and other adornments. Some jewelers also make eye rings, with the glass eye set in a silver or gold band just like a stone. In addition to wearing eye jewelry, Italians often hang the big pendants on doors, windows, cradles, and other places needing protection.
Protective Jewelry
Of the protective charms, the cornicello is the most discreet. Most people have forgotten its magical origins. Next comes the eye, which looks nifty but not necessarily magical. You can wear these anywhere. The hands are more overtly connected with mystical forces and may draw attention. Also, Italians use the mano fica and mano cornu gestures both to ward off evil and to make obscene insults.
Some jewelry designs appear often because they work well and look great. For earrings, a matched pair of horns or eyes is a favorite design of many people. If you want something definitively magical, consider a mano fica or mano cornu set, wither in the same material or in silver for the feminine and gold for the masculine. Together they create a wonderful balance of polarities.
For necklaces, you can wear any of the charms alone. The large eye pendants are intended for exactly this purpose. But you can dress up the idea by combining motifs. Frame either of the hands with a pair of horns. Use eye beads as accents on a necklace on either side of a hand or horn. Create a pendant from an eye bead with a horn dangling underneath it. These patterns also work for bracelets, ankle bracelets, and so on.
If you want something really spectacular for ritual use, combine all the charms on a single necklace. Use the eye beads as accents, separated by smaller plain beads. Make the centerpiece a cornicello, flanked by a mano fica and a mano cornu. Vary the materials, too. Use a blood coral cornicello and a silver mano fica and a gold mano cornu; or use a gold cornicello with a blood coral mano fica and horn mano cornu.
Charms that protect against the evil eye also protect against other misfortunes ranging from infertility to plain bad luck. These provide an attractive and convenient way to bring a little more magic into your life. You can find them already assembled, or you can buy the components and make your own charms. They adapt well to new purposes as well. Try using a pair of eye beads on the ties of your ritual robe or sewing a horn to dangle against a magical pouch. These also make beautiful gifts for you magical loved ones.
For Further Study
Lehner, Ernst. The Picture Book of Symbols. New York: Wm. Penn Pub. Corp., 1956
Potter, Carole. Knock on Wood and Other Superstitions. New York: Bonanza Books. 1984
Walker, Barbara G. The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1988.
by Elizabeth Barrette
~from Llewellyn's Magical Almanac 2004
Mediterranean civilizations have given a great deal of culture to the world at large. This includes a rich heritage of magical concepts and artifacts that increase our ability to manage in the world. Among these are malocchio, or "evil eye," lore and the many protection charms used to ward against the evil eye.
Italy is the heart of evil eye territory, both in terms of the belief and the charms associated with the belief. As a result, Venetian glassmakers create artifacts to protect against the evil eye. You can find Italian protection charms worked into jewelry, or left loose - so you can make your own jewelry.
The Horn
In all its forms, the horn represents abundance, virility, fecundity, and protection. By virtue of the many cow goddesses and bull gods found in Mediterranean cultures, the horn can stand for either masculine or feminine energy. Italians call this cornuto or cornicello - that is, "horn" or "little horn."
The most common representation of the horn in Italian artifacts is a long, gently twisted, tapered object made of gold, horn, or blood coral. Giant crowned horns that are often hung in cars are usually made of red plastic.
In America, the cornicello counts among the most popular components of a charm bracelet or charm necklace. Ironically, in Italy only men wear this symbol, because they consider it primarily masculine. It combats those aspects of the evil eye that manifest as impotence or barrenness.
The Hand
The hand symbolizes humanity, for our dexterous digits symbolically make us human. Magically, the hand can convey invisibility, strength, and protection. In Italy, the hand takes two forms. One is the figa or mano fica, also called the "dfig hand." This is a fist with the thumb tucked between the first and second (or more rarely, between the second and third) fingers. These shape represents female genitalia.
Modern artisans make this charm of gold, but you can also find them in glass or wood. Traditionally, it was made of silver, to honor the goddess Luna, or blood coral, to honor Venus. If you hunt around, you can find these too.
A complementary charm is the corunuta or mano cornu, the "horned hand." In these, the first and last fingers extend, while the middle two fingers and thumb curl against the palm. This masculine symbol shares the same history and materials as the mano fica, but sometimes carvers make the mano cornu from bull horn. Put the two, mano fica and mano cornu, together, and you get a matched set of female-male, goddess-god symbols.
The Eye
The eye appears in many forms in Italian artifact, and it can represent an assortment of deities. Symbolically, the eye conveys thoughtfulness, vigilance, and protection. The preferred material for eyes is blue glass, either cobalt or a lighter turquoise blue. Some of the most gorgeous examples consist of Venetian glass, although Czech glass is also lovely. Eyes are engraves in metal coins and gold or silver jewelry, but the big blue yes hung under car mirrors are usually plastic.
The eye is probably the most popular charm against the evil eye, and it can take many forms. The simplest is a "bull's-eye" pattern with a blue background, white circle, and smaller blue circle inside. Many eyes, however, are designed with exquisite delicacy so that they really resemble eyes with white, then blue, irises, and black pupils.
Eye beads and pendants appear in earrings, necklaces, key-chains, and other adornments. Some jewelers also make eye rings, with the glass eye set in a silver or gold band just like a stone. In addition to wearing eye jewelry, Italians often hang the big pendants on doors, windows, cradles, and other places needing protection.
Protective Jewelry
Of the protective charms, the cornicello is the most discreet. Most people have forgotten its magical origins. Next comes the eye, which looks nifty but not necessarily magical. You can wear these anywhere. The hands are more overtly connected with mystical forces and may draw attention. Also, Italians use the mano fica and mano cornu gestures both to ward off evil and to make obscene insults.
Some jewelry designs appear often because they work well and look great. For earrings, a matched pair of horns or eyes is a favorite design of many people. If you want something definitively magical, consider a mano fica or mano cornu set, wither in the same material or in silver for the feminine and gold for the masculine. Together they create a wonderful balance of polarities.
For necklaces, you can wear any of the charms alone. The large eye pendants are intended for exactly this purpose. But you can dress up the idea by combining motifs. Frame either of the hands with a pair of horns. Use eye beads as accents on a necklace on either side of a hand or horn. Create a pendant from an eye bead with a horn dangling underneath it. These patterns also work for bracelets, ankle bracelets, and so on.
If you want something really spectacular for ritual use, combine all the charms on a single necklace. Use the eye beads as accents, separated by smaller plain beads. Make the centerpiece a cornicello, flanked by a mano fica and a mano cornu. Vary the materials, too. Use a blood coral cornicello and a silver mano fica and a gold mano cornu; or use a gold cornicello with a blood coral mano fica and horn mano cornu.
Charms that protect against the evil eye also protect against other misfortunes ranging from infertility to plain bad luck. These provide an attractive and convenient way to bring a little more magic into your life. You can find them already assembled, or you can buy the components and make your own charms. They adapt well to new purposes as well. Try using a pair of eye beads on the ties of your ritual robe or sewing a horn to dangle against a magical pouch. These also make beautiful gifts for you magical loved ones.
For Further Study
Lehner, Ernst. The Picture Book of Symbols. New York: Wm. Penn Pub. Corp., 1956
Potter, Carole. Knock on Wood and Other Superstitions. New York: Bonanza Books. 1984
Walker, Barbara G. The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1988.
If you cant explain it simply, you dont understand it well enough.-- Albert Einstein
Blessings Bright and Dark,
