Hand of Fatima For Good Fortune

The symbol of the hand in Mediterranean and Eastern cultures is ancient.  It is a powerful magical protection against the Evil Eye.  I believe it may be an ancient remembrance of the "Eye in the Sky" the forms in the heavens when Ophiuchus the 13th  Astrology sign  forms the Wheel of Fortune between Sagittarius and Scorpio. The next  return of this constellation will be December 21, 2012.  Thus it makes the regained of popularity of  this amulet very appropriate at this time.

The evil eye is also called the wandering eye. Usually the bearer of the evil eye does not give someone else the "evil eye" consciously or maliciously. They usually do so out of envy or jealousy. The Hand of Fatima is one of many traditional symbols throughout most of the world to protect oneself from this phenomena. Eyes are often used for protection because they are supposed to deter the person giving the evil eye from focusing on the real object. This eye in the hand is a distraction from the real object. Some animals use something similar as a protection from predators. The "eye" in the feathers of a peacock's plume, for instance, is both a mesmerizing object for the female peacock, as well as a distraction for the predator. Many moths and butterflies have fake "eyes" on their wings to confuse birds and other predators into thinking that they are bigger animals than they are.

Fatima was, according to legend, the Muslim prophet Mohammed's daughter, and was often called upon for protection and compassion. The hand is a healing symbol and healing truth, as many people heal through their hands. The snakes along the fingers and moon and spiral have long been symbols of the Goddess.

Although the Hand of Fatima or Hamsa  has been symbolic in Islam and Judaism for centuries, archeological digs in the Middle East provide evidence that the hamsa hand pre-dates these religions and originated with the Phoenicians and was used as a protective symbol for an ancient Middle Eastern goddess. The Hand of Fatima has always been associated with a female entity offering protection from evil and misfortune.  The amulet symbolizing The Hand of Fatima represents the Hand of God. In all faiths it is a protective sign. It brings it's owner happiness, luck, health, and good fortune.  The Hand of Fatima hand can be worn with the fingers pointing up or down, and both are believed to offer its owner happiness, peace, and prosperity, as well as protection from the ayin ha'ra, or the evil eye. Another formula uttered against the evil eye in Arabic is khamsa wa-khamis  Due to its significance in both Arabic and Berber culture, it is one of the national symbols of Algeria and appears in their national Emblem.

The  Hand of Fatima is  is known by many names—hamsa, hamsa hand, hamesh, hamesh hand, khamsa, and chamsa. It is also called the Hand of Miriam, named for Moses and Aaron’s sister. There are two main styles of a hamsa hand: the most popular is the stylized hamsa hand with two symmetrical thumbs, but there are also hamsa hands that are not symmetrical and shaped like actual hands.. There are speculations that the Jews were among the first to use it as a protective amulet, also called “Hand of Miriam”. This tradition predates the Muslim use of the Hamsa (called the hand of Fatima, daughter of Mohammed) by at least a thousand years.The renewed interest in Kabbalah and mystical Judaism has brought the Hamsa back into vogue, and many artists are using the image of the hamsa hand in various aspects of their art including paintings, sculptures, jewelry, wall and door hangings, and amulets.

 

 (The photo above is a painting available for sale at The Magick Candle,  203 S. Audubon St.,   Indianapolis, Indiana, 46219  For more info on the painting or the artist phone:  317-357-8801 )

The word “hamsa” or “hamesh” means five. There are five digits on the hamsa hand, but the number five has additional symbolic meaning in the Jewish and Islamic traditions. Five (hamesh in Hebrew) represents the five books of the Torah for Jews. It also symbolizes the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, "Heh", which represents one of God’s holy names. It symbolizes the Five Pillars of Islam for Sunnis, and the Five People of the Cloak for Shi'ites.

In the Jewish religion, the Jewish hamsa hand also symbolizes the Hand of God. Many Jews believe the hamsa pendant symbolizes the Hand of Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron. In the Islamic faith, the hamsa hand symbolizes The Hand of Fatima, daughter of the Prophet Mohammed.

Many Jews believe that the five fingers of the hamsa hand remind its wearer to use their five senses to praise God. Hamsa hands often contain an eye symbol, which is a powerful talisman against the evil eye. It is most often worn as a hamsa necklace, but can be found as a decorative element in houses, on key chains, on other jewelry items, and is quickly gaining popularity as an amulet in baby carriages. In addition to averting the gaze of the evil eye, it brings its wearer or owner happiness, luck, health, and good fortune.

The hamsa hand(Arabic) or chamesh hand (Hebrew) is an old and still popular amulet for magical protection from the evil eye known to draw positive energy, happiness, riches and health. The Chamsa’s (semitic root meaning five) includes five digits and symbolizes the Creator’s protective hand. Five is by itself a number   Hamsas include fishes and a eye. Sometimes in a Sephardic household the symbol of a fish is used to repel the eye; this originates from the Talmud where is stated that fishes are immune from the evil eye because they are under water, and this makes fish an effective amulet. In Avital's Hamsas, the blue or red bead stands for the Almighty’s watchful eye.

The hamsa  has several uses , hung on a wall, is a very common ornament in Morocco, Israel and the Middle East. The use of the Hamsa is part of the Jewish and Israeli folklore and superstition, but it has nothing to do with the official Jewish religion. Of course, many people today display or wear hamsas as ornaments, without giving any thought to their supposed magical properties.

The hamsa hand(Arabic) or chamesh hand (Hebrew) is an old and still popular amulet for magical protection from the evil eye known to draw positive energy, happiness, riches and health. The Chamsa’s (semitic root meaning five) includes five digits and symbolizes the Creator’s protective hand. Five is by itself a number   Hamsas include fishes and a eye. Sometimes in a Sephardic or Romani  household the symbol of a fish is used to repel the eye; this originates from the Talmud where is stated that fishes are immune from the evil eye because they are under water, and this makes fish an effective amulet. In Avital's Hamsas, the blue or red bead stands for the Almighty’s watchful eye. 

The significance  of the color red is also thought traditionally to ward it off. Many mothers and grandmothers tie red ribbons and strings to children's underwear and bedding to prevent the evil peer. The color red is significant within Jewish history because it was one of the items necessary for the building of the original Temple. Red thread and dye were used to make fabric; the red thread came from a type of worm. Rabbi S. R. Hirsch points out that the worm was the lowest form of life, and yet it was intrinsic to the building of the Sanctuary. The red thread, reminiscent of the lowly worm, can be seen as protection against this. Each time a person looks at the string he is reminded that a person is really as lowly as a worm. This humility is the ultimate weapon against the "evil eye".

In recent years, activists for peace in the Middle East have adopted the Hand of Fatima . Because Hand of Fatima symbology is believed to predate most modern religions, those who actively support a peaceful resolution to the ongoing Israeli conflict believe that wearing the hamsa hand highlights not only the similarities of Judaism and Islam, but also the similarities of the origins of the religions. The hamsa symbol is believed to originate from an ancient Middle Eastern religion, and some Jews and Muslims wear the hamsa as a gesture for hope, peace, and prosperity in Israel and other areas of the Middle East.

 Zahara's Gypsy Tea has Evil Eye Protection  Spell kits.  Kits include directions on how to teat for the Evil Eye, Directions and needed materials for removing the curse, and amulet of protection  to avoid being  afflicted again.   New item is not on the menu, but just phone or email and we will be happy to fill your order.