What is The Evil Eye? A Brief History of the Spell and a Possible Cure

The existence of Malocchio, the Evil Eye, is ancient and there are references to it in records written by the Babylonians, Sumerians and Assyrians dating to approximately 3000 BCE, according to Rosemary Ellen Guiley, The Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft (Checkmark Books, 1999). Ancient Egyptians used eye make up and lipstick as protection against it. The Bible references it in both Testaments. Ancient Hindus believed in it. The belief among people of Mediterranean and Central American countries still remains strong.

Types of the Evil Eye

It is believed that there are two types of Malocchio, malevolent and involuntary. Most of the cases are believed to be the latter. The intentional type is called overlooking and is witchcraft meant to harm and cause misfortune. In the Middle Ages, people believed witches did this to bewitch judges into not convicting them and to curse people whom they were angry with.

The involuntary type is when a person may admire or be envious of another’s children, livestock or property. It could also result from gazing at another too long. Something has to be done to prevent or cure this. Usually, an older wise woman knows what must be done.

Two Popes were believed to have possessed the ability to cast Malocchio involuntarily. Pope Pius IX was thought to have this after he glanced at a nurse holding a child in an open window. Moments later, the child fell to its death. After this, it appeared that all he blessed ended in misfortune. Pope Leo XIII was believed to have suffered from the same affliction.

Protection Against Malocchio

Amulets, generally in the shape of a frog or a horn, were used as protection against Malocchio. Other protective amulets included bells, red ribbons, and plants such as garlic, jack beans, barley and the shamrock.

If a person did not have an amulet, gestures of the hand were employed. One, the fig, is holding the thumb between the index and middle finger while they are clenched like a fist. The other, the horns, is having the middle and ring finger bent behind the thumb and the index and little finger held straight up.

Strega Spell to Cure the Evil Eye

According to Raven Grimassi, expert on Stregheria (Italian witchcraft) and author of Ways of the Strega (Llewellyn Publications, 1997), a person may suddenly feel sick or exhausted because of receiving Malocchio.

To test whether or not this is the case, put three drops of olive oil, one on top of the other in a bowl of water. If they stay together, it is not Malocchio. If they separate or become smeared, it is.

To break the spell, insert the tip of a needle into the eye of another needle while chanting, “Occhi e contro e perticelli agli occhi, crepa la invida e schiattono gli occhi,” which means “Eyes against eyes and the holes of the eyes, envy cracks and eyes burst.” Drop the needles on top of the oil and sprinkle three pinches of salt into the water. Jab scissors into the water through the oil three times. Cut the air above the bowl thrice. The spell is broken.

The copyright of the article What is The Evil Eye? in Pagan/Wiccan Practice is owned by Jill Stefko . Permission to republish What is The Evil Eye? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Nov 30, 2008 7:29 PM

Guest :

The Malocchio cure recounted here is reminiscent of the cure my Aunt Lena used. She would dip her finger into the oil, then make the sign of the cross 3 times, dip her finger again and drop 3 oil drops into a bowl of water. She'd repeat this 3 times. If the oil "spread" rather than staying as "beads," Malocchio was confirmed, and she'd sprinkle the oil drops with salt to destroy them.
Have you ever heard of an Italian ritual cutting string (the string representing worms), while recounting a ritual prayer? (I've heard my [maternal] grandmother and Aunt Lena [her daughter] performed this ritual.)

Dec 30, 2008 10:06 PM

Guest :

In my family in order to cure the evil eye, a egg and oil was used. How they did this was the person that had the evil eye would be laying on their back with both eyes closed. Then the person that would remove the evil eye would take the oil and put crosses on their forehead, left and right wrist. They would say a prayer from the Holy Bible in Spanish. Then they would take the egg and make the cross on the forehead, the left and right wrist and continue saying the prayer. Once they were done the person that was laying down opens their eyes and kisses the egg. Then the egg is taken away and cracked into a glass filled with water. The egg was left alone until the next day. If the egg had white showing then the evil eye was removed. It always worked on me and the rest of my family. I've had my share of the evil eye and it was no fun at all.

Apr 1, 2009 11:23 AM

Guest :

Some one wrote: Have you ever heard of an Italian ritual cutting string (the string representing worms), while recounting a ritual prayer? (I've heard my [maternal] grandmother and Aunt Lena [her daughter] performed this ritual.)

Yes. In Naples they do this. My little brother had abdmn pains for mnths and my parents took him to a woman that did this. She took a bowl of water and placed it on the table that my brother was placed on. Had my father tie 2 ropes in to a knot. Then she recounted the ritual prayer and placed the ropes in the water. Like magic the ropes untied them selves and flew across the room. after that my brother was better. My mother proforms the water and oil Malocchio but she does not know how to do the one for worms. It has been said that it can only be passed down from mother to daughter. But my uncle also knows how to do this aswell. The older italians know of this but it is not being passed on as much as in the passed/

Apr 11, 2009 9:40 AM

Guest :

MY MOM WOULD SAY A PRAYER AME THE SIGN OF THE CROSS AND DIP HER FINGER INTO THE OIL THEN THE WATER. IF THE OIL SPREAD THEN SOMEONE PUT THE "MALOCCHIO" ON YOU. THE MORE PRAYERS THE MORE SHE WOULD START TO YAWN UNCONTROBLY AND THE SPELL WOULD ABE LIFTED OFF OF THE PERSON WHO THE "MALOCCHIO" WAS AIMED AT. THAT PERSON TO WOULD START TO YAWN. THE PRAYER CAN ONLY BE GIVEN OUT TO A FAMILY MEMBER ON CHRISTMAS EVE. THANK GOD I AM FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE THE PRAYER.

Jun 9, 2009 4:56 PM

Guest :

i have a question- to those that breal the mal occhio- what does it mean when the first oil drop sinks to the bottom of the bowl and splits into 2-please this is important since it was found on my 7 mo old son. My fmly is used to seeing the traditional oil dispersing but this made us scaratch our heads

Jul 23, 2009 10:22 AM

Guest :

I believe in the evil eye and know for a fact that my mother in law has it, my husband does not believe in any. Can someone tell me how to stop this woman from causing harm every time we see her or even when her name is mentioned?