How to Ward Your Home Against the Evil Eye and Negative Spirits

The idea of protecting one’s home against evil spirits and energies is an age-old practice in many cultures. Becky once told a story about the family member who attempted to ward her first born baby against the evil eye without her consent. But what is the Evil Eye? What are wards? Where does a ward get it’s power from? How do you use a ward? We’ve learned a lot from the guests on Homespun Haints about the origins, significance, and ways to utilize supernatural wards to safeguard your home, and avoid the influence of the Evil Eye.

Understanding the Evil Eye: Origins and Beliefs

The concept of the Evil Eye is nearly ubiquitously familiar, although it’s especially prevalent in Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and European cultures. This superstition suggests that envious or negative glances cast upon someone can bring that person misfortune, bad luck, or harm. To counteract this, various cultures have developed wards for protection. A ward can be pretty much anything that you believe has the ability to counteract the presence or happening of something supernatural and potentially harmful or undesirable. In other words, it doesn’t have to be a physical object. For example, to fend off jealousy glances, you might practice negative mantras, like “I’m nothing special…I look hideous…nobody loves me…” Yikes, who wants to say that all day? Better perhaps to just wear an amulet.  

The Nazar: Warding off the Evil Eye with…another eye?

The Nazar, commonly known as the evil eye, is an amulet or talisman to deflect negative energy. This symbol, often found in jewelry, home decor, and even in architecture, specifically serves as a defense against the evil eye. You’ve seen it: a circular, blue-and-white eye-shaped symbol. It’s supposed to absorb malevolent glances and prevent them from causing harm. 

Hamsa Hand: Specifically about the number five.

The word “Hamsa” (or Khamsa) comes from the Arabic word for “five.” The significance of this symbol is not just the fact that it is a hand, but that the hand specifically has five fingers, all aligned. The Hamsa’s palm usually features an embedded eye, to provide defense against negative energies and misfortune. It’s kind of like a Nazar, but more overarching in its symbolism. The eye represents heightened awareness, insight, and protection from harm. The hand itself signifies blessings, strength, and the ability to push away negative influences. 

The Hamsa represents different meanings (and sometimes has different names) across cultures. In Jewish culture, it is the Hand of Miriam, and symbolizes divine protection. For Muslims, it represents the hand of Fatima, daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, and is associated with patience, loyalty, faith, and protection against the evil eye.

Some people use an upside down Hamsa to attract wealth and fortune, and one facing upright to protect against harm. In those instances, the position of the Hamsa represents various mudras, which are basically gestures intended to alter the flow of energy during rituals. This may be more common in Hinduism, Jainism, or Buddhism, or among other yoga practitioners. In spiritual healing techniques hailing from these cultures, the five fingers of the hand can represent chakras, or elements. Some energy healers use their hands like multipolar magnets, believing the energy flow direction to alternate in a beneficial way as it flows down one side of a finger and up the next.

Placement and Use

Hamsa or Nazar symbols are placed strategically within the home, usually at entrances or in central areas, to ward against evil. While positioning these symbols, individuals often focus on their intentions to shield their spaces from harm and negativity. The power of the ward comes from the belief or faith of the individual who puts it there, and so we tend to place them in areas we consider vulnerable to infiltration. That’s likely why the front door is a very common location for a Hamsa. It’s also wise to place a Hamsa in an area where you’ll see it frequently; reminding yourself that it’s there and working on your behalf is a great way to continually imbue it with the power of your faith in it. 

Maintenance and Upkeep of Protection Wards

You might, from time to time, feel the need to do a little extra Hamsa maintenance. When you’re feeling especially unlucky and downtrodden, a ritual cleansing for your physical wards can renew your intentions with them. You can cleanse and revitalize their protective energies exactly how you’d spiritually cleanse any other object: by smudging with burning sage, incense, or palo santo, exposing the symbols to sunlight, or placing selenite on them. 

The Universality of Wards

The popularity of the Hamsa and Nazar reveal the universal human desire to safeguard against negative energies and spirits. They serve not only as protective amulets, but also as sources of comfort, strength, and a reminder of the power of energy—both positive and negative—within our homes and lives. 

Symbolic wards are used around the world. The Hamsa seems to be the most widespread ward against evil globally, but here are a few slightly less popular examples of wards that are just as protective, in their own particular circumstances.

The Eye of Horus (Wadjet) – Ancient Egypt

The (usually left) Eye of Horus symbolizes protection, health, and royal power. This symbol is used to provide safety, health, and prosperity. It is named for the falcon-headed god of ancient Egypt. Although the Hamsa, Nazar, and Eye of Horus all prominently feature an eye, this speaks more to how humans tend to ascribe mystical properties to the eye as a symbol, rather than implying a shared origin.

The Four-Leaf Clover – Celtic and European Tradition

The four-leaf clover is a symbol of good luck and protection in Celtic and European traditions. Finding a four-leaf clover is believed to bring good fortune, and displaying one can ward against evil spirits.

Dreamcatchers – Native American Tradition

Dreamcatchers are hoops adorned with a woven net or web and feathers. They are supposed to filter out negative dreams and spirits, allowing only positive dreams to pass through. They function as wards to protect a home or its dreaming inhabitants during sleep.

Om Symbol – Hinduism and Buddhism

Om is a sacred sound, representing the universe, protection, and the essence of ultimate reality. One would chant Om to induce spiritual protection and positive energy, and its symbol can have the same effect on an environment.

Crosses and Crucifixes – Christianity

Crosses and crucifixes represent faith and salvation for Christians, although there are also specific crosses for specific intentions. They are often worn as jewelry or placed in homes to invoke divine protection and ward off evil spirits.

Triskelion – Ancient Greek and Celtic

The triskelion, featuring three spirals or legs, represents various concepts, including protection, personal growth, and spiritual progress. It can also provide a shield against negative energies.

Runes – Norse and Germanic Traditions

Norse and Germanic cultures used runic symbols for protection and divination. Each rune carries its own meaning and protective qualities. Carrying or inscribing certain runes can offer defense against evil forces.

Do you use wards?

The widespread use of these protective symbols as wards highlights the universal human desire for protection from evil. While this need is universal for obvious reasons, it is curious that the symbolism of the eye and the hand transcends so many cultural boundaries to carry similar meaning and power. Perhaps these symbols’ popularity implies that, regardless of the physical focus we use to ward our home, the power was within our innate human form all along.

If you you’ve got a story to tell about wards, please submit to tell it on our podcast!