The evil eye is a curse or legend believed to be cast by a malevolent glare, usually given to a person when they are unaware. Many cultures believe that receiving the evil eye will cause misfortune or injury.
What is the evil eye?
The evil eye is a look that is believed to cause injury or bad luck for the person on the receiving end. It is the product of ill will or envy. The supernatural harm may come in the form of anything from a minor misfortune to disease, injury, or even death. In some cultures, the belief is focused on children, who are thought to be particularly susceptible to the curse.
The evil eye is also said to cause a number of other maladies including insomnia, fatigue, depression and diarrhea. In many countries, the harm is thought to come from admiration. There is a tendency to praise things too much, which draws the attention of the evil eye.
The concept of the evil eye dates back to ancient Greece and Rome. It is referenced by Hesiod, Callimachus, Plato, Diodorus Siculus, Theocritus, Plutarch, Heliodorus, Pliny the Elder, and Aulus Gellius. Peter Walcot’s Envy and the Greeks (1978) listed more than one hundred works by these and other authors mentioning the evil eye.
What does the evil eye symbol look like?
The most common evil eye symbol is a charm designed with concentric blue and white circles made to symbolize the eye. It is often used on houses, vehicles, or jewelry to protect them from the evil eye.
The evil eye bead reflects back the glare of ill meaning. The center or pupil of the eye is meant to distract the spiteful gaze from the object, person, or vehicle under protection. The blue color denotes calmness, healing and tranquility. However in some cultures simple circles representing eyes are used without the color blue.
| Type of Evil Eye Symbol | Image |
|---|---|
| Simple Eye Shape | |
| Blue Eye Bead | |
| Blue Eye Glass |
What does a clear or transparent evil eye mean?
A clear or transparent evil eye without color holds a different meaning than the traditional blue eye. A clear evil eye is thought to represent the protective gaze of divinity and spirituality.
The transparent evil eye conveys divine vision. It suggests clarity, insight and enlightenment. The clear eye sees through evil and negativity. A transparent eye projects the benevolent watchfulness of the divine.
In this sense, the clear evil eye meaning serves as a talisman of spiritual vision. It signifies the wearer can see past darkness, negativity and evil forces.
Clear evil eye in different cultures
Here is a look at the clear evil eye meaning in some cultures:
Turkey
In Turkey, a clear eye is known as Muska. It serves as an amulet against negativity. The plain clear glass eye is thought to reflect bad intentions and protect the wearer. The Muska symbolizes the clarity of vision to see through evil.
India
In India, a transparent glass evil eye dot is common. It represents the preserving gaze of supreme beings watching over humans. The clear dot eye conveys the openness and omnipresence of divine sight.
Middle East
In many Middle Eastern cultures, the transparent evil eye amulet stands for the protective sight of Allah. The colorless glass reveals the clarity of spiritual vision guarding against harm.
Greece
In Greece, a plain glass eye charm signifies the transparent purity of the soul protected from evil forces. It represents the clarity of inner vision unaffected by darkness.
Does a clear evil eye work?
There is anecdotal evidence that a clear evil eye amulet works for spiritual protection in a way similar to the traditional blue eye. However, no scientific studies have conclusively demonstrated that any evil eye amulet has power to ward off curses.
Here are some examples of personal experiences with the clear evil eye:
- A traveler in Egypt bought a clear evil eye amulet and felt it warded off pickpockets in the bazaar.
- A merchant in Turkey hang a transparent evil eye in his shop and believed it brought prosperity.
- A woman in India wore a plain glass evil eye bracelet during pregnancy and attributed her healthy baby to its protection.
- A child given a clear evil eye necklace as a gift had notably fewer illnesses than siblings without one.
While these examples seem to support the power of the clear evil eye, it is difficult to prove causes and effects with certainty. The benefits may come from a spiritual placebo effect rather than divine magic. But believers find significance in the plain evil eye as a focus for meditation on virtue, clarity and spiritual vision.
How to make a clear evil eye amulet
Making your own clear evil eye amulet is simple. Here are step-by-step instructions:
Supplies
- Clear glass beads, marbles or stones
- Clear glass decorative craft pebbles
- Craft glue
- Pin back or jewelry findings
Instructions
- Select a glass bead, marble or stone to represent the “pupil” of the eye. The size can range from small seed beads to large marbles.
- Choose clear craft pebbles to surround and represent the “iris” of the eye. Place the pebbles around the bead/marble pupil.
- Use craft glue to attach the pebbles in place around the bead. Allow time to dry completely.
- Glue a pin back, loop or jump ring to the amulet to make jewelry or a charm.
These amulets can be worn around the neck, pinned to clothes, hung in vehicles or homes, or carried in pockets or purses. The wearer focuses on the meaning of inner clarity, virtue and protective vision.
Conclusion
The clear or transparent evil eye holds symbolic spiritual meaning representing the virtuous and protective vision to ward off harm. It signifies the ability to see, understand and transcend suffering through divine sight. The plain glass evil eye reflects inner clarity and the openness of the soul protected by the supreme being. For believers, the clear amulet brings focus to higher vision unclouded by evil and negativity.