Seven Eyes Stone

Envy Protectors

By: Dina F. Ali Faidhy

The seven-eyed envy protector has been an essential put-on wear since ever in Iraq. The folklore shaped the little piece of decoration, and it was still a belief to carry on old and present domestic faith, especially for women, to protect dear ones and precious things from getting hurt by envy's radiance. The color blue symbolizes relief and is a sign of water. It enables the piece to suck and hold evil desires once burst from the opposite.

The Sumerians believed that once evil and envy's radiance is divided and spread into seven directions, it will become harmless and have no effect when it hits our bodies. That is how the Seven-Eyes works. They used pinched, blue stones with seven holes, and lately it was given the local name of The Seven-Eyes stone.

Pharaohs of Egypt did have another vision indeed, but almost the same idea. They used the blue stone, turquoise (feiruz), and gave them the shapes of rings and other accessories to suck up the envy radiating from others.

Envy protectors in my culture have a strong impact upon people, the same impact by them. A new house will by no means miss to hang one of those protectors especially when it's finished and ready to live in. A beautiful girl should wear one, otherwise she might be hit by an evil eye and fall sick. Craftsmen have found a peaceful profession instead of an evil one by using such norms.

Inside local streets of Baghdad, various pieces of blue stones have shaped themselves to match all kinds of artificial figures to protect envy, while art and abstract exhibitions used these forms to authenticate past beliefs into modern forms and rights.

It is wonderful to retrieve such old traditions and norms and maintain practicing them as well. If my culture trusts The Seven-Eyes, I wonder what other cultures use for envy protection? So comment and share to view other stones!