THE HAMSA HAND
Archive Image: Not for Sale |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Archive Image: Not for Sale |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The hamsa hand appears both in a two-thumbed, bilaterally symmetrical form, as shown, and in a more natural form in which there is only one thumb. There is good archaeological evidence to suggest that the downward-pointing protective hamesh / hamsa hand predates both Judaism and Islam and that it refers to an ancient Middle Eastern goddess whose hand (or vulva, in other images) wards off the evil eye.
The hamsa hand at the top left of this page is a 2 inch long modern reproduction of an older piece, manufactured in pewter; the original was silver and of Arabic origin. For another example of an Arabic hamsa hand amulet, see Wills's Cigarette Card #17, The Crescent and Hand. For an early 20th century French hamsa hand, see the good luck postcard featuring a European charm bracelet.
At the top right of this page is a vintage Jewish hamesh hand, or Hand of Miriam, contained within a Star of David and surrounded by six apotropaic all-seeing eyes. This pendant is of unknown age and was bought used in 2001 at a "car boot sale" (an open car-trunk sale) by a man named Marc Beaumont (icarusmb@hotmail.com), who then posted its image to the internet. Embossed on the wrist of the hand are the rather blurry English letters MIRY or MARY; either spelling is equivalent to the Hebrew name Miriam.
The protective hamsa hand pendant charm at right is from Egypt. A diminutive 1" x 1 1/2" in size, this stamped tin Hand of Fatima features translucent bright blue enamel overlay and eye-in-hand design for protection. It is double-sided, yet light-weight enough to wear as an earring.
Although most hamsa hands are amulets, modern Israeli hamesh hands are sometimes made in the form of ceramic wall plaques in which a hand-lettered Hebrew prayer occupies the center of the palm. These include variants that seek to prevent earthquakes as well as forestall overlooking by the evil eye. Hamsa hand plaques, usually made of turquoise-glazed pottery, are also found in modern Egypt. I don't have one to show you here, but they resemble other anti-evil-eye plaques from Egypt, such as one in my collection with a blue horseshoe for luck and blue beads for magical protection from the evil eye.
Because the hamsa or hamesh hand protects against the evil eye, the design in some examples merges into another design called the eye-in-hand motif. In those instances, a realistic or stylized eye appears in the center of the palm of the hand.
From modern Egypt comes the filigree-style metal hamsa hand key ring at left. It is set with a glass "eye" in the palm and has little metal danglers on each of the fingers. The blue glass eye in its palm means that the key ring does double-duty as both a hamsa hand and as an eye-in-hand. It is not a "jewelry quality" piece of work, just an ordinary trinket, but it is useful in warding off the envious gaze of those who might be paying attention to one's car.
At left is a Hamsa Hand wall hanger from Egypt.
About 3" x 3 1/2" in size, it is made of stamped silvery-coloured metal covered with a transparent
wash of bright blue enamel paint that gives it a lovely "dimensional" effect. It
is fitted with a central blue glass eye-applique, which makes it an
eye-in-hand design, and it
also has a bunch of little "danglers" for added protection. It comes with a
silvery-coloured metal chain, and can be
hung in a car from the rear-view mirror or on a wall at home, either near the door or over a
baby's bed, where it will ward off the evil eye.
The back is unpainted; if it is to be hung where it can be seen from both sides, glue two together
back-to-back; they fit together perfectly. The maker of these hamsa hands
also makes a similar stamped metal
all-seeing eye wall hanger.
For other hand charms, see:
Search All Lucky Mojo and Affiliated Sites!
You can search our sites for a single word (like archaeoastronomy, hoodoo, conjure, or clitoris), an exact phrase contained within quote marks (like "love spells", "spiritual supplies", "occult shop", "gambling luck", "Lucky Mojo bag", or "guardian angel"), or a name within quote marks (like "Blind Willie McTell", "Black Hawk", "Hoyt's Cologne", or "Frank Stokes"):
 |
copyright ©
1994-2019 catherine yronwode. All rights reserved. Send your comments to: cat yronwode. |
| Did you like what you read here? Find it useful? Then please click on the Paypal Secure Server logo and make a small donation to catherine yronwode for the creation and maintenance of this site. |
LUCKY MOJO is a large domain that is organized into a
number of interlinked web sites,
each with its own distinctive theme and look.
You are currently reading
THE LUCKY W AMULET ARCHIVE by cat yronwode.
Here are some other LUCKY MOJO web sites you can visit:
OCCULTISM, MAGIC SPELLS, MYSTICISM, RELIGION, SYMBOLISM
Hoodoo in Theory and Practice by cat yronwode: an introduction to African-American rootwork
Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic by cat yronwode:a materia magica of African-American conjure
Lucky W Amulet Archive by cat yronwode: an online museum of worldwide talismans and charms
Sacred Sex: essays and articles on tantra yoga, neo-tantra, karezza, sex magic, and sex worship
Sacred Landscape: essays and articles on archaeoastronomy and sacred geometry
Freemasonry for Women by cat yronwode: a history of mixed-gender Freemasonic lodges
The Lucky Mojo Esoteric Archive: captured internet text files on occult and spiritual topics
Lucky Mojo Usenet FAQ Archive:FAQs and REFs for occult and magical usenet newsgroups
Aleister Crowley Text Archive: a multitude of texts by an early 20th century occultist
Lucky Mojo Magic Spells Archives: love spells, money spells, luck spells, protection spells, and more
Free Love Spell Archive: love spells, attraction spells, sex magick, romance spells, and lust spells
Free Money Spell Archive: money spells, prosperity spells, and wealth spells for job and business
Free Protection Spell Archive: protection spells against witchcraft, jinxes, hexes, and the evil eye
Free Gambling Luck Spell Archive: lucky gambling spells for the lottery, casinos, and racesPOPULAR CULTURE
Hoodoo and Blues Lyrics: transcriptions of blues songs about African-American folk magic
EaRhEaD!'S Syd Barrett Lyrics Site: lyrics by the founder of the Pink Floyd Sound
The Lesser Book of the Vishanti: Dr. Strange Comics as a magical system, by cat yronwode
The Spirit Checklist: a 1940s newspaper comic book by Will Eisner, indexed by cat yronwode
Fit to Print: collected weekly columns about comics and pop culture by cat yronwode
Eclipse Comics Index: a list of all Eclipse comics, albums, and trading cardsEDUCATION AND OUTREACH
Hoodoo Rootwork Correspondence Course with cat yronwode: 52 weekly lessons in book form
Hoodoo Conjure Training Workshops: hands-on rootwork classes, lectures, and seminars
Apprentice with catherine yronwode: personal 3-week training for qualified HRCC graduates
Lucky Mojo Community Forum: an online message board for our occult spiritual shop customers
Lucky Mojo Hoodoo Rootwork Hour Radio Show: learn free magic spells via podcast download
Lucky Mojo Videos: see video tours of the Lucky Mojo shop and get a glimpse of the spirit train
Lucky Mojo Publishing: practical spell books on world-wide folk magic and divination
Lucky Mojo Newsletter Archive: subscribe and receive discount coupons and free magick spells
LMC Radio Network: magical news, information, education, and entertainment for all!
Follow Us on Facebook: get company news and product updates as a Lucky Mojo Facebook FanONLINE SHOPPING
The Lucky Mojo Curio Co.: spiritual supplies for hoodoo, magick, witchcraft, and conjure
Herb Magic: complete line of Lucky Mojo Herbs, Minerals, and Zoological Curios, with sample spells
Mystic Tea Room Gift Shop: antique, vintage, and contemporary fortune telling tea cupsPERSONAL SITES
catherine yronwode: the eclectic and eccentric author of many of the above web pages
nagasiva yronwode: nigris (333), nocTifer, lorax666, boboroshi, Troll Towelhead, !
Garden of Joy Blues: former 80 acre hippie commune near Birch Tree in the Missouri Ozarks
Liselotte Erlanger Glozer: illustrated articles on collectible vintage postcards
Jackie Payne: Shades of Blues: a San Francisco Bay Area blues singerADMINISTRATIVE
Lucky Mojo Site Map: the home page for the whole Lucky Mojo electron-pile
All the Pages: descriptive named links to about 1,000 top-level Lucky Mojo web pages
How to Contact Us: we welcome feedback and suggestions regarding maintenance of this site
Make a Donation: please send us a small Paypal donation to keep us in bandwidth and macs!OTHER SITES OF INTEREST
Arcane Archive: thousands of archived Usenet posts on religion, magic, spell-casting, mysticism, and spirituality
Association of Independent Readers and Rootworkers: psychic reading, conjure, and hoodoo root doctor services
Candles and Curios: essays and articles on traditional African American conjure and folk magic, plus shopping
Crystal Silence League: a non-denominational site; post your prayers; pray for others; let others pray for you
Gospel of Satan: the story of Jesus and the angels, from the perspective of the God of this World
Hoodoo Psychics: connect online or call 1-888-4-HOODOO for instant readings now from a member of AIRR
Missionary Independent Spiritual Church: spirit-led, inter-faith; prayer-light services; Smallest Church in the World
Mystic Tea Room: tea leaf reading, teacup divination, and a museum of antique fortune telling cups
Satan Service: an archive presenting the theory, practice, and history of Satanism and Satanists
Southern Spirits: 19th and 20th century accounts of hoodoo, including ex-slave narratives & interviews
Spiritual Spells: lessons in folk magic and spell casting from an eclectic Wiccan perspective, plus shopping
Yronwode Home: personal pages of catherine yronwode and nagasiva yronwode, magical archivists
Yronwode Institution: the Yronwode Institution for the Preservation and Popularization of Indigenous Ethnomagicology