The Hamsa Hand is known to invoke luck, blessings for peace of mind together with its powers to protect against harm from the evil eye of others.
The Hamsa is an open palm hand shaped symbol, known to give blessings of good fortune as well as being a protective symbol.
How does the Hamsa offer protection and blessings.
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- The right hand is believed to be a protective symbol that can stop the evil eye and offer blessings.
- The hand has come to symbolize the hand of god, the hand used for priestly blessings, the hand one uses to work for sustenance.
- The five fingers of the Hamsa hand symbolizes the belief in the magical properties of the number five (five books old testament, five commandments on two tablets, five words of Jacob blessing, five senses).
Powers of a Hamsa includes protection against the evil eye.
The evil eye describes a curse that a person casts on someone else with their malicious look, without the victim’s awareness, usually out of jealousy and envy.
The belief in the evil eye dates back to ancient cultures, simply it is ‘that look others give’ upon someone’s good fortune with an evil inclination. It is believed that the evil eye can be cast on someone with just a look and glare of bad, evil thoughts by the caster.
It is believed that one does not have to actually physically look at their victim in order to cast the curse of the evil eye; just having bad intentions is enough.
Hamsa Hand With Eye Symbol
Many hamsa’s have an image of an eye in the middle of the palm because one of the major purposes of the hamsa is to defend against the evil eye.
It was once believed that one can protect themselves and their loved ones from the evil eye glare of others by carrying a mirror so that it would reflect the evil eye back to the caster.
The same theory applies to the eye within the hamsa. The eye doesn’t just stops the evil eye, the eye acts as a mirror to reflect it back to the person casting evil thoughts.
Often the eyes within a hamsa, and sometimes the hamsa itself, are often colored in shades of blue with white, as the color blue is associated with divine protection (the color of the sky) and blue is also known to calm the mind.
The Hamsa a Unifying Symbol
The Hamsa is popular all over the world, in both religious and cultural acceptance for its powers of blessings, good luck and protection.
In Judaism, the Hamsa is known as the hand of Miriam (Moses’ sister and biblical prophet that saved Moses from death ). In Islam it’s the hand of Fatima (Muhammad’s daughter), whilst in Christianity it’s known as the hand of Mary and in ancient pagan culture it was known as the hand of the goddess.
For Hindus and Buddhists, it symbolizes chakras, energy flow in the body, the five senses and the madras that effect them. The five fingers connect to the five elements and chakras.
Hamsa Appearances
Most of the times, the fingers of the hamsa hand are pressed together, a shape that believed to bring luck.
The fingers are usually symmetrical; the thumb and the little finger are at the same size and height, and the other 3 fingers are higher and also at the same size and height. This gives the feelings of harmony and divine protection.
The fingers of the hand of the hamsa can be open (blessing of the priests) or the fingers closed together (a symbol of stop for protection).
The Shape of Hamsa Hand
Most of the hamsas appear in the shape of a palm, and there are some that don’t resemble it at all. Instead, there are other symbols that replace the palm and the fingers.
While most hamsas are a simple hand and palm shaped, today it has grown with contemporary art and design. All giving different characteristics to the hand design with interesting stories and meaning, each one of them giving different meaning and purpose for the hamsa.
Red Hand Hamsa
Because the color red is universally viewed as anti-demonic, some traditions will also paint the Hamsa in red.
Some cultures to paint or print a red hand on the walls of the house. These red palm prints are used in similar ways to hamsa and are another variation of the hamsa hand to protect the house.
How YOU Can Use A Hamsa For Blessings and Protection
Enjoy the positive aspect of the Hamsa hand for all its joy, protection and celebration. Use a Hamsas to decorate one’s house, wear it as jewelry, or on clothing
How and Where to hang the hamsa and there meanings.
Hamsa Hand Pointing Down – When the fingers are pointing down it gives blessings for abundance, good fortune and to calm down fights that might occur in the home. It is a positive sign of attracting good things your way and inviting positive energy to your life.
Hamsa Hand Pointing Up– When the fingers are up, it is used more defensive nature against one’s own negative energy, as it repels evil that might come towards you.
It’s very common to hang hamsa by the door/entrance of the house, or on the door entrance of the house. Because it’s believed that when evil comes, it will enter the house or room through the front door or entrance.
With that said, it is also very common to hang hamsa’s in a central place, usually on a wall. In this case, aside the protection, it gives strength and security to the house and its occupants.
Often times, hamsas are hung in the room of a mother to be or in a newborn baby’s room, or any room, to protect one when they’re most vulnerable.
Hamsa To Bring Good Luck and Feelings of Harmony
The fingers of the hamsa hand are pressed together, a shape that believed to bring luck.
The fingers being symmetrical gives the feelings of harmony and divine protection.
Most of the hamsas appear in the shape of a palm, and there are some that don’t resemble it at all. Instead, there are other symbols that replace the palm and the fingers.
Beyond the many religious and cultural attributes of the hamsa symbol, it has become very common to draw hamsas and use them in design and art forms as well.
Enjoy the positive aspect of the hamsa hand for all its joy, protection and celebration. Use a Hamsas to decorate one’s house and giving more color and life to the gathering of the family, as it also encourages people to be happy and feel the joy of life.
More Hamsa Articles: The Hamsa & Its Jewish Origins Why is Hamsa a Traditional Housewarming Gift Hang a Hamsa for Good Luck & Blessings
Hamsa for Luck, Protection and Blessings
It’s very common to hang hamsa on a wall for protection, as it gives strength and security to the home and its occupants.