The Hand of Fatima (hamsa)

Hamsas I made to sell on Etsy.

I recently found (in Oklahoma, of all places.) some charms like this and decided to decorate them. I instantly recognized them as the Hand of Fatima. But honestly I didn’t know what the Hand symbolizes. So I decided to do a little digging.

The hand of Fatima also known as the Hand of Mary or the Hand of Miriam depending on your religious leanings, I believe it’s proper name is the Hamsa.

It is a symbol of protection. Thought to be potent defense against the evil eye. But the hand itself is an ancient an universal symbol of protection attributed to Inana, Ishtar, Venus even the Buddha whose mudras are seen mirrored by none other than Christ himself.

I found this rockin' Hamsa on google images

         In earlier times it not only represented protection from the evil eye it also served to promote fertility and easy pregnancies, which maybe why it almost always is associated with Goddesses of the loving arts.

         Often seen in jewelry, it is also painted on doors and walls or hung up as tapestry and charms.

The hand is associated with the number 5. Five fingers. Five is a blessed number in ancient times denoting blessings, power and strength. The opened hand wards off evil and the closed hand with palm up denotes blessings and teachings.

The eye in the middle of the hand is also a universal symbol of protection against the evil eye or evil in general. The eye symbolism gets me because of my love for Medusa. Who legends it’s theorized evolved from the corpses of dead sailors and devices used to keep crows away. (Nice mix there. I’ll explain that in another post)

Ancient scarecrows and even some today are little more than an eye like object that reflects the sun.

It makes me wonder how much of our world beliefs and habits are based on simple everyday things like keeping birds from your food.