Evil eye?

[~Anastasia~]

It's not just babies, it's complimenting anyone on anything. lol Ptooey three times afterwards, unless you are dark-eyed. I know. Crazy stuff.

Thinking about it, that might explain a couple of odd expressions I've seen after giving someone a compliment. Most don't react to it though, so I hadn't realized it applied to complimenting anyone.

Not sure I can figure out and remember who is bothered and who is not. It would be simpler if my eyes were brown, lol

 

[buzuxi02]

Not sure I can figure out and remember who is bothered and who is not. It would be simpler if my eyes were brown, lol

Wait till they find out that blue and green eyed people develop higher rates of blindness. Becareful how often you use that evil eye

 

[~Anastasia~]

Wait till they find out that blue and green eyed people develop higher rates of blindness. Becareful how often you use that evil eye

Well I hope I've never used it!

I don't like to think about that actually - there is inherited blindness of both sides of my family. Doctor scared me half to death when I was being seen after being in a car accident when I was about 12 or 13. It was a teaching hospital, and the doctor (who was probably an intern) looked into my eyes, exclaimed "Oh my god!" and threw down his instruments, and ran out of the room, returning a few minutes later with a doctor who examined me. Turns out I have some anomaly in my retina that my grandfather had. Hasn't caused me any trouble, thank God. But that doctor scared me by reacting that way!

 

[Dorothea]

Thinking about it, that might explain a couple of odd expressions I've seen after giving someone a compliment. Most don't react to it though, so I hadn't realized it applied to complimenting anyone.

Not sure I can figure out and remember who is bothered and who is not. It would be simpler if my eyes were brown, lol

Your church must have a lot of folks from the old country, so to speak...still living that mentality. Must be kinda interesting but odd, too, for you.

 

[Dorothea]

Wait till they find out that blue and green eyed people develop higher rates of blindness. Becareful how often you use that evil eye

 

[~Anastasia~]

Your church must have a lot of folks from the old country, so to speak...still living that mentality. Must be kinda interesting but odd, too, for you.

I do think most are from the old country. Quite a few go back to visit - more than I might have expected.

Especially anyone 30s and older, but some of the younger ones too. Family members have been coming as they grow up, I think? Most lived in Greece into adulthood. We do have a few from some other countries as well.

It is both odd and interesting.

I'm getting a crash course right now - in what I'm not sure. I guess since they know I'm about to be baptized, I am being told LOTS of things, which is interesting.

Also being made aware of more of the "politics" and money and church issues and a bit of gossip and that sort of thing, which I really wish I wasn't being told. Some of it is a source of those unwanted little thoughts that come in, and I've been wrestling with that for much of today. But I think I won. Until next time, I guess, LOL. Apparently being baptized means it's time to open the floodgates, LOL.

 

[Dylan Michael]

It's not just babies, it's complimenting anyone on anything. lol Ptooey three times afterwards, unless you are dark-eyed. I know. Crazy stuff.

Darn it.

My eyes are dark brown, I kinda want the superpower to curse people.

Everyone in my family except my my mom and myself have blue or green eyes.

 

[Dorothea]

Darn it.

My eyes are dark brown, I kinda want the superpower to curse people.

Everyone in my family except my my mom and myself have blue or green eyes.

 

[Dorothea]

I do think most are from the old country. Quite a few go back to visit - more than I might have expected.

Especially anyone 30s and older, but some of the younger ones too. Family members have been coming as they grow up, I think? Most lived in Greece into adulthood. We do have a few from some other countries as well.

It is both odd and interesting.

I'm getting a crash course right now - in what I'm not sure. I guess since they know I'm about to be baptized, I am being told LOTS of things, which is interesting.

Also being made aware of more of the "politics" and money and church issues and a bit of gossip and that sort of thing, which I really wish I wasn't being told. Some of it is a source of those unwanted little thoughts that come in, and I've been wrestling with that for much of today. But I think I won. Until next time, I guess, LOL. Apparently being baptized means it's time to open the floodgates, LOL.

lol. Probably just tests to see if those stupid things will sway you to not be baptized. when I was at our former parish, my family and I were very involved. We still managed to not get too involved in the gossip and politics. I just try to distance myself from that, and I don't care to get involved in that anyway.

 

[~Anastasia~]

lol. Probably just tests to see if those stupid things will sway you to not be baptized. when I was at our former parish, my family and I were very involved. We still managed to not get too involved in the gossip and politics. I just try to distance myself from that, and I don't care to get involved in that anyway.

Interesting. I wonder if that's why in some cases.

I've been told more "stuff" in the past week and a half than in months prior all added together, I think. In some cases by people who have not talked to me before. I'm a little unsure how to react, as I don't wish to be involved either but I don't feel it's my place to rebuke. Funny, but Father addressed this in Bible Study last week too.

Anyway, mostly I let them talk, give a short nod that I heard, and don't reply. Certainly don't repeat. I should say it's not like major scandal or smear campaigns - it's more like the airing of grievances.

I hope it's not an attempt to create division as far as taking sides. I won't do that either, I hope. Would prefer to try to support people as I can (if they feel better that I will listen) but I really, REALLY don't like the kind of thinking that says "you have to not like this person/not agree with that/whatever" in order to be my friend.

Lord have mercy, I hope it's not that. But I don't think it is. I'm just a little puzzled? Maybe they mean to warn me - in which case I've already picked things up and have an idea where to be cautious in certain places, and understand that some people are as they are, and just try not to take it personally, as I think it's an occasion to sin to let them offend me when I can prevent it.

Now I feel like I'm gossiping.

 

[heart of peace]

My great grandmother, knew one of these prayers (dont know if it was church sanctioned or something passed down). It was actually fascinating in that she would yawn numerous times in the course of this 2 minute prayer. Depending on how many times she yawned ( or that's what I can gather) she could tell you if it was from an evil eye or have nothing to do with it.

I recall a friend of mine mentioning that someone must be giving her the evil eye once in church because she couldn't stop yawning. I never understood that comment she made to me (we were teenagers at the time). Your tidbit here gives me a bit more context...thanks buzuxi.

 

[heart of peace]

Yes, it's just superstition as everyone has pointed out, and I appreciated buzuxi's historical explanation. Learned something there. Remember the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding? The part where they spit? They do that not to give the mati (sp) (evil eye), which apparently, only light-eyed people can give. For example, if a person with blue eyes comments on their friend's pretty baby by saying, "oh, isn't she beautiful!", then they'll ptooey three times so that no bad things happen to the baby - give bad luck in a way. That's what my mom told me back when i was in my teens and 20s. And it still is practiced among many Greeks.

I even find myself doing that if I don't want to "jinx" myself. I do the three "ptooeys." Yeah, bad habit.

My priest actually explained that the mati is often confused with the mock spitting action as being part of the same superstition. While the mati is not part of the Orthodox faith, the mock spitting is connected. It is usually used in conjunction with the words "Get behind me Satan" which can be connected to the rite of baptism when the devil is spat upon (the renunciation of Satan being followed by blowing and spitting in the air in the direction of the rear of the Church to indicate contempt for the devil and banishing him from one's presence).

 

[buzuxi02]

I recall a friend of mine mentioning that someone must be giving her the evil eye once in church because she couldn't stop yawning. I never understood that comment she made to me (we were teenagers at the time). Your tidbit here gives me a bit more context...thanks buzuxi.

Yes this is also why I mentioned the word "hypnotise" as a term Westerners better understand. The word hypnos is greek for sleep and the hypnotist is putting you in a trance as he attempts to implant some new mode into your mind.

If you were to go back 200 years and show some people footage of a hypnotist telling someone to concentrate on a swinging amulet and telling them they are getting drousy, the ancient will understand that the person has fallen under the evil eye.

 

[buzuxi02]

I spent a good bit of time googling and reading about the Churches and museums over there, and a few travel blogs. I haven't been able to find good photos of the icons, but I suppose it's just as well, as it would probably just make me sad.

Thanks for the info though - that area seems very interesting, and it was a good read. I never envy for much, but I must admit, those articles make me wish I could travel.

If I could, I'd go to Greece someday. And second on my list would be to visit Hagia Sophia. Or maybe it would be first, and Greece second.

Beautiful iconography!

Notice how the faces especially on the icon of the three youths and angel of daniel have no faces:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct...MC57HiLMIWTPLF5UnZ1x53ag&ust=1416638120227927


https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct...fezilgsHVvbLv3_oKxhTpZKg&ust=1416638272304950


Here its more clear:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct...fezilgsHVvbLv3_oKxhTpZKg&ust=1416638272304950


Icon of the transfiguration were the three disciples had there eyes and faces scratched out for fear of evil eye:

http://www.turkeyculturaltour.com/resim/turkiye/buyuk/189a065dc9cd9758996fd42fc462e546.jpg



notice how Christ and the saints and angels have had their eyes removed:

http://www.pbase.com/fernandopr/image/122988977




oops sorry some of those links don't seem to work. But if you google goreme open air museum and click on 'images' you get the idea

 

[~Anastasia~]

Notice how the faces especially on the icon of the three youths and angel of daniel have no faces:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct...MC57HiLMIWTPLF5UnZ1x53ag&ust=1416638120227927


https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct...fezilgsHVvbLv3_oKxhTpZKg&ust=1416638272304950


Here its more clear:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct...fezilgsHVvbLv3_oKxhTpZKg&ust=1416638272304950


Icon of the transfiguration were the three disciples had there eyes and faces scratched out for fear of evil eye:

http://www.turkeyculturaltour.com/resim/turkiye/buyuk/189a065dc9cd9758996fd42fc462e546.jpg



notice how Christ and the saints and angels have had their eyes removed:

Snake Church, Goreme Open Air Museum photo - Fernando Peres Rodrigues photos at pbase.com




oops sorry some of those links don't seem to work. But if you google goreme open air museum and click on 'images' you get the idea

Thank you. They all worked; I just had to follow a redirect on some of them.

Wow that is strange. And sad to me, that they defaced these wonderful icons. I can't imagine looking at them while removing the eyes and faces.

I suppose that's a very strong superstition. Now that I have seen it, I am noticing that some people in our Church do wear bracelets like mine, or elaborate amulets on necklace chains.

 

[Dorothea]

My priest actually explained that the mati is often confused with the mock spitting action as being part of the same superstition. While the mati is not part of the Orthodox faith, the mock spitting is connected. It is usually used in conjunction with the words "Get behind me Satan" which can be connected to the rite of baptism when the devil is spat upon (the renunciation of Satan being followed by blowing and spitting in the air in the direction of the rear of the Church to indicate contempt for the devil and banishing him from one's presence).

Makes sense. Yes, the mock spitting has been coupled with the evil eye superstition as far as I've seen.

 

[xenia]

I knew some people who ran a day care and the Greek babies came with evil eye amulets pinned to their clothing. All's I can say was this was really a turn off for these Protestant women who now view Orthodoxy as a superstitious religion.

 

[~Anastasia~]

I knew some people who ran a day care and the Greek babies came with evil eye amulets pinned to their clothing. All's I can say was this was really a turn off for these Protestant women who now view Orthodoxy as a superstitious religion.

Oh, that's not good.

All the babies - well, toddlers - that I see tend to have their baptismal crosses pinned to their clothing (in the back so they can't mess with it, I'm guessing).