http://spillwords.com/author/phyllispcolucci/
https://www.amazon.com/Phyllis-P.-Colucci/e/B00VMU8B44
(PHOTOS FROM PINTEREST)
MALOCCHIO: “Malocchio” is an Italian term which means "evil eye" (Mal-Occhio). It comes from a strong gaze or stare from someone envious, wanting to cause someone else bad luck, illness, or misfortune. Keep in mind the strong gaze or stare may also come from an innocent admiration; but the results are the same. It leads to intense headaches and/or nausea for anyone who is a victim of “malocchio” (Adult, child – anyone). Italians protect themselves by wearing horns (plastic, silver, gold) - pinning small horns to their children’s underclothes; hanging large plastic horns from their rear-view mirrors in their cars. They even try to fight “malocchio” off with horned hand gestures if they sense a malicious person around them.
...Removing “malocchio” involves a person who serves as a healer (who is usually a friend, neighbor or relative who knows how to do this, through prayer, in order to break the curse.) Some healers may have other rituals they use to help those afflicted by “malocchio”. If the healer was unable to remove the curse, they would inform the person who contacted them for help that they were not a victim of “malocchio”, and what they had was simply a bad headache or a stomach virus. Many times the person truly afflicted with “malocchio”, would call the “healer” back, after an hour or so, to thank them as they were fully healed and feeling better again; however, the healer already knew that... Insanity to some, amazing to others.
Here is an Excerpt from my dialogue-driven Novel, “The Hand She Dealt to Me” - (Malocchio, Psychic, Tarot, Crime, Drugs, Mafia, Family, Friendship, Love, Betrayal, Revenge) – written by Phyllis P. Colucci (aka “fictiontarot”):
https://www.amazon.com/Hand-She-Dealt-Me-ebook/dp/B00E151LJO
…You started it Mom. Look at you… Don’t give me the “evil eye”.
The evil eye! Oh you mean “malocchio” Julia? That comes in handy sometimes.
Whatever you call it Mom. I remember when Grandma used to do that thing she did. She looked weird when she was doing it. Why did she give the evil eye?
What? She didn’t give the evil eye Julia, she took it away. Don’t make a mistake now about what your Grandma did. She would never give the evil eye to anyone. She took it away with her words and prayers, which she said in Italian.
I remember Mom. She looked really weird doing that thing.
I know, but it was all part of the process. Do you remember all the phone calls she got from family and friends asking Grandma to take their headaches away? They all thought that they had gotten the evil eye from someone during the course of the day. You were so young at the time, but you would watch her in awe, amazed at the way she looked in her little trance. You were too young though to really understand what she was doing. I would just say to you that Grandma prayed in funny ways and that we should let her be for a while, just to distract you from her. You would accept that and go back to playing with your dolls; but Grandma never turned anyone away. She would stop whatever she was doing and take a seat in her big old chair in the corner of her living room, and begin to pray and chant. Sometimes heavy tears would roll down her cheeks for minutes upon minutes, and she would yawn endlessly throughout her little prayer session. It was something to see. I was amazed by it. It was almost like she was possessed for a short time. Her face would get beet red and she would exist in her own little world for a while. Once the tears and yawning stopped, she’d call up the person she was praying for only to find out that their headache had gone away. Grandma would say “Oh, they were overlooked. They had it bad”.
What does that mean, they had it bad?
Well that’s what the evil eye is Julia. Someone may have looked at the person in a strange way, or even in a good way. They may have admired their clothing or their shoes or, unfortunately, wished them harm with a nasty look. That’s why they call it “malocchio”, which means bad eye, evil eye. Isn’t that something Julia? It’s a powerful thing. Grandma said a person can get the evil eye innocently. It could come from someone who actually likes you and just likes looking at you; likes the way you walk, likes the way you talk. You can become “overlooked” by that person for a good reason. That’s why Italian mothers, especially those born on the other side, you know over in Italy; well they get so upset when people hover over their little infants when they walk them in the baby carriages. They feel that the baby can get “overlooked” by people who actually mean well but can innocently put “malocchio” on the babies by just admiring how cute they are. Sometimes the babies spontaneously end up crying uncontrollably, or begin suffering with stomach pains, vomiting, with no medical explanation. That’s so sad when babies suffer from “malocchio”. Grandma helped the babies too. But it can go both ways, Julia; people could have bad intentions as well as good intentions. Either way, “malocchio” can happen. That’s why some mothers pin those little gold horns onto their baby’s tee shirts, for protection from “malocchio”. I prefer a gold cross because that little gold horn on an infant is a little out there for me. I’m not even sure if they still do that as much today. I know you might laugh at this one though, but when your father and I got married back in the ‘70’s, we weren’t sure what gifts to select for the bridal party. So for the ushers we decided on these one-inch gold horns, which were really classy looking. The guys wore them around their necks, traditionally to keep the evil away. That was a popular thing to wear back then, for men. It was actually a great gift, a welcomed gift. Lots of guys even hung these great big plastic horns in red or beige on their rear-view mirrors in their cars too. You’re laughing Julia. This was a thing back then, what can I say?
An Italian thing. What did you give the bridesmaids as gifts, garlic?
Oh now you’re making fun of me. We gave the girls very feminine tri-gold, braided bracelets that smelled like garlic.
Are you kidding me Mom?
Yes, Julia I’m kidding you. We did give them bracelets, no garlic though. I’m just humoring you. Gosh…But listen. Back to Grandma, I remember her telling me that once she started to cry and yawn, cry and yawn, cry and yawn, she was actually taking the evil from that person and bringing it on to herself where she would stop it in its tracks with her prayers. If she had no tears and no yawns, she’d call the person up and tell them it’s just a regular headache, take two aspirins. I found that hilarious. She was like a doctor – take two aspirins and call me in the morning. But Julia, it’s really unique stuff - isn’t it? I grew up with it, I saw it firsthand.
It’s kind of creepy if you ask me. I think it’s an old wives’ tale Mom. I don’t think “malocchio” exists.
I don’t know Julia. I’ve seen Grandma in action and she got it right with everyone who called her. She knew right away if someone was suffering from “malocchio” or if it was just a regular headache. There’s a lot to be said for the old timers and their old-world ways. Just because something seems illogical to us, that doesn’t mean it can’t be real.
You mean their old-world superstitions Mom. Come on, you don’t really believe in that stuff - do you?
I don’t think many people practice that today since that generation is dying out, but who’s to say whether or not “malocchio” does or doesn’t exist. Whether I believe it or not, I know what I saw with grandma. To me, seeing is believing.
Well just in case, please stop looking at me like that Mom. I don’t need the evil eye on me. Do you know how to do this “malocchio” thing if I come home with the evil eye?
Unfortunately, I don’t Julia. You’ll have to stick to aspirin and hope for the best. Sorry honey. When Grandma tried to teach it to me, she said it had to be learned at midnight on Christmas Eve. I didn’t have the patience to learn it, especially since I really didn’t speak Italian that well and the entire prayer or chant had to be said in Italian. So to this day, I don’t even know what the words are. I think it had something to do with two heads of an animal, or two eyes of a lamb. I’m not sure. I really don’t remember it. It was a little strange, I have to admit. I also found it kind of ironic that Grandma and her friends would do this thing, yet get themselves to mass each morning; and every Sunday. They’d do “malocchio” one minute, then run to church and make novenas the next. Actually it’s comical when you think about it. These old ladies, including grandma, were the cutest, most innocent women you’d ever want to meet. They were kind and sweet, and always willing to help someone. They were very proud of their traditions and very proud of being Catholic. To them they were always working for the good. No matter what it was; praying the rosary or praying “malocchio.” It was all good.
Mom, “malocchio” sounds more like Black Magic.
Maybe. Maybe not. Who’s to say. I don’t think Grandma and the old timers looked at it that way. If anything, they felt they were helping people through prayer with God’s blessing. They didn’t use this to harm anyone, they were doing the opposite in trying to remove the “malocchio”. In their hearts they felt they were doing a very good thing.
Well I wish Grandma was here right now. She would “pray” you right off of me. Just like that! If I get a bad headache Mom, it’ll be because of the way you’re looking at me right now. You’re overlooking me – and all I said to you was I’ve seen you and Dad in some passionate moments. I only said that because you said Mike and I couldn’t keep our hands off each other, and that we’d probably embarrass the dog if he was alive. Please don’t forget that I am 21 years old. I’m not a child anymore. I know the story about the birds and the bees Mom.
Oh stop blowing things out of proportion Julia. You’re so dramatic. You’re not at scene study class honey, you’re home in our kitchen. For the record, I am not giving you the evil eye, I’m just communicating my thoughts to you through my eyes. It seems to be working too. Do you see the magic in eye contact? It’s powerful Julia. Ooooooohhhhh…do you feel the power?
You’re creeping me out Mom. Your eyes are bulging out of your head. Stop playing around like that. Enough of this voodoo stuff.
Voodoo stuff? I don’t know the first thing about voodoo.
Oh you just know a little something about “malocchio”. You don’t think that’s voodoo?
Julia, all I did was look at you. Would you stop making a big deal out of it. Now I have to laugh because you’re being so silly. I’m making my eyes bulge on purpose for your benefit dear. Enjoy the moment and lighten up. Consider it mother/daughter bonding; just having a little fun together. Stop being so serious. Come on, I know you want to laugh about it. Grandma must be rolling in her grave right now chuckling over this herself.
But Mom, you just gave me a look like…
Like what? Oh come on now Julia. Stop it. I’m playing with you. My God, I can’t even look at my daughter anymore. Stop this nonsense and let’s get back to normalcy please.
Whatever normalcy is in this house…Sorry! I’m kidding Mom! There you go again with that look. Okay, I’ll let it go. It’s just you Mom, being you. I feel a bad headache coming on...
Are you serious Julia?
Just kidding. Now it’s my turn to enjoy a little mother/daughter bonding; just having a little fun together. Right Mom?
Oh wonderful. You are such a…a real…you’re such a buster.
Go ahead, you can say the whole thing. I’m a real ball buster. I know. I learned it from you.
You are so bad Julia. You learned it from me? Well then, I must be a real inspiration to you. That’s a good thing. I’m flattered.
