How To Use A Hamsa For Protection + The History Of This Common Spiritual Symbol

Have you ever noticed a symbol of an open hand in your local spiritual store, yoga studio, or even on a piece of jewelry, and wondered what it meant? The hamsa symbol—often appearing as a hand shape with an eye in the center, along with other intricate designs—is usually worn or displayed as a sign of protection. The popular symbol has been used across diverse cultures, and although its interpretations may differ, the hamsa can be a powerful image for anyone who wants to ward off negative energy and protect themselves from harm. 

The hamsa, also sometimes referred to as the Hand of Fatima or the Eye of Miriam, is a symbol of a hand with an eye in the center. The hamsa relates to the belief in the evil eye, with the hamsa itself offering protection from the evil eye.

As such, according to astrologer and spirituality expert Maria Hayes, the hamsa is a popular symbol of protection and is often used an amulet. “This amulet is incorporated in various contexts and objects such as in jewelry, sculptures, and decorative elements, and the hamsa is also a popular symbolic element in art,” she tells mindbodygreen.

Hayes says that wearing a hamsa or displaying one in your home can help defend you from harm, illness, or the evil eye, which some cultures believe is a curse or spell that causes sudden ailments and other misfortunes. The hamsa symbol may not always have an evil eye in the center, though, and is just one variation—and generally speaking, the image is commonly associated with themes like prosperity, wisdom, and strength, Hayes says.

It's been connected to a number of traditions for centuries, and remains a popular symbol for warding off negativity today. As assistant professor of religious studies at the University of Denver, Dheepa Sundaram, Ph.D., previously told mindbodygreen, it has connections to Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

Like many well-known spiritual symbols, the exact origin story of the hamsa isn’t black-and-white and can differ depending on culture, lineage, and religion. We do know, however, that the hand has been symbolically used in artwork and religion for generations, with one tomb at Khirbet el-Qom showing a hamsa-like hand dating back to the 8th century BCE.

“The origins of the hamsa are uncertain, but it has been said to be utilized by various cultures ranging from the ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations to the various cultural groups of the Semetic people,” Hayes tells mindbodygreen. Across these groups, Hayes says the hamsa’s meaning has been notably consistent in its representation of divinity, mysticism, and its ability to protect against harm.

The Hand of Venus was also believed to boost fertility and protect against the dangers of pregnancy and childbirth in the ancient world, according to associate professor of Islamic history, law, and society at Georgetown University, Amira El Azhary Sonbol Ph.D.

As she writes in her book Beyond the Exotic: Women's Histories in Islamic Societies, "A survey of ancient and modern amulets throughout the world surprisingly concludes that the image of the open right hand was a universally recognized and employed sign of protection, from the early Mesopotamian amulets to the Qāt Ištar and the Qāt Inana, the mano Pantea, the right hand of the Buddha in the mudra of teaching or protection, and the Hand-of-Faitma."

Maggie Wilson, a spirituality expert and author of the forthcoming book Metaphysical AF from Union Square, tells mindbodygreen that the hamsa has been related to Jewish, Muslim, and Christian traditions. For example, the hamsa is sometimes known as the Hand of Fatima, referring to the daughter of the Prophet Mohammed (the founder of Islam), and the Hand of Miriam (Moses’ sister), Wilson says. “Walter Hildburgh, who was an art historian, suggested that the hamsa had Christian roots, claiming it could have been influenced by Mary,” she adds. 

There are many ways to work with the hamsa symbol in your own life, from wearing hamsa jewelry to displaying a hamsa as artwork in your home.

But what if you don’t necessarily identify as spiritual or religious, or the hamsa didn’t exactly originate in your country or community of origin? Is it ever appropriate to wear or display one? The experts we spoke to say you’re probably in the clear as long as it’s done in a respectful way.

“Displaying or wearing hamsa jewelry is appropriate even if it is not part of one’s personal culture, just as long as one displays or wears jewelry that depicts the hamsa with a certain degree of propriety,” Hayes tells mindbodygreen, adding, “Some of the popular ways to work with this symbol are by way of visual or symbolic art and jewelry. It is even possible to have the hamsa as a tattoo! The hamsa is believed to be a symbol of protection, thus no harm is meant when one displays or wears it.”

Since hamsas appear in multiple cultural and faith-based traditions, some experts say it’s generally acceptable to work with the symbol in a personal way—or even in tandem with symbols and amulets from your own culture.

“In terms of cultural appropriation, I know that both the Jewish and Muslim faiths have hamsas,” Glazer says. “For those who aren't Jewish or Muslim, I wouldn't necessarily say it's a bad idea [to wear one], though I encourage people to also find rituals from their own traditions. I'm not inherently opposed to borrowing from other traditions, but it really depends on the reasoning behind it.”

Generally speaking, the hamsa is similar to symbols like the evil eye, lotus flower, mandala, and the om symbol—all of which have various cultural meanings, but are used and depicted in a variety of contexts and utilized by various cultures and belief systems.

Whether you’re brand new to learning about the hamsa symbol or you’ve been working with it for a while, it’s never too late to start learning about spiritual symbols and what they stand for. And if you want to boost the divine protection around you, hamsa can be a great symbol to start incorporating into your everyday life.