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Call it the season of the witch — there’s no question that mystical jewelry has been on the rise for a while now. Still, the appearance of evil eyes and hamsa hands (more on these later) marks a new level of acceptance of the occult in fashion. While most people might know their astrological sign or own a crystal, wearing evil eye jewelry is somehow spookier. It’s easy enough to read your horoscope in a magazine, but choosing to wear a charm to protect yourself from evil spirits is more intentional, not to mention more visible. Maybe it’s the natural progression of the witchy trend: We’re ready to up the mysterious ante and do something that seems a little more dangerous.

It may feel transgressive now, but it’s crucial to remember that evil eyes aren’t new, and they definitely aren’t uncommon. Even the most basic eye print hearkens back to a long history of sorcery. Nearly every major culture believed in the "gaze of malice" at some point in their history, and the signature blue and white amulets are an ever-present reminder of the tradition’s stronghold in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and some regions of India. Here in the West, we’re just now catching on — and capitalizing on — an already-established tradition.

These protective talismans, known as nazar, are de rigeur in Eastern markets. Their simple shape is what you may have recognized in Alexander McQueen’s latest hairpins and brooches, or in the onslaught of new jewelry designs dominating luxury retailers both online and in store. In their original form, nazar come in the form of small eye-shaped beads that can be strung into bracelets or necklaces, or larger pendants that can be hung in a highly-trafficked area to ward off bad vibes.

Other times, the design is painted onto a place or object for the same effect — it’s not so much the physical representation, but the presence of the symbol itself that activates the magical effects. In fashion, the approach is much the same. Many of the ubiquitous evil eye rings, necklaces, and bracelets currently riding the mystical trend are variations on a theme; what’s missing, however, is the context. According to Draja Mickaharic’s Spiritual Cleansing, in some Eastern cultures, if you admire something in another person’s home, they will offer it to you to avoid getting the evil eye. That’s right: Imagine giving someone your favorite possession just because you don’t want them to curse you unintentionally. That’s how deep this runs.

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