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Brevi: an Italian folk magic charm against the evil eye and how to make your own

Learn how to protect yourself and others from the evil eye with this Italian folk remedy.

I’m back with more European folk magic! This time we’re diving into Italian folk magic practices. This isn’t a comprehensive look at Italian magic (though if you’re interested in an overview I’d be happy to write one) rather it’s a close look at a particular protective charm from southern Italy. It’s a simple, yet effective charm with a long history. Everything is thoroughly researched through academic sources in anthropology, folklore, and first hand accounts. You can either click the link or read this post, either way I hope this is meaningful and educational for you🌛🌝🌜

Brevi: an Italian folk magic charm against the evil eye and how to make your own

Like many Mediterraneans, Italians are greatly concerned with the potential to be afflicted with the evil eye. Many of the folk magic practices performed by jana and benedettihealers are intended to divine the cause of the malocchio and rid it from those who come to them. Their craft has been passed down for generations and their services are highly respected. Like with other folk magic healers, most jana and benedetti do not consider themselves witches, instead they see themselves as “having the sign”, people chosen by god to help others. Clients come to them for a variety of needs both physical and spiritual. These healers perform divination rituals, locate lost objects, make love charms, and more — though mostly, they remedy the malocchio.

Remedies range from complex, lengthy multi-step rituals, to simple prayers and gestures. Whatever means a cunning person uses varies from region to region, though in Basilicata/ Lucania where my family comes from, the evil eye is typically cured and prevented with brevi. These are small black cloth pouches filled with various sacred herbs, protective amulets and stones, objects made of iron, images of saints, and Palm Sunday ashes. These bags are worn close to the skin, either around the neck, tucked into a bra, or in a wallet. Contact with the skin is considered to be an important part of this protective charm, depending on the region and advice of the healer. Though brevi are typically prepared and empowered by the prayers of the healer, it is not uncommon for mothers to make them for their children.

What goes into the brevi bag is highly subjective and personal, though there are commonalities in their contents from state to state. Medals of the Madonna, a small cross or charm, and rosemary are common in most places. There are more specific additions such as the cimaruta, the cornicello, the mano cornuta and mano fica, or pieces of coral. The cimaruta is a popular Neopolitan talisman typically worn around the neck or hung above an infant’s bed. Made of silver, the cimaruta is meant to resemble a sprig of rue, one of the most sacred herbs. Each of the 3 rue branches blossom into protective magical symbols. These include, but are not limited to: a crescent moon, the sun, a heart shaped key, a sacred heart, a fish, or a rooster.

Charm available: on Etsy White Peach Cottage.

[Image description: A typical silver cimaruta charm. Made to resemble a sprig of rue, the branches end in protective symbols. This particular pendant features a cross, a crescent moon, a sacred heart, and a rooster.]

Along with medals of saints, the cornicello, mano cornuta and mano fica can be added to brevi bags. The corno is a popular Southern Italian amulet, symbolic of a ram or bull’s horn. It signifies virility and strength, projecting a masculine energy. These charms are typically made of silver, gold, or coral, all are considered significant sacred materials. The red coral is reminiscent of blood and vitality, bringing luck to the wearer and silver has long been used as a protective measure against evil spirits. The cornicello is typically worn by men. Mano charms have ancient origins — dating back to the Etruscans. Mano fica, the fig hand, is associated with femininity and is thought to have the power to oppose the evil eye. The mano cornuta, the horned hand, has similar roots and meanings to the cornicello, and if done as a physical gesture, it can reflect the malocchio back to whoever cast it. 

In addition to the medals, several sacred herbs are utilized. Many of the herbs are associated with Saint John or the Virgin Mary, though if you are a secular witch like me or worship pagan pantheons, you can forgo the Catholic aspects of this charm. Many of the herbs have ancient associations dating back to the classical Roman period, making their meanings highly adaptable. The Romans associated various herbs with Diana (Artemis), Juno (Hera), and Phoebus (Apollo). So it is not difficult to transcribe the correspondences.

The primary herb used in brevi bags is rue. Rue is sometimes referred to as “the herb of grace” and has long been used in blessing water and exorcisms. Rosemary protects against negativity and is used in cleansing rituals. Roses symbolize the divine love of the Madonna and evoke healing energies. Lavender has a long history in Italy of being a prophylactic against evil, with evidence dating back to ancient Rome. Mugwort is associated with witchcraft and magic, mostly in connection with Artemis/ Diana and the moon. Some brevi contain chili pepper seeds — the fruit itself resembles the cornicello, carrying a similar meaning. The seeds are associated with protecting and warding.

Once the charms and herbs are chosen and brevi are assembled, cunning folk recite prayers and bless the charm. They recite common Catholic prayers 3 times and typically perform these blessings on holy days and Saint feasts such as notte di san Giovanni — St. John’s eve, and Christmas eve. St. John’s eve takes place around the same time as the summer solstice and the celebrations across Europe still have elements that resemble pagan celebrations such as the Roman Vestalia festival. Some healers do not pray over the bag, rather they recite poetry that evokes their intent. The process of making brevi is highly personalized to each healer and region.

[Image description: author’s personal brevi elements. They include a black sachet, rosemary, mugwort, rose petals, lavender, red clover, obsidian and a white gold cornicello.]

I have adopted and adapted making and carrying a brevi bag into my own practice. It gives me a sense of deeper connection with my ancestors, especially since brevi are a popular folk remedy in the region we come from. In my own brevi rituals I include herbs that are personally meaningful to me with magical correspondences that resonate with my intent. I typically use rosemary, mugwort, rose petals, lavender, and local red clover. Harvesting and foraging some of the herbs brings me closer to nature and makes the bag that much more meaningful. I also include a shard of obsidian which is a powerful warding stone. I like to think its reflective nature is aiming the evil eye back to whoever or whatever is aiming negative intent towards me. I put a family heirloom in my bag as well —  my great grandfather’s cornicello, passed down from my father to me. It gives me a sense that my ancestors are protecting me. I write my own personal incantations for my brevi, typically poems or prayers to nature spirits. Finally, I charge it every full moon, imbuing it with magical energy and replace the herbs every so often to keep its power.

Crafting charms and spells can be highly personal and meaningful. Creating your own brevi bag can invite in positive energies, bolster spiritual defenses, and connect you to a long history of spiritual healing. Brevi bags are a low effort, simple way of practicing magic, making them highly accessible. I hope you found this interesting and perhaps you’ll choose to incorporate brevi bags into your magical workings.

(sources available at the end of linked article)

things i love about bees part 2:

🐝 when they groom each other AGH my heart💖💖💖💖

🐝 the lil bouncers that make sure ur not a robber bee from a different hive before ur allowed to go back inside

🐝 the surprising frequency of which they land on each other or summersault or trip when they land on the entrance of the hive

🐝 how stubborn they are trying to build comb where they’re not supposed to, even when we provide them comb to draw out

🐝 how sweet my bees are, we’ve had them for like two years and only one has ever even tried to sting me

🐝 even when my dad and i helped move africanized bees out of their makeshift hive and into a box they didn’t sting us

🐝 they actually gathered in huuuge clumps on us, they all loved my dad especially, but still didn’t sting us

🐝 how confused they get if you move their hive like. five feet away. it takes like half an hour for them to stop looking for their hive in the crack in a wall and turn around to see we just moved it

🐝 how they look when they fly in clouds. i wish i could run my hand through and scoop them all up

🐝 the way queens measure the cells with their legs to figure out which egg to lay

🐝 the fact that she can lay either gender egg at will that’s wild !! her reproductive system is incredible !!

🐝 getting to see the queen during an inspection

🐝 when you break off brace or burr comb between boxes of the hive and suddenly every single bee is there to clean it up

🐝 when you notice a bee on the sidewalk and get to move her somewhere safe or warm her up so she can go back home

🐝 different colors of bees !! i saw a bee in my hive that was so dark she hardly had stripes at all, it was crazy !!!

🐝 when they have that bright orange pollen that looks like cheeto dust

🐝 bee space in the comb where they crawl through, it’s so cute to think of them having little hallways

🐝 their👏honey👏is👏to👏die👏for👏

🐝 how beekeepers talk about their africanized hives as “hot hives” so it’s not such a trigger word, it’s kinda affectionate

🐝 selfless beekeeping where absolutely anyone will pick up africanized bees that moved in near your house, just to keep them from being exterminated (and then the beekeeper requeens them and turns them “domesticated” !!)

🐝 how well they manage their temperatures not only for brood but for the honey, as well

🐝 how dramatic the fight between two queens in one hive is, it’s extremely extra

🐝 one time i saw a camo beekeeping suit online and a question on the listing was “how do the bees like the camo?”. the response was “it put the fear of god in them”.

🐝 how bees know when to bail (i’ve had one attacked by bears and one almost down to colony collapse disorder and they both bailed to preserve themselves)

🐝 bees even know when to take breaks !! they’re programmed to be as efficient as possible and that includes breaks !!!!! they wander around the hive chillin because otherwise you would work yourself to death ! take that, overwork-centric american culture !!

🐝 ultimate structure for comb !! most efficient with least wax !

🐝 as a keeper, figuring out what a good brood pattern is and being able to recognize it

🐝 the way they make wax !!!!!!! is so weird !!!!!!!!! it’s so weird !!!!!!!!!! but it’s amazing !!!!!!

🐝 little mouth that multitasks. eat honey to save for later ? check. make hardened wax workable ? check. feed the babies ? check. bite varroa mites ? check.

🐝 someone’s working on breeding bees that are not only more resistant to varroa, but that have higher and higher tendencies to bite and kill them !!!!! that’s so good and exciting !!!!!!

🐝 when i finally got the hang of the perfect structure for the smoker !! (the secret is the berries/pine needles in the bottom, then some newspaper, then more berries over that, and you light the newspaper

🐝 seeing any bee any time at all. i can have the worst day ever but if i saw a bee at least it wasn’t a total loss !!

🐝 i love how sweet most bees are. even when they’re confused or scared i’ve scooped them up and helped them somewhere safe and they’ve never stung me for it

🌲🌿🪴🌻🪷🍂🌳

Al Khazneh, Petra, Jordan

Flameless Hearths & Devotions

Ideas for Hestia devotees/worshippers who are unable to use a fireplace or flames in their worship. Welcome for all who find this helpful!

Using flames safely and/or discreetly:

(For the occasional need)

Use a tea light or lighter outside; on a fire-safe surface such as concrete or gravel.

Burn objects over your sink or a bowl of water.

Outdoor fire pits or grills. 

Creating your hearth:

Your hearth should feel like a central, focused place that represents your home. Someplace where you feel calm and safe. Traditionally, this was often in the kitchen; but it can be anywhere in your home. It can also be in multiple places, or small and contained. 

My shelf altar. I keep it clean and tidy. It contains items that remind me of home, and offerings to Hestia. It represents hearth and home, and is a space I can visit when I wish to feel connected to her. 

My dedication wall. I used to have a wall with a dried marigold garland, soothing poetry, devotional poetry, artwork and prayers on it. This is an excellent way to have a discreet (if you so choose) dedicated space that doesn’t take up much surface area. 

My stovetop. Each time I put the kettle on for tea, I feel connected to Hestia. I offer the first sip to her. I simmer pots of water with herbs, spices or other scented things (such as orange peels) to spread a beautiful aroma around my home. 

Don’t have a stove? An electric kettle and microwave will do!

My oven. Each time I bake (both the preparation and the baking itself) I feel connected to her and give a portion as an offering.

My woodstove or outdoor firepit. It is worth noting that because I have these things (and use my woodstove as a primary heating source) I do often use these as my hearth and burn offerings here. 

Flame and candle alternatives:

What feels right to you? What matches the energy/warmth of fire and flame?

Electric candles, especially ones that flicker and have warmer colors.

Electric tealights in candle holders. 

Solar charged lanterns

Fairy lights in a jar

Himalayan salt lamp

Wax or oil warmers (with heat bulbs).

Electric fireplace

Flame ambiance videos

Scents:

For me, certain smells embody home. And this is wonderful, because we can control them–even without candles or incense!

Essential oil or reed diffusers 

Wax or oil warmers

Scented electric candles

Potpourri 

Scented sachets

Room/pillow sprays

Pot of water on the stove with scented things

You  may also like:

Resources for Hestia devotees - a masterpost

Hestia small devotional acts

Bedridden devotion to Hestia

I haven’t sent you an ask in ages, so... Do you know any herbal remedy recipes with catnip, spearmint, rosemary, or lavender in them? Not tea, other stuff

Biiiitch, you know I do! Ok some of these (most of these) aren’t recipes really and some are spells but you get the basic idea lol and maybe might get an idea? You get everything thrown at you. ;)

Catnip:

A Little Spell to Bless a Cat

Cat Cuddle Comfort Spell

A Shiny Glamour

Drawing out Latent Talent Charm Bag

Catnip & Lavender:

Get Up & Go New Moon Ritual

Daytime Rest Satchel

Witch’s Salve

Attract a Friend

Catnip, Rosemary & Lavender:

Happy Home Jar Spell

Jar Spell to Attract Love

Sweet Scent

Bath of Renewal

Spearmint:

Spell for Confidence and Beauty

Money Jar

I don’t have a whole lot for spearmint because I am mildly allergic.

Spearmint & Lavender:

Divination Jar

Calming & Anxiety Relieving Simmer Pot Spell

Anti Stress Incense

Rosemary:

Ok you aren’t getting everything for rosemary & lavender because I would be here all fucking day.

Earth Milk Bath

Floor Wash

Curse Removing Wash

Purification Bath

Banishing bath Spell

Spiced Rosemary Sea Salt Brownies

Cleansing Spray

Home Wash

Rosemary Sugar Scrub

Rosemary & Lavender:

Bath Spell for Peace & Clarity

Sleep Sachet

Lavender-Rosemary-Lemon Shortbread (pls send some if you make them kthx)

Good Night’s Sleep Oil & Bag

Third Eye Anointing Oil

I am Majestic Bath Ritual

Lavender:

Safe Travels Powder

Love Drawing Soak

Lavender Fairy Wine (non alcoholic)

Self Love Spray

Candles

Faery Bath

Faery Queen Sugar

Ice Witch Milk Bath

Lavender Sugar Scrub

Honey Blueberry Lavender Ice Cream

Stress Fix Bath

Lavender & Honey Feel Good Potion

Peaceful Night Potion

Fruit & Herb Infused Water

Love Everlasting Oil

Beauty Bath

Lavender Wine

Cheers! Have fun, stay safe, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. Which I would do pretty much anything so…..

Love you!

Warding for people who can’t visualize/have trouble visualizing/want more kinds of wards than just visualizing - not an exhaustive list, feel free to add your own

This post will specifically discuss warding and protections, not cleansing, banishing, or grounding, though those are related and important

Sense memory- if you have a strong ability to imagine sensations, imagine things that make you feel safe. This can be the click of locking a door, the feeling of a shield on your arm, the weight of a thick jacket to protect your shoulders

Physical actions- actually lock your door, and put the intention of keeping out what you want kept out. Put on that jacket, imagine it as a barrier against harm.

Objects/correspondences. Put pieces of lodestone at the four corners of your space, carry a smoky quartz in your pocket, put a plant root on your altar/desk, a big round rock in your windowsill.

Black candle- light a black candle, set it in your space. Do not burn your house down.

Make a tea with protection herbs, and drink it before/during your spell or ritual. My suggestions would be anything with licorice, cloves, dandelion root, ginger, or cinnamon, but you can use whatever correspondences that work for you

Play music. Something soft that feels safe, or something fast that puts you in a fighting mood. Music can also be used for cleansing/banishing, if you’re mixing them all together into one ritual

Long term wards can be put in jars or sachets and placed somewhere innocuous. A capsule of black salt next to your door, a jar with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a piece of obsidian in your window.

Imbue your stuff with protective energy. This works well with clothing, crystals, herbs, and handheld objects like pens or water bottles. Make it an anchor for your protective energy.

Sigils. Write a protective sigil on the inside of your phone case, or a paper in your pocket of bag. Embroider a sigil on fabric.

Intention words or phrases work the same, though may take longer to embroider. Write a protective phrase on a paper, keep it in your pocket. Some good ones are- ‘I am safe’ or ‘I am protected from harm’ or ‘evil things stay away from me.’

Actual safety precautions- research the laws in your area. What’s the biggest knife you can carry, and what designs are legal. Walking sticks are always legal and can be used in self defense. Lots of online shops and sporting goods stores sell tactical pens, which are heavy and often have a pointed end.

In the same vein- good sturdy shoes, a thick jacket, a strong belt, a heavy bag.

The Witch Ball

This is a rewrite of one of my first posts.

One of my favorite ways of warding the home is with a traditional glass witch ball. There are many kinds of witch balls, but here I am referring to the blown glass variety. Many witches will fill an empty Christmas ornament with herbs or nails or something and use it as a spell. Very crafty. But my preferred variety of witch ball is the blown glass sort with threads of glass in the middle.

These were traditionally made by glassblowers as a way of ending their work day. They were historically made from scraps of glass, which is why so many of them are multicolored. They’re simple blown glass balls with threads of glass in the center, made by sticking metal objects (such as knitting needles) in the still-molten glass ball. The witch ball is placed near a window or a door, usually on a cord made of knotted rope or leather. The wise homemaker cleans her witch ball regularly, as this cleans it of dark spirits.

The witch ball may be descended from glass fishing floats, which are often sold in seaside tourist towns as decorative gifts. The first glass witch balls were most likely developed in England in the 17th or 18th Century and were inspired by these glass buoys.

According to popular belief, the witch ball represents the witch who has been tried and hanged. A witch ball will float in water, like a witch thrown in a body of water during a trial. It was believed that witches were rejected by bodies of water because they were too impure. By this logic, witches, like the glass fishing floats of yore, were unable to sink. Glass fishing floats, and later witch balls, were tied up in nets or left to dangle from ropes, not unlike a witch sentenced to die at the gallows. For these reasons, the witch ball serves as a symbolic warning to all witches who dare enter one’s home.

The ball’s inner threads work by means of fascination. Witches and dark spirits are drawn into the ball because they cannot resist playing with its threads. They are entranced (or “fascinated”) by them. They wind themselves through the ball’s threads until the ball is cleaned by its owner. When the owner cleans it and wipes away the dust, she also wipes it free of evil spirits. Many other spirit traps work by a similar principle - the witch bottle, the dream catcher, even a handful of rice thrown toward a malevolent entity - they all work by fascination.

Many older witch balls have a mirror glaze. Some believe the large gazing balls that decorate gardens throughout the country may have their origin in the smaller, more magical witch ball. The mirror glaze is yet another fascinating thing about the witch ball.

No matter their origin or how they work, the witch ball is at the very least a delightful and rustic objet d’art. I find witch balls to be very effective, however. They can last for generations and are, in my opinion, one of the most aesthetic ways to ward a home.