Understanding the Evil Eye: The Theory of Negative Gazes and Why You Shouldnt Share Your Life Plans - Thairath English
Have you ever heard the warning, “ Don’t tell anyone what you’re planning to do until you’ve succeeded ”? This idea is connected to the belief in the Evil Eye or “ the demon’s eye ,” which holds that envious or ill-intentioned looks from others can affect one’s luck, success, and the good things about to happen in life.
Thairath Online invites you to learn what the Evil Eye is and where it comes from. Why is there a belief that you shouldn’t reveal your life plans before taking action? Let’s understand this from both cultural beliefs and psychological perspectives.
The Evil Eye literally means “demon’s eye” or “evil gaze.” It is an ancient belief found in many cultures, especially around the Mediterranean, Middle East, and parts of Asia, which holds that looks filled with envy, jealousy over others’ good fortune, or ill will can bring misfortune to the person being looked at.
According to this belief, negative energy can arise both intentionally and unintentionally. For example, if we share a plan with someone before succeeding, and that person feels envy—whether about work, love, property, or a life that is going well—some negative energy might interfere with our success. This negative energy is called the Evil Eye.
However, the Evil Eye is a long-standing cultural belief. There is no scientific evidence confirming that human gazes can emit negative energy that causes misfortune or failure.
The belief in the Evil Eye dates back thousands of years. It appears in many ancient civilizations, including Greek and Roman, before spreading to various cultures. Eye-shaped amulets have been key symbols for protecting against misfortune.
One popular talisman is the Turkish Nazar Boncuğu, a blue eye-shaped charm with concentric circles of blue, white, and black, believed to protect the wearer from envious gazes.
Today, the Evil Eye symbol is used in jewelry like necklaces, bracelets, rings, home decorations, and even the 刺 emoji, which many use to signify protection from negative energy according to belief.
One popular idea online links the Evil Eye belief to the advice, “ Don’t announce your life plans until you’ve succeeded ,”because revealing goals too soon might expose you to envy, criticism, or negative energy from those around you.
For example, telling others about starting a new business, changing jobs, planning to buy a home, or having a good relationship might lead to worry when facing negative comments or pressure to fulfill those plans.
Although this idea is associated with the Evil Eye, it doesn’t mean sharing your plans will actually bring bad luck. Success or failure depends on many factors, including preparation, effort, and circumstances.
