So in the Muslim world we put a lot of credence and value in the concept of the evil eye (Hasad). I think we have gotten it wrong though. If there is no one but ourselves out there we see and interact with, then their thoughts are ours, and their thoughts of jealousy are simply a version of our own thoughts of self worth, maybe our own thoughts of hate for ourselves or another or an object, thoughts of competition, etc. The concept of the evil eye implies we are weak and victims of the world we see. This isn’t empowering and I really believe it’s inaccurate.
So here’s the back story behind this post. My husband recently gifted me the most amazing ring EVER. I mean… EVER. I was head over heals in love with it. EVERYONE also noticed it, and I would share it lovingly and proudly, this ring was definitely the MOST IMPORTANT thing I owned. Maybe not monetarily but DEFINITELY EMOTIONALLY. It was a symbol of unconditional love between my partner and I.
So one day I cleaned it. I followed the seller’s recommendation . . . and of course, it got damaged. To say this was heart breaking really doesn’t feel like I’m giving my feelings justice. A part of me (the part of me that believes this world and this body is real) was really devastated. However, when I first met the ring I had an agreement with myself that whatever I did with the ring, from the moment I received it until I lost it or died, I would forgive as I looked upon it.
So … long story short I still acted like I was in the world.
1. I contacted the seller and requested they change their specifications for how to care for the ring because I cared about others who bought her jewelry and I didn’t want anyone to be hurt like I was then.
2. I apologized to my husband and asked his forgiveness for blaming him in any way for the damage (yup you know I project like the best of ’em!).
3. Then I should have forgiven myself for this honest mistake. I was doing my best and forgiving myself is where I’ll go from now until the ring and I part ways, but what I did was say, “I’ll just chock it up to the evil eye. Everyone always notices it and asks.” The problem with being a dedicated courser is I couldn’t finish that sentence and not feel the consequences of it upon my own heart. I knew this wasn’t true and my own lesson for the day (lesson 325) confirms I was lying to myself.
All things I think I see reflect ideas. (ACIM, W-325)
What I see reflects a process in my mind, which starts with my idea of what I want.²From there, the mind makes up an image of the thing the mind desires, judges valuable, and therefore seeks to find.³These images are then projected outward, looked upon, esteemed as real and guarded as one’s own.⁴ From insane wishes comes an insane world.⁵ From judgment comes a world condemned.⁶ And from forgiving thoughts a gentle world comes forth, with mercy for the holy Son of God, to offer him a kindly home where he can rest a while before he journeys on (ACIM, W-325.1:1-6)
Step 3 retake. I forgave myself and forgive myself to eternity. for I am not a body. I am free. (ACIM, W-199), and I will remain sinlessness (ACIM, W-337.1:1) where no genuine loss can touch me.
Do you ever use the evil eye excuse and can you forgive yourself when you catch yourself doing it? Can you find a more empowering way to view it and forgive yourself even if it’s in an external other you “believe” they have thoughts of mistrust, envy, jealousy, and weakness? The body and this world are never ever real. Form, by it’s make up, is guaranteed to fail us. The love beneath it all is ever lasting:
Creation is the sum of all God’s Thoughts, in number infinite, and everywhere without all limit.²Only love creates, and only like itself.³There was no time when all that it created was not there. ⁴Nor will there be a time when anything that it created suffers any loss. ⁵Forever and forever are God’s Thoughts exactly as they were and as they are, unchanged through time and after time is done. (ACIM, W-pII.11.1:1-5)