malojo

Here are some photos from our 'hood!

Mateo and I went out for a walk around the neighbourhood yesterday afternoon. I zigzag along behind him, trying to keep him from playing with garbage that lines the street, brushing off the dust when he falls, pointing out the birds and plants, and making sure the hundreds of neighbourhood dogs don't get too frustrated with him. We passed by the local elementary school, which is always a good inspiration for why I don't think I'll ever send him to school in Mexico. The children were out for recess, and Mateo instantly climbed up to the fence so that he could get a better look. I thought that some of the little girls would instantly come over to talk to him, as his blonde hair, blue eyed charm is quite unique around here. Instead, it was a swarm of small boys came over to talk to us and to admire Mateo's blue eyes. The bell rang and we carried on our way.

Some neighbourhood parents were out front of the school, and everyone stopped to talk to Mateo, as always. He eats up the attention, and flirts and smiles and chatters in his baby language. One mother, who was there with her teenage daughter, started to chat with us.

The mother told me that the daughter has the power of malojo-the evil eye. As I understand it, people with these powers can often unintentionally cause harm, even to something they really like, mainly because they look with envy on something for too long. This is hardly the first time that people have warned us about the evil eye with regards to Mateo. He is blonde and cute, and children are particularly susceptible to getting the evil eye put on them, according to tradition. It is relatively easy to solve this problem here in Mexico: the person only has to come up and stroke his hair or pinch his cheeks-- in touching him, the power seems to dissolve and he isn't injured. We were also gifted twice with a little malojo charm (a special seed that is supposed to capture the bad energy and dissolve it, thus protecting the child) as friends and family are worried about this with Mateo.

In this case, they were quite specific, saying that Mateo might get a headache if the daughter wasn't able to touch him. I have never minded complete strangers coming up to talk to Mateo or pat his head, so of course I told her to touch him. Ever since he was born, it has been the way that he blesses the world. There is something so amazing and beautiful about a child, and he has brought smiles to so many people just by being himself. His light, his blessing the world, makes the darkness dissolve.

Evil eye was also a part of the culture where I lived in Southern Italy too. It seems to be quite a common phenomenon, yet something that isn't really addressed in places like Canada. I think I'm a rational sort of person, but I do believe in the spiritual forces-- just because we can't see something, does that mean it doesn't exist? Anyone else out there with evil eye experiences?