Protect Your Energy: Why Everyone's Wearing a Hamsa

You've seen it. The open hand with an eye in the palm, on necklaces, on earrings, on that one girl at the gym who always looks put together.

It's called a Hamsa, and it isn't a trend that showed up last year. People have been wearing it for protection for thousands of years. It just happens to fit right now, when everybody is trying to protect their peace.

Here's what it means, how to wear it, and how to make it yours.

So what is a Hamsa?

The Hamsa is a hand, five fingers open. The name comes from the word for "five" in Arabic and Hebrew.

It's one of the oldest protective symbols there is, worn across the Middle East and North Africa for centuries. In Jewish tradition it's known as the Hand of Miriam. In Muslim tradition it's known as the Hand of Fatima. Today it's worn by people of many faiths and backgrounds.

What it stands for has stayed the same the whole time: protection, blessing and strength.

The eye in the palm

Many Hamsas have an eye in the center. That part is about the evil eye, the old idea that envy and bad intentions from other people can bring you bad luck.

The eye on the Hamsa is there to look right back at it and send it away.

In other words: bad vibes, returned to sender.

Why it's everywhere right now

Protecting your energy isn't a new idea. It just has a new name.

Setting boundaries, staying out of drama, keeping your circle small, minding your business and your goals. A Hamsa is a small, daily reminder of all of that, sitting right at your collarbone. You see it in the mirror before you walk out the door.

It also happens to look good with everything.

Is it okay to wear one?

Yes. The Hamsa has been shared across cultures and religions for a very long time, and it's worn by people from all kinds of backgrounds.

Just wear it knowing what it is. It's a symbol with real history and real meaning to a lot of people, not only a cute shape. Knowing the story is part of wearing it well.

Make it yours

Here's where ours is different. Every Heights Hamsa is personalized, with a name or an initial set inside the hand.

A Hamsa protects. A Hamsa with your initial in it protects you. One with someone else's initial is your way of keeping them covered too.

Hamsa Personalized Necklace
Your name or initial inside the hand.

Personalized Double Hamsa Necklace
Two hands, two names. Double the protection.

Hamsa Initial Earrings
In regular, large or drop.

All three come in sterling silver or gold-plated sterling silver.

How to wear it

• On its own. One Hamsa necklace, nothing else. Clean and intentional.
• In a stack. Layer it with an initial necklace on a shorter chain. Try a 16" initial with an 18" Hamsa so they sit at different heights.
• As a set. The necklace with the matching earrings. Keep everything else simple and let them do the work.
• For two. The Double Hamsa for you and your person, your sister or your best friend. Or two kids' initials for a mom.

Made to be worn every day

A piece like this only works if you actually keep it on. Ours are made in our own American workshop, where our family has been making jewelry since 1938, and every one is backed by a lifetime guarantee with free repolishing.

So wear it. Every day. That's the point.

Protect your energy. Put your name on it.

Shop the Hamsa Personalized Necklace →