Check yourself before you hex yourself: An expert's guide to the evil eye

Jews call it the ayin hara, Italians know it as mal’occhio, and among Latinos, it’s mal de ojo. It’s one of history’s most durable forces: The evil eye. But no matter how one identifies it, they should beware of its undeniable power and take steps to defend themselves and their loved ones from it.

At least that’s what journalist and magical practitioner Antonio Pagliarulo says in his new book, “The Evil Eye: The History, Mystery, and Magic of the Quiet Curse,” released on May 1.

“It is a negative force, a baneful force, unleashed through a look,” Pagliarulo told The Times of Israel. “One look is all it takes.”

According to Pagliarulo, there are three ways to unleash it: A jealous look from someone envious of your success; an unintentional prompting if you forget to ward it off with a precautionary phrase or gesture; and by boasting too much (so watch out, social media users).