Malocchio - Film and Panel Discussion

Malocchio means "Evil Eye" in Italian. It based on the belief, common in many cultures, that your good fortune may cause envy in others and rebound on you as a headache or other minor ailment. To determine if you have been a victim of the evil eye, a “healer” performs a ritual using a bowl of water and drops of olive oil. If the oil and the water mix it means you have been afflicted. The healer then uses prayers to life the affliction and cure you. The healers are all and always women, and this women's healing practice has been in existence for hundreds of years if not longer, passed down to each generation through a secret ritual on Christmas Eve. We will watch Agatha De Santis's film Mal'occhio, an exploration and explanation of this indigenous Italian tradition, followed by a panel discussion that includes traditional healers and those who have been healed.