God's Eye

 In our first book of the semester, A History of Witchcraft, Magic, and the Occult, we discussed a great deal about the power of protective objects, often called amulets, that may have magical power of their own or strong religious connotations that gain power through blessings or faith.

Growing up as a volun-told Girl Scout of America, I partook in numerous camping trips at State Parks and Girl Scout camping grounds. As young girls with boundless energy, our guardians constantly had to find new diversions and activities to occupy our hands and energies. A standout activity on nearly every camping trip was creating a God's Eye. As a child, I never gave the name, meaning, or origin any thought. I was more interested in what colors of yarn would look the prettiest or what two sticks would match up the best. I was never taught any of the historical and spiritual significance of the God's Eye and I'm honestly not sure if those who taught us this craft knew the significance either. I had hoped to find pictures of myself with a completed God's Eye but my scrapbooking skills are abysmal and I had no such luck. I'm also not sure what happened to all of the ones I made as a child, especially considering they are among the most beautiful of children's crafts.

An Example of a God's Eye

A God's Eye or Ojo de Dios is a spiritual object made by weaving yarn onto a wooden cross common in Mexican, Peruvian, and Latin American communities. In my research, I also found that the object is common among both the Catholic and Indigenous communities.  

Originating among the Huichol, an indigenous community in what is now western Mexico, the woven charms were used for numerous purposes and appeared on multiple surfaces including alters, large ceremonial shields, etc. The name "ojos de dios" or eyes of God was introduced in the 1500's by Roman Catholic Spanish colonists. The four points of the "eye" represent the four elements: fire, earth, air, and water). The center of the "eye" is said to represent a portal between the spirit world and mortal world. Through this connection between the two worlds, the eye served two purposes; the gods are able to watch over the mortal world, while worshippers are able to ask for protection or help from the spirit world.

Eye of God in Crown at the Tucson Museum of Art

As evident through with my past experiences with crafting God's Eyes', their cultural meaning and significance has become increasingly diminished throughout the last few decades. I never heard any mention of the incredible historical or cultural significance of these beautiful ritual objects. I even found one source that characterized the God's Eye as a Christian craft, utilized by Sunday school teachers as a "visual aid of the role of Jesus and God in people's lives." I think this speaks to the widespread, yet largely unrecognized trivialization of magic and spiritual objects in today's society.