Craft: An Ojo De Dios Amulet Made at Wellcome

I made the Ojo De Dios in the top photo at Charmed, the Wellcome Collection's Amulet Day last Friday. There were talks, displays and workshops on the topic of amulets from 10.30am-5.30pm with things happening for both adults and children. What's more it was completely free. I went along and had a brilliant time. 

There were several workshops over the course of the day, and in the first one I made this Ojo De Dios, which means Eye of God in Spanish. They originate from Mexico and were made before colonialists arrived. Apparently a more traditional name is Tsikuri, meaning "the power to see and understand things unknown". Christians adopted them to signify the eye of their God, but they have always been seen as protective, often hanging where people pray but also in workplaces or anywhere really. Nowadays they are popular tourist items and also often made just as decorative objects or as crafts easy enough for children to do.

The way you make them is to take two sticks, wind wool around the middle a few times then twist the sticks into a cross shape. Once you've done that you weave the wool between and around each stick keeping that shape. You can change colours several times. When you've finished, just tie the end of the wool around one stick in a knot. The ends of the stick can be decorated with tassles if you like. Then just tie a loop to the top and hang it somewhere.

I really enjoyed learning to make an Ojo De Dios and I've hung it up in my witchy room along with various other protective objects including my Brigit's cross and my rowan charm. However, I should add that I'm always a bit wary about using magical objects from cultures other than my own, which was why I hadn't made an Ojo De Dios earlier. There's always the chance someone of that culture will be offended about foreigners using their sacred practices without being fully immersed or trained in thier traditions. 

What do you think? Please leave a comment.

The Wellcome Collection is at 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE and will be putting on other drop-in events on magical topics. You can find out more details here: https://wellcomecollection.org/

Other previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2019/06/pagan-eye-ouija-board-at-smoke-and.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/09/craft-macrame-charm-bracelet-for-autumn.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/10/magical-dolls-poppet-of-protection-for.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/03/crafting-magical-dolls-guatemalan-worry.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/10/review-protection-charms-against.html