A hamsa has five fingers, but no thumb and really no pinky either.
Hamsa Charm - Notice the Finger Placement
If you look closely at the shape of the hamsa hand amulet, you’ll count five fingers.
But you’ll notice that there is no thumb.
The placement of the hamsa, facing up or facing down, doesn't matter, it's the fingers which are always without a thumb. The pinky and the thumb are symmetrical, but if you look down at your own hand you’ll quickly notice that your thumb and pinky finger are not level. Rather, the thumb is lower than the pinky finger, and the middle finger is longer than the others.
Even if there is some variation as to how the thumb and pinky fingers appear--curved outwards or not, the two are always symmetrical. These two digits are always much shorter than the middle digit, which is extended.
There are different interpretations as to what the position of the hand means as well, and you can read more about it on alefbet's blog that goes deep into the meaning and position of the hand.
A quick recap is that if the hand faces up it signifies warding off evil. It also stops in its tracks any negative thoughts that might arise in your head, that might affect you or your loved ones.
If the hamsa faces downward, it is thought to represent goodness, as a symbol of hope, good health, wealth and all things in life that are positive.
Hamsa Wall Decor for Home
This all-protecting amulet originated in the ancient Middle Eastern and North African tradition, originally first found over 1800 years ago in the ancient Carthage (present-day Tunisia) and Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq).
It has traveled all over the world from its place of origin.
Cultures embrace this hand-shaped good luck amulet, and it can be referred to by many names “hamesh”, “chamsa”, “hamsa” and “khamsa”. Some will also call it “Yoga hand” or “Palm symbol”.
It plays an important role as an amulet in Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Jewish faiths.
Despite it’s namesake, the location of where you purchase/find your hamsa hand amulet, you'll notice that the outline of the hamsa does not change. The fingers are positioned symmetrically on the sides, the middle three longer.
The interior of the hamsa, however, does change.
Sometimes you’ll find an evil eye inside, a home blessing in a variety of languages, fish, flowers, basically anything that the artist envisions. But the frame, the outline-- that stays the same.
Five fingers, with the pinky and thumb symmetrical and the middle finger longer.
People wear this amulet when they have trust in the Supreme Power no matter what is their preferred religious faith.
You also might be asking if anyone can wear this amulet or hang it in your home?
And the answer is of course, YES!
Shop the entire collection of hamsa hand jewelry and wall art at www.alefbet.com
