Meaning
The Figa, Higa, Cigua, Fico, black hand, powerful hand, hand of jet, manina, manezuela, puñera, … is a symbol of protection against the evil eye, is represented with a left hand closed in fist and with the finger thumb between index finger and heart finger, shows a sign of contempt and protection from the evil eye and envy.
One attributed meaning is the sexual and reproductive aspect of the Figa gesture, the thumb being understood as representing the male figure, between the other two fingers; the female figure. Etymologically it comes from the word “fig”, the fruit of the fig tree, with habitual sexual connotations to the sex of the woman.
There are other similar and very similar amulets that have the same properties as the Hand of Fatima or “Hamsa”, which protects from evil in Muslim culture, as well as in Jewish culture with the “Hand of Mirian or Myiam”, both with the same shape but the bean with engravings of fish. In spite of the different versions that exist of the Figa, these have in common, none is related to some dark or malignant aspect.
For centuries they are very popular in the area of the North of Spain, mainly in the Northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, Galicia, Asturias and Castile-Leon. It is a typical amulet in “Santiago de Compostela”, which is one of the places of greatest influx of Christian pilgrimage for centuries and has been promoter and diffuser of this amulet thanks to the pilgrims who come to visit the tomb of the Apostle Santiago by the various roads and routes established since the middle ages and from all parts of the world.
As it is an amulet of pagan origin, during the Middle Ages, in Europe it was forbidden by the Catholic Church because of its strong pagan meaning, but it continued to be used equally, and to cover up the symbolism was cultivated various motifs such as geometric figures and even saints and Christian symbology.
Origins
Originating in the Iberian Peninsula and that with time was spreading all over the world. There are representations of this symbol in Egypt, prior to the 2nd millennium BC. represented with the hand open or closed like repellent of snakes. From here it has been exporting this amulet, mainly to the rest of Europe, in Italy continues to have great incidence and to all Latin America, mainly in Brazil is a very common and used amulet.
In Spain its use is centennial and usually used in children and elderly as protective amulet. There are pictorial representations of young spanish princes of the seventeenth century with Figas de Azabache in their clothes. The main supplier of the Figas or Higas was “Santiago de Compostela” in Galicia (Spain), where since the XV century, the jet industry has achieved remarkable development, the jet (Azabache or Black Amber) commonly used is the asturian Azabache, one of the two most appreciated and of better quality of the world next to the one of Whitby, in the northeast of England. Jet (Azabache) from antiquity has been considered magical and protective because of its high power as a shield against negative energies. The Figs were specially indicated to neutralize the evil eye and the hexes, to undo black spells, moorings, to dispel envy and negativity.
Materials used and recommended
It is advisable that the Figa or Higa be a breakable material, something that will happen when the amulet has defended us from some evil, negativity or evil eye, or that reaches the point that is not able to withstand more negativity, once this happens … must be buried. This happens with many other materials, stones and crystals used as amulets against evil or to achieve prosperity, can crack, break or change tonality.
The Azabache (Jet or Black Amber), is by par excellence, the most powerful raw material, esoterically speaking, and the most recommended for its magical and physical characteristics (not to extend too much, we can leave for another post much information on this peculiar stone with an antiquity of 60 million years) to use it as Figa for its powers against evil eye and envy.
The Jet (Azabache) is also called black amber, it has been used since ancient times as amulets and as an important part of various magic rituals, because it is considered to protect against negative influences, eye ills and hexes, and that its energy is huge and powerful. It is a stone that helps clear the auras and negative energies and will help us to see with better clarity the way to go and make the right decisions to achieve our goals. It has wonderful healing properties, including pain relief for headaches, migraines and increased healing of traumatic injuries, even said to cure cataracts. In addition, it is a self-cleaning stone and can be used to clean other crystals.
Coral, ivory, wood, silver, quartz, rock crystal, jade, … to say some of the materials most commonly used to carve Figs have had a great boom depending on the time and area where they have been made. There are spectacular masterpieces by master jewelers and craftsmen, some of them exhibited in museums around the world made of precious metals and precious stones
Properties and characteristics like amulet
The Figa is characterized by being a very widespread amulet and linked to good luck, protection against bad luck, evil eye, envy, jealousy and to attract money.
It is attributed different properties or capacities, in many places it is usual to put them to the children so that they are protected against the envy and the evil eye, it is advisable that it stays in contact with our skin, and if it is of Azabache reason of more, is of lunar energy and must avoid the sun and stuck to the skin.
- Improves fertility: The predominant power in this amulet is to improve fertility. It is credited with the power of facilitating reproduction, attracting the opposite sex and protection against sterility and impotence.
- Against the evil eye and envy: In Galicia one of the most common “versions” of figa is black jet, a stone known for its power against the evil eye, envy and bad vibrations, as well as to protect against diseases.
- To attract money: Keeping the amulet in our wallet, according to tradition, will attract money into our lives. This power can be multiplied if the figa is made of gold.
For Good Luck - Against jealousy
Where to get it
Our Figs are totally handmade carved in Santiago de Compostela with the best materials, Azabache Asturiano and Silver 925. You can visit our store AmuletsShop.com and acquire it, if you visit Santiago de Compostela you will find it in any jewelry or souvenir shop and in other places, it is easy to get it in esoteric stores. Please contact us if you need help.
You can visit our online stores at http://amuletsshop.etsy.com & http://VintageCollection888.etsy.com