The Eye of Saint Lucia(or Eye of Shiva in Asia) is especially prized when worn as jewelry. It is considered a lucky shell. In lithotherapy, it is attributed many virtues and benefits. But do you know the history and legend of the Eye of St. Lucia?
The Eye of St. Lucy, a coveted shell
Also known as the Eye of Venus or the Shiva eye, theEye of Saint Lucia is in fact the operculum of a shellfish. It can be found on certain ocean or Mediterranean beaches. One side is white. The other side is coral-colored, or even bright orange. In legend, the orange side is the symbol of the Virgin Mary.
Story of a pious young girl
Corsicans and others who have visited the Isle of Beauty consider the Oeil de Lucie to be a stone of good luck, believed to ward off the evil eye and bring good fortune. Behind this belief lies a fabulous story: the legend of Sainte Lucie. Lucia was a young noblewoman from Syracuse, Sicily. The story goes that her mother was suffering from an incurable illness. Night and day, she prayed to Saint Agatha for her mother’s recovery. One night, as she slept, the young girl had a dream in which Saint Agatha announced her mother’s recovery. And the next day, she could see that her prayers had been answered: her mother had regained her health. Happy and grateful to Saint Agatha, she vowed to devote herself fully and forever to the Christian faith.
Legend: new eyes
After her mother’s recovery, Lucia became a saint, giving away all her possessions and devoting herself totally to God. However, the young girl had many suitors whom she never failed to reject. To avoid being turned away from her faith and keep her suitors away for good, Lucia had the brilliant idea of making herself ugly. To do this, she plucked out her eyes and threw them into the sea.
Touched by this devotion, the Virgin Mary restored her sight and gave her eyes even more beautiful and brilliant than before. The operculum of the shellfish known as the “ Turbo rugueux ” (or biou in Marseilles), which fishermen collect from the shores of the Mediterranean, is the symbol of Saint Lucia’s eyes. According to popular belief, wearing one keeps away the evil eye. It also brings prosperity when stored with money.
Today, these seals are often used by jewellers. They are used to make jewelry such as earrings, pendants, rings and bracelets. So you can enjoy all the benefits of this lucky mother-of-pearl.
However, you can also order beautiful Œil de Sainte Lucie jewelry in 925 silver on Planetys to enjoy all the benefits of this shell-stone. A piece of Œil de Sainte Lucie jewelry is also an excellent gift idea for a loved one.
