What Your Abuela Knew About Energy That Science Is Just Discovering
In Latino cultures, spiritual energy practices aren't just superstitions – they're sophisticated energy management systems passed down through generations. The recent bonus episode of "Ay Mijita" podcast with Dora Alicia Praxedis delves into two frequently misunderstood concepts: el mal de ojo (the evil eye) and the distinction between envidia (envy) and jealousy.
El mal de ojo represents the belief that someone can energetically affect you simply through their gaze. This energetic transference isn't necessarily malicious – it can happen through excessive admiration or attention. As Dora explains, babies are particularly vulnerable because of their open energy fields. The symptoms of mal de ojo might include unexplained fatigue, anxiety, headaches, or general malaise after interaction with certain individuals. This phenomenon aligns with modern energy medicine concepts, where practitioners recognize that energy transfers between people occur constantly, whether we're conscious of it or not.
Protection methods against mal de ojo reveal the ancestral wisdom embedded in Latino cultural practices. The famous red bracelet (la pulserita roja), sometimes adorned with an eye charm, serves as an energetic shield or absorption device for negative energy. Another traditional protector is el ojo de venado (the deer's eye seed), commonly worn as jewelry. Energy cleansing rituals called limpias – performed with eggs (huevos), herbs (hierbas), or crystals – clear accumulated negative energy. Prayer (oración) creates intentional spiritual protection regardless of religious affiliation. Dora personally carries clear quartz and rose quartz as her energetic shield, illustrating how these ancestral practices can be adapted to contemporary life.
The podcast also clarifies the important distinction between envidia and jealousy – terms often used interchangeably but representing different emotional states. Jealousy stems from the fear of losing something you already possess, while envidia describes wanting what someone else has. This distinction matters because each emotion requires different healing approaches. Envidia creates energetic cords connecting you to others, potentially draining your energy through comparison and desire. The podcast encourages listeners to transform these emotions by using them as signposts to understand their deeper desires and unmet needs.
Self-reflection questions posed in the episode encourage listeners to examine what they secretly desire but fear admitting, whose lives they compare themselves to, and what it would feel like to give themselves permission to want more. This transformative approach moves beyond shame or guilt around these emotions and instead uses them as tools for self-discovery. As Dora poetically states, this process is about "transmutar sombra en luz" – transmuting shadow into light. The podcast concludes with a guided limpia meditation, visualizing golden light burning away energetic cords and releasing energy that doesn't belong to the listener, reinforcing the episode's central message of energy sovereignty and protection.
By exploring these cultural concepts through both traditional wisdom and modern understanding, the podcast bridges generational knowledge, helping listeners – particularly those from Latino backgrounds – reclaim ancestral practices while applying them to contemporary life challenges. This integration of traditional wisdom with personal growth work exemplifies how cultural healing practices remain relevant and powerful tools for navigating our energetically complex world.
