Magic in Marrakech

Koutubia mosque View of the Koutubia mosque from the roof-top restaurant of our hotel. The hand of Miriam This is a beautiful example of a Jewish Hamsa, in an ancient synagogue in the traditional mellah, or Jewish quarter, of Marrakech.…

Off to Marrakech…

No, seriously, I'm doing research! So today marks the first day of my vacation, I mean my fact-finding trip to Morocco. I'm hoping to learn more about traditional beliefs about the Jinn and incorporate them into my novel. I didn't need…

The Hand of Fatima

Now that you're tossing and turning at night, worrying about the Evil Eye, you're probably eager to hear about ways to protect yourself from it. In Italy, you might ward off Il Malocchio with the mano cornuto or sign of the horns : The…

The Mountains of Qaf: A Travel Guide

Described variously as a single Mount Qaf that serves as the progenitor of all mountains, or as a ring of soaring mountains that encircle the world, the mountains of Qaf, or Jabal al Qaf in Arabic, are often described as the home of the Jinn. The…

Faravahar

The winged symbol of the Faravahar, a national symbol of Iran, is a winged disk associated with Zoroastrianism, the state religion of ancient Iran. Faravahar at Persepolis The components of the symbol are linked to Zoroastrian theology,…