Hamsa Materials: Traditional & Modern

BY NICOLE LAU

The material from which a hamsa is crafted is not merely aesthetic choice—it carries energetic properties, cultural significance, and practical considerations that affect the amulet's protective power and longevity. From ancient silver filigree to modern resin, from sacred wood to precious gemstones, each material brings its own energy, history, and meaning to the hamsa form. Understanding traditional materials honors ancestral wisdom, while exploring modern options makes protection accessible and personalized. Whether you choose time-tested metals or contemporary alternatives, the material matters—it is the physical vessel through which protective intention flows, the earthly substance that anchors spiritual power.

Traditional Materials

Silver: The Moon Metal

Historical significance:

• Most traditional hamsa material
• Used for millennia across cultures
• Particularly important in Jewish and Middle Eastern traditions
• Affordable yet precious
• Workable for intricate designs

Energetic properties:

• Associated with moon and feminine energy
• Reflective and protective
• Emotional healing and intuition
• Purifying and cleansing
• Amplifies other energies

Types of silver:

• Sterling silver (92.5%): Most common, durable, affordable
• Fine silver (99.9%): Softer, purer, more expensive
• Silver-plated: Base metal with silver coating, budget option
• Oxidized silver: Darkened for antique look, traditional aesthetic

Traditional techniques:

• Filigree: Delicate wirework, especially Yemenite tradition
• Engraving: Carved designs and inscriptions
• Repoussé: Raised relief from back
• Granulation: Tiny silver beads applied
• Casting: Molten silver poured into molds

Care:

• Tarnishes naturally (can be cleaned)
• Store in anti-tarnish cloth
• Clean with silver polish or baking soda
• Avoid harsh chemicals
• Some believe tarnish absorbs negativity

Gold: The Sun Metal

Historical significance:

• Ancient and precious
• Symbol of divine light and prosperity
• Used by wealthy and royal
• Enduring and non-tarnishing
• Investment and heirloom quality

Energetic properties:

• Associated with sun and masculine energy
• Confidence and personal power
• Prosperity and abundance
• Divine light and blessing
• Vitality and strength

Types of gold:

• 24k gold (pure): Soft, expensive, rarely used for jewelry
• 18k gold (75%): Durable, rich color, quality choice
• 14k gold (58.3%): Most common, affordable, durable
• 10k gold (41.7%): Budget option, very durable
• Gold-filled: Thick gold layer, better than plated
• Gold-plated: Thin gold coating, affordable

Gold colors:

• Yellow gold: Traditional, warm, classic
• White gold: Modern, cool, platinum-like
• Rose gold: Romantic, feminine, trendy

Care:

• Does not tarnish
• Scratch-resistant but not scratch-proof
• Clean with mild soap and water
• Professional cleaning recommended
• Store separately to avoid scratches

Brass and Copper

Historical significance:

• Ancient metals, affordable alternatives
• Used in folk traditions
• Particularly common in North Africa
• Warm, golden appearance
• Accessible to all classes

Energetic properties:

• Brass: Healing, protection, grounding
• Copper: Conductivity, energy flow, healing
• Both associated with Venus (love, beauty)
• Warming and vitalizing

Care:

• Oxidizes and develops patina
• Can turn skin green (harmless)
• Clean with lemon juice or vinegar
• Some prefer natural patina
• Seal to prevent oxidation

Wood

Traditional use:

• Carved wooden hamsas for home decor
• Particularly in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean regions
• Accessible and workable material
• Natural and organic
• Each piece unique

Types of wood:

• Olive wood: Sacred, Middle Eastern, durable
• Cedar: Protective, aromatic, spiritual
• Sandalwood: Sacred, fragrant, meditative
• Ebony: Dark, dense, powerful
• Local woods: Connection to land

Energetic properties:

• Grounding and natural
• Living energy of tree
• Connection to earth
• Warm and organic
• Each wood has specific properties

Care:

• Keep dry (wood can warp)
• Oil occasionally to preserve
• Avoid direct sunlight (fading)
• Natural material, ages beautifully

Ceramic and Pottery

Traditional use:

• Ancient material for amulets
• Particularly Turkish and Mediterranean
• Hand-painted designs
• Wall hangings and decorative
• Affordable and artistic

Techniques:

• Hand-painted glazes
• Traditional patterns and colors
• Fired in kilns
• Each piece unique
• Artisan craftsmanship

Energetic properties:

• Earth element grounding
• Transformation through fire
• Holds intention well
• Porous, absorbs energy

Care:

• Fragile, handle carefully
• Dust gently
• Avoid water if not glazed
• Display rather than wear

Gemstones and Crystals

Turquoise

Traditional significance:

• Ancient protective stone
• Used across cultures (Native American, Middle Eastern, Tibetan)
• Natural blue color perfect for hamsa
• Highly valued historically
• Master healer stone

Energetic properties:

• Protection and purification
• Communication and expression
• Healing and wholeness
• Throat chakra alignment
• Spiritual grounding

Types:

• Natural turquoise (most valuable)
• Stabilized turquoise (treated for durability)
• Reconstituted turquoise (compressed powder)
• Howlite dyed blue (imitation)

Lapis Lazuli

Traditional significance:

• Ancient sacred stone
• Used in Egypt, Mesopotamia, Afghanistan
• Royal and priestly stone
• Deep blue with gold flecks
• Wisdom and truth

Energetic properties:

• Third eye activation
• Spiritual insight and wisdom
• Truth and integrity
• Psychic protection
• Inner vision

Other Protective Stones

Black tourmaline:

• Powerful grounding and protection
• Absorbs negative energy
• EMF protection
• Root chakra

Obsidian:

• Volcanic glass, ancient tool
• Psychic protection
• Truth and clarity
• Grounding

Clear quartz:

• Master healer and amplifier
• Programmable with intention
• Clarity and focus
• Versatile

Amethyst:

• Spiritual protection
• Crown chakra
• Intuition and wisdom
• Calming

Modern Materials

Stainless Steel

Advantages:

• Extremely durable
• Hypoallergenic
• Does not tarnish
• Affordable
• Low maintenance
• Modern aesthetic

Energetic properties:

• Strength and resilience
• Modern protection
• Practical and grounded
• Neutral energy

Best for:

• Daily wear
• Active lifestyles
• Sensitive skin
• Budget-conscious
• Minimalist style

Titanium

Advantages:

• Lightweight yet strong
• Hypoallergenic
• Corrosion-resistant
• Modern and sleek
• Can be anodized for color

Energetic properties:

• Strength without weight
• Modern spiritual warrior
• Balanced energy

Resin and Polymer Clay

Advantages:

• Extremely affordable
• Lightweight
• Endless color options
• DIY-friendly
• Customizable
• Durable

Considerations:

• Synthetic material
• Less traditional
• Holds intention through creation process
• Accessible to all

Best for:

• Budget protection
• Children
• DIY projects
• Colorful designs
• Experimentation

Glass and Enamel

Traditional and modern:

• Glass beads ancient (Roman, Egyptian)
• Enamel work traditional (cloisonné)
• Modern glass art
• Beautiful and colorful

Energetic properties:

• Transformation through fire
• Clarity and transparency
• Fragile yet beautiful
• Light and color

Care:

• Fragile, handle carefully
• Clean gently
• Avoid impacts
• Beautiful display pieces

Textile and Fiber

Embroidered Hamsas

Traditional use:

• Embroidered on clothing and textiles
• Particularly Middle Eastern and North African
• Passed down through generations
• Handmade with love and intention

Materials:

• Cotton, linen, silk threads
• Metallic threads (gold, silver)
• Beads and sequins
• Various fabrics as base

Energetic properties:

• Woven with intention
• Each stitch a prayer
• Soft and comforting
• Intimate and personal

Woven and Macramé

Modern craft:

• Macramé wall hangings
• Woven fiber art
• Natural fibers (cotton, hemp, jute)
• Bohemian aesthetic

Choosing Material by Intention

For Traditional Practice

Best choices:

• Silver (most traditional)
• Gold (prosperity and blessing)
• Turquoise (ancient protection)
• Ceramic (folk tradition)
• Wood (natural and sacred)

For Daily Wear

Best choices:

• Sterling silver (durable, affordable)
• 14k gold (investment quality)
• Stainless steel (low maintenance)
• Resin (lightweight, affordable)

For Specific Intentions

Prosperity:

• Gold, brass, green stones (jade, aventurine)

Spiritual protection:

• Silver, amethyst, lapis lazuli, clear quartz

Grounding:

• Wood, black tourmaline, obsidian, hematite

Healing:

• Copper, turquoise, rose quartz, green stones

Love:

• Rose gold, rose quartz, pink stones

For Sensitive Skin

Hypoallergenic options:

• Stainless steel
• Titanium
• Niobium
• 14k+ gold
• Platinum
• Wood
• Resin

For Budget

Affordable options:

• Stainless steel
• Brass/copper
• Resin/polymer clay
• Wood
• Ceramic
• Silver-plated

Combining Materials

Metal and Stone

Classic combination:

• Silver with turquoise (traditional)
• Gold with lapis lazuli (royal)
• Mixed metals with crystals
• Amplifies both energies

Multiple Materials

Layered protection:

• Wear different material hamsas together
• Each brings unique energy
• Comprehensive protection
• Personal style

Care and Maintenance by Material

General Guidelines

Metals:

• Clean regularly
• Store properly
• Remove before water/chemicals
• Professional cleaning for precious metals

Stones:

• Some water-safe, some not
• Cleanse energetically (smoke, moonlight)
• Avoid harsh chemicals
• Recharge regularly

Organic materials:

• Keep dry
• Avoid extreme temperatures
• Oil wood occasionally
• Handle textiles gently

Energetic Cleansing

All materials benefit from:

• Smoke cleansing (sage, palo santo)
• Moonlight charging (especially full moon)
• Sound cleansing (bells, singing bowls)
• Intention and prayer
• Regular energetic maintenance

The Material Matters

The material from which your hamsa is crafted is not superficial—it is the physical foundation of spiritual protection, the earthly vessel for divine blessing, the tangible form through which invisible forces flow. Silver carries moon's reflective wisdom, gold channels sun's confident power, turquoise holds ancient protective knowledge, wood grounds in earth's living energy. Whether you choose traditional metals honoring ancestral practice or modern materials making protection accessible, whether precious stones or humble resin, the material matters because it is the bridge between intention and manifestation, between spiritual and physical, between ancient symbol and your protected present. Choose with awareness, care with intention, and know that the material you select becomes part of your protective story—the substance through which the hamsa's timeless power flows into your unique life.