Even today in Calitri evil eye is considered a simpler and less harmful type of bewitchment.

It is considered a malicious influence emanating from an envious glare, some times conscious (also unconscious at other times) of certain persons (usually persons having close knit eyebrows, gypsies and sorcerers).

This malicious influence reputedly produces headaches, tiredness, sleepiness, disorientation, nausea, vomit, dizziness and mental confusion in unsuspecting victims.

When a headache is suspected to be of magical origin, a remedy from a sorceress specialized in curing evil eye is required.

The sorceress has the power to determine the nature of the headache and also to free the patient from the charm.

There are several procedures for doing this. One consists in testing oil poured into a dish.

The sorceress makes the sign of the cross, uttering the magic formula “In the name of the Most Holy Trinity”; then with her thumb she traces a small sign of the cross on the patient’s forehead; she then pours seven drops of oil in a dish of water and mentally recites a secret exorcism (that can be revealed only at midnight on Christmas day, so as not offend the Baby Jesus).

If the oil drops remain unchanged, this is the sign of a common headache; but if they spread, this is sure proof of evil eye, from which the patient can be freed only if the contents of the dish are poured out into the street.

When the evil eye is stubborn, the ceremony is repeated three consecutive times.

If the cure is unsuccessful, the exorcism is repeated after two hours by another sorceress, and in cases of special obduracy, by a third sorceress after a two-hour interval.

Another kind of exorcism requires the addition of seven kernels of wheat to the seven drops of oil already in the dish.

If the evil eye is present, a small bubble will form under each kernel.

Sometimes the removal of the evil eye is produced just by the power of magical words or gestures performed by the sorceress.

One of these consists in tracing six signs of the cross on the patient followed by the recitation of the following magic formula: