The number five is assigned great significance in Moroccan and Arabic culture. Recitation of the words “five in your eye” (khamsa fi Ainek) is thought to metaphorically poke fingers into the evil eye and control it. Saying the word “five” in front of people is taken as an insult because it is viewed as an accusation of wrongdoing. Khamsas, or symbols representing the number five, are hung on doors to protect homes from bad spirits.

Animals are depicted in Moroccan mehndi, often as symbols of protection. The snake represents fertility. The scorpion is drawn very realistically in Morocco and symbolizes protection very realistically in Morocco and symbolizes protection rather than romance, as it does in India. Of course, as you experiment with your own designs, they will take on new meanings!

When Loretta Roome began her research into mehndi practiced in northern Africa and India, she was disheartened to find that many of the artists were out of touch with the symbolism of mehndi. She even found that many women considered it old-fashioned and unimportant. When she asked about the symbolism of particular designs, many artists told her that they had no meaning. This may be connected to the technological revolution and the fast pace of life today. It is precisely because of the increasingly fast pace of our lives that mehndi should be used in the ancient and meditative way it was intended. Mehndi can be a path to knowledge of Self in the midst of the glut of information we are bombarded with every day. Keeping up with e-mail, television, phone calls, faxes, and school work can be overwhelming. That is why yoga and other stress-reducing practices are becoming so popular. The more life speeds up, the more we need to stop, slow down, and give our bodies and minds a rest. Learning the art of mehndi or going out and getting painted by another artist is a meditative practice you can use to relax and remember who you are. New mehndi looks a little different than traditional mehndi, and it takes on a slightly new role in our very new world. Make it yours and use it well.