| [Note: This paper contains images which may | | | | "old-hand," "hands-on," etc. |
| be seen as originally published at our | | | | |
| website] | | | | The Application of Hands in the Spiritual |
| | | | Path |
| In ceremonial magick of the Western | | | | |
| Tradition, the hands and fingers are used for | | | | In the Spiritual Path hands are used for the |
| various purposes among which is to trace | | | | following purposes: |
| symbols, sigils, and signs in a consecrated | | | | |
| space or object. They are also utilized to | | | | As an instrument of healing. |
| banish, invoke and direct forces to certain | | | | |
| targets. In contrast to the adepts of | | | | As an instrument of blessing and |
| ceremonial magic, stage magicians apply the | | | | consecration. |
| hands to entertain audiences with their many | | | | |
| illusory tricks. They call this, | | | | As an instrument of general service. |
| "prestidigitation," or "sleight of hand." In | | | | |
| prestidigitation, the hands are used in | | | | As an instrument of teaching. |
| various ways to deceive and mislead the eyes, | | | | |
| and also in guiding the mental focus of the | | | | As an instrument of purification, invocation, |
| audience. The saying that "the hands are | | | | prayer, and communion. |
| quicker than the eye," is a well-known | | | | |
| cliché used by stage magicians. | | | | ********** |
| | | | |
| While still on the topic of entertainment, we | | | | As an instrument of healing |
| have to consider the applause. The clapping | | | | |
| of hands in modern usage is an expression of | | | | Chakras, or energy-centers are to be found |
| delight, agreement, an accompaniment to | | | | all over the body. There is a chakra to be |
| music, or appreciation for someone's stage | | | | found in each palm of the hand. There is |
| performance. Metaphysically, it is said that | | | | likewise a minor chakra at every fingertip. |
| ovation dispels the presence of angelic | | | | The size, activity, and power of these |
| beings. These creatures of light dislike the | | | | chakras are dependent upon various factors. |
| vibrations produced by the applause. From the | | | | One of these is the purity of the subtle |
| occult point of view, therefore, clapping is | | | | channels terminating at those chakra points. |
| regarded as a negative practice. | | | | These subtle channels or etheric nadis convey |
| | | | the life-force all over the body and may be |
| In dance, gestures of the hands are essential | | | | projected outside of the body through the |
| in conveying or expressing symbolic messages | | | | hand chakras. Healers of various metaphysical |
| and metaphorical meanings. They possess a | | | | traditions make use of the hands to convey |
| rich vocabulary and tell non-verbal stories | | | | healing energy or to break up toxic crystals |
| that evoke our primordial emotions as well as | | | | imbedded in the tissues. Since ancient times |
| divine sensations. This can easily be seen | | | | Chinese doctors have been diagnosing a |
| and experienced in the hula-dance of the | | | | person's state of vitality through sensing |
| Polynesians. These dances and hand movements | | | | the strength of the energy radiating from the |
| narrate various myths of the land that | | | | hands, from the phalanges of the fingers, and |
| transports us to another world. In Hindu | | | | the pulse at the wrist. Among the many |
| classical texts regarding dance, hundreds of | | | | systems of alternative therapeutics that make |
| hand gestures are mentioned, together with | | | | use of the hands are acupressure, Shiatsu, |
| descriptions of the thirteen positions of the | | | | Chakra healing, Reiki, Rosicrucian Contact |
| head, thirty-six of the eyes, and nine of the | | | | healing, Body Electronics, various forms of |
| neck. In the Hindu dances based on the | | | | massage work, etc. Like Jesus the Christ, |
| Carnatic music composition, the following | | | | every Initiate on the Spiritual Path is |
| mudras are used among many others: Raaga | | | | essentially a healer, though he may not |
| mudra, Tata mudra, Aachaarya mudra, Naayaka | | | | blatantly proclaim or advertise himself to be |
| mudra, Vamsa mudra, Biruda mudra, Lakshana | | | | one. When circumstances and necessity calls |
| Grantha mudra, Prabandha mudra, Sthala mudra, | | | | for it he would gladly offer his services to |
| etc. | | | | the suffering one, always stressing, however, |
| | | | that it is not he that works, but the "Father |
| Although the many poses of the hands in | | | | " within him. |
| traditional dance may portray symbolical | | | | |
| meanings, they are also functional in the | | | | As an instrument of blessing and consecration |
| sense that they modify the morphogenic or | | | | |
| auric field of the human organism, and | | | | Metaphysics teaches and proves through |
| likewise meant to regulate the energy flow | | | | various experiments which may be personally |
| within the etheric body. | | | | verified by skeptics that energy radiates |
| | | | from the hands. This energy may be used to |
| There are numerous forms of dance or dancing | | | | magnetize objects, places, spaces or people |
| style prompted by the various levels of the | | | | for various purposes. The religious term for |
| psyche. Basically, we can classify three | | | | magnetization is consecration. Blessing is a |
| types of dance originating from the | | | | form of consecration. It refers to the |
| subconsciousness, consciousness and the | | | | magnetization of a human being rather than an |
| superconsciousness. The instinctive or | | | | object with a spiritual force. Generally, in |
| primitive dance originating from the | | | | the act of consecration or blessing we seek |
| subconsciousness is well known and is | | | | to raise the vibrations or frequency of a |
| displayed by both man and beast. Most of | | | | person or an object, or to empower it with |
| these movements and their awkward gestures | | | | certain energies that would turn it into a |
| usually are mating courtship dances and the | | | | psycho-spiritual generator that would |
| release of pent-up energies. Cultural dances | | | | influence its immediate surroundings in a |
| evolved from these unrefined movements. They | | | | certain way. Thought-forms imbued with mental |
| are a projection of what the psyche | | | | suggestions and emotional power are often |
| understands of beauty, grace, form, rhythm, | | | | attached to these blessings. Curses operate |
| etc. The third category may be called | | | | much in the same way as blessings, they |
| mystical dances. They originate from higher | | | | however, bring about negative effects. The |
| levels of consciousness beyond the reach of | | | | curse on Tutankhamen's tomb is a classic |
| the conscious mind, but whose energies may be | | | | example of this. |
| channeled through the physical body producing | | | | |
| divine movements. Some forms of dancing are | | | | Where people are concern in the act of |
| the amalgamation of all three | | | | blessing, the metaphysical practitioner would |
| classifications. The traditional dancing | | | | also seek to clear obstructive or congested |
| styles of Eastern countries such as India, | | | | energies preventing the person from being |
| Thailand, and Indonesia are typical of these. | | | | aware of or communing with his or her Higher |
| In these dances mudras are often formed to | | | | Self. Once this purification is achieved the |
| alter the consciousness of the dancer and | | | | person would possess a clearer line of |
| indirectly affect the consciousness of the | | | | communication with his hidden god or genius |
| spectators. About 16 years ago the writer | | | | and acquire a stronger sense of protection, |
| personally witnessed one of the traditional | | | | faith, and a constant guidance from the Most |
| Javanese dances performed by a very talented | | | | High. |
| young man. The dance was called "Kesadaran," | | | | |
| or "Consciousness." We were spellbound from | | | | In the act of blessing or consecration, the |
| start to finish. | | | | hands work in harmony with the power of the |
| | | | spoken word to modify the magnetic-field |
| Music often make us move and sway our hands, | | | | structure of people and objects. |
| feet, and body unconsciously. Why does it do | | | | |
| this? For the simply reason that musical | | | | As an instrument of general service |
| energies have the power to possess our beings | | | | |
| and cause an altered state of awareness | | | | The hands are tools of service and |
| making us lose a certain degree of control | | | | humanitarian aid. Spiritually and socially, |
| over our physical motor system. All beings | | | | it is applied in extending a helping hand to |
| are susceptible to the influence of music. | | | | our fellow beings, to those in need of bare |
| Animals and plants are especially vulnerable. | | | | necessities, comfort and solace. In spiritual |
| In Greek myth we often hear tales of Pan, the | | | | teachings, karma yoga is often associated |
| personification of Nature, dancing to the | | | | with the hands in active giving without any |
| mystical tunes of his pan-pipes, and all | | | | thought of remuneration or recognition. This |
| those who heard him play would also join in | | | | is a vital principle. The desire to serve |
| the fun, the mirth, and the merry-making. | | | | humanity must come from the heart without any |
| Similarly, when the Greek sage Orpheus played | | | | thought of self or ego. Selflessness, |
| on his lyre, all became entranced, even the | | | | self-sacrifice, and active service are |
| rocks listened attentively. | | | | important virtues that the spiritual aspirant |
| | | | has to embody and express at every breathing |
| In the Hindu tales of the gods, as found in | | | | moment. When self-comfort, self-importance, |
| the Bhagavata-Purana and the Gita-Govinda, | | | | and self-aggrandizement are the sole motives |
| Krishna is said to have enchanted the gopis, | | | | of help to others then the hands are |
| or shepherdesses of Vrindavana with his lila | | | | misapplied and any act carried-out is |
| dance and magical flute-playing. Each gopi | | | | unmeritorious. Spiritual disciples should not |
| was so mesmerized and distracted by Krishna | | | | attract attention to the fact that they are |
| that they would forget everything else around | | | | serving. The best service is done quietly in |
| them. They would become so one-pointed that | | | | the shadows without any fanfare or |
| they would believe that they were the only | | | | advertisements. The Master Jesus explained it |
| one present before their Lord. Evidently, | | | | concisely in this manner: "Do not let the |
| music has the power to cause ecstatic | | | | left hand know what the right hand is doing." |
| feelings. | | | | Occultly, the left hand is used for receiving |
| | | | energies, while the right hand is employed |
| The god Shiva is often portrayed in | | | | for giving them. |
| iconography in a dancing pose as Nataraja, or | | | | |
| "Lord of Dance." Representing the | | | | As an instrument of teaching |
| Consciousness aspect of Nature, why does | | | | |
| Shiva engage in a Cosmic dance? It is because | | | | Spiritual Gurus teach in various ways. They |
| Shakti or divine energy, flows through his | | | | give teachings orally, in writing, |
| being and causes spasms and convulsions at | | | | telepathically, through example, symbols, |
| first, and then rhythmic movements in | | | | drama, and by the use of gestures. The hands |
| attunement with the beat of the Cosmos. | | | | can convey lots of information when |
| Amidst spiritual flames, Shiva dances | | | | knowledgeably used. Symbolic movements of the |
| rapturously, burning and transmuting all of | | | | hands may portray the workings of Cosmic laws |
| the old outworn forms of life hindering | | | | and spiritual principles. It is said that a |
| cosmic progress. | | | | picture is worth a thousand words. Sometimes |
| | | | the hands may tell what the mouth cannot. A |
| In a microcosmic scale, a Shiva-dance | | | | loving touch tells something that words are |
| likewise occurs to a practitioner of mudras. | | | | often unequipped to. In Zen Buddhism, the |
| Spontaneous dancing may transpire as a result | | | | Guru often gives shock treatments to his |
| of the awakening of the life-force in the | | | | students with the use of the hands. A rap on |
| lowest psychospiritual center of the etheric | | | | the head or a slap on the face at the |
| body. While conducting the mudras the | | | | appropriate moment and psychological |
| practitioner's whole being would often move | | | | condition after intense meditation is |
| involuntarily. The physical body might sway | | | | supposed to cause a student to suddenly |
| forward and backward, left and right or | | | | apperceive the natural state of his mind and |
| rotate on its axis. His or her hands would | | | | thereby become enlighten. |
| move on their own accord in circles, in | | | | |
| arches, in figure-eights, in a chopping | | | | As an instrument of purification, invocation, |
| upward-downward movement, or oscillate in a | | | | prayer and communion |
| left-right or forward-backward direction; | | | | |
| sometimes the hands are mysteriously placed | | | | Perhaps the most common use of hands in |
| at various layers of the aura, or even at | | | | religious and in metaphysical spiritual work |
| certain focus points--at the chakras or | | | | is its application in prayer. Basically, this |
| energy centers of the body. While Shakti is | | | | does not require any specialized knowledge. |
| active, she may also induce the practitioner | | | | The hands are instinctively used when |
| to assume unlearnt mudras. The energies | | | | appealing to God, to higher intelligences for |
| invoked through mudras have an intelligence | | | | intercession or when used simply as gestures |
| all of their own and they do their work | | | | of adoration or reverence, just as we |
| through movements. They know what to do to | | | | instinctively scratch our foreheads or pull |
| balance, purify, transform, or integrate | | | | our beards when we seek to arouse our mental |
| celestial energies into the microcosmic | | | | powers. The hands may be clasped, |
| system. | | | | outstretched or assumed in any other way that |
| | | | the heart dictates while in silent prayer. |
| In the martial-arts field, hands are used as | | | | Esoteric teachings, however, teaches various |
| weapons of defense or destruction. The | | | | mudras, or hand gestures that have specific |
| "Tiger's Claw," the "Iron Fist," "the | | | | purposes for the invocation of cosmic forces |
| Drunken-style Fist," etc, all indicate the | | | | and spiritual beings. The liturgical formula |
| manifold lethal forms that the hands may | | | | "The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Amen" in |
| assume to strike an opponent or to ward off | | | | the Christian Tradition accompanied with the |
| blows. In contrast to this, the finer arts | | | | touching of the appropriate points of the |
| make use of the hands constructively and | | | | head and body at the conclusion of a prayer |
| creatively to produce wondrous objects of | | | | conveys a certain power to the etheric body |
| art, and to compose and produce heavenly | | | | when correctly done. However, the perfunctory |
| music. Like the Cosmic dance of Shiva, the | | | | manner in which it is performed provides very |
| movements of Tai Chi, Pencak Silat, and other | | | | little of worth. In Hinduism, such placing of |
| forms of self-defense have part of their | | | | the hands upon certain parts of the body with |
| origin in an awakened source of energy moving | | | | magical intent is called Nyasa. |
| through the limbs producing involuntary | | | | |
| movements. These movements were later noted | | | | To commune with the divinity within us we may |
| down and turned into the various steps of | | | | apply various mudras that facilitates |
| martial-art discipline and training. | | | | mystical communion. Mudras establishes a |
| | | | psychic condition in the mind and body that |
| Some systems of metaphysical development | | | | temporary elevates our consciousness, and |
| teach us to move the body in a certain way. | | | | disperses the etheric webs that protects the |
| Though this has an effect in stimulating | | | | psyche from being prematurely bombarded by |
| energies in the body it is not quite as | | | | psychic/celestial energies. It aligns and |
| effective in producing the desired results as | | | | unites our objective consciousness with the |
| when compared to the assuming of mudras that | | | | superconscious mind. An altered state of |
| cause the energies to produce natural | | | | consciousness is easily achieved through the |
| movements all of their own accord. | | | | use of the hands in the performing of mudras. |
| | | | Through mudras our communion with the |
| When we clasp our hands by interlacing our | | | | so-called supernatural is controlled. We open |
| fingers, the thumb at the uppermost, whether | | | | and close the portals to higher worlds |
| right or left indicates which hemisphere of | | | | through the application of our will. |
| our brain predominates. Psychology tells us | | | | |
| that if the right thumb is uppermost it is | | | | In ceremonial magick the hands are |
| logic or reason that is predominant within | | | | extensively used to direct and build up |
| us, or if the left thumb, intuition. | | | | forces in one's sacred place of worship and |
| | | | practice. Symbols are drawn on the ground or |
| The hands play an important role in | | | | in the air with the power radiating from the |
| empowering the mind to function optimally. | | | | hands and chakras to invoke and evoke cosmic |
| Since energy radiates from the palms and | | | | metaphysical forces. The avatar Sai Baba is |
| fingertips, they are often unconsciously | | | | often seen making gestures in the air. He |
| utilized as stimulators re-connecting lost or | | | | does this for the purpose of dispersing and |
| poor links between synapses of brain neurons. | | | | cleansing the ambient surroundings and |
| In the book Body Magic, an important work on | | | | atmosphere from negative energies. The |
| esoteric man, Benjamin Walker describes how | | | | metaphysical practitioner or ceremonial |
| the operations of the hands often attempt to | | | | magician makes use of the hands in |
| improve the mental processes by certain | | | | manifesting certain things and conditions. |
| placements: | | | | |
| | | | To conclude this article we would like to |
| "When the fingertips of the two hands are | | | | praise the hands for what they offer us--the |
| placed together, a circuit is set up with the | | | | opportunity to grow and serve. The fingers |
| brain that is believed to assist thought. | | | | and thumbs of the hands should not quarrel |
| People in deep thought will often talk with | | | | among themselves as to who is the greatest, |
| their fingertips pressed together, as if | | | | as related in some ancient fables, for they |
| unconsciously aware of the need to establish | | | | all have their place in supporting the need |
| such a current to assist their concentration. | | | | in us to further pursue our dreams, in |
| If a man wishes to recall something he has | | | | fulfilling our earthly tasks and cosmic |
| forgotten, his hand will instinctively touch | | | | mission. The harmonious conjoined functioning |
| his forehead to contact with his fingers the | | | | of the fingers and thumbs of the hands is a |
| source of his thinking." | | | | metaphor for the right relationship and |
| | | | cooperation between the sons of men to |
| From what has been written thus far, it is | | | | manifest the Will of God, just as the fingers |
| evident that hands play a prominent role in | | | | and hands manifests the will of its |
| everyday life. This can also be seen in the | | | | possessor. The noblest use of our hands is to |
| way we have invented all sorts of idioms | | | | extend it in friendship, in kindness and in |
| regarding them. For instance, "lend me a | | | | unconditional love. |
| hand," "hands-off," "hand-in-hand," | | | | |