| [Note: This paper contains images which may be | | | | History has recorded numerous of these schools |
| seen as originally published at our | | | | and temples of esoteric knowledge among which |
| website]According to its votaries, the hand of the | | | | were the mysteries of Isis, Sabazius, Cybele, |
| crucified Jesus is believed to possess occult | | | | Eleusis, Orpheus, Mithra, Asar-Hapi, and Odin. To |
| virtues. When worn as an amulet it is said to be | | | | state the mission and purpose of these |
| an all-round good-luck charm. Prayers are said in | | | | metaphysical institutions we can do no better than |
| conjunction with its presence on one's person. | | | | to quote the eminent Freemason, Robert |
| One prayer associated with this particular amulet | | | | Macoy:"It appears that all the perfection of |
| is as follows:"I carry a likeness of your pierced | | | | civilization, and all the advancement made in |
| hand as a fervent symbol of your infinite | | | | philosophy, sciences, and art among the ancients |
| kindness. Thou who has known such suffering, | | | | are due to those institutions which, under the veil |
| reach out your hand with a blessing. Thy pierced | | | | of mystery, sought to illuminate the sublimest |
| hand inspires this humble prayer that I may call on | | | | truths of religion, morality, and virtue, and impress |
| Thee to grant me peace and happiness. | | | | them on the heart of the disciples. Their chief |
| Amen."Generally, charms in the form of hands, | | | | object was to teach the doctrine of one God, the |
| and in any pose--whether made of metal, stone, | | | | resurrection of man to the eternal life, the dignity |
| or inscribed--were often carried to ward off the | | | | of the human soul, and to lead the people to see |
| "Evil Eye," or the ietattura as it is called in | | | | the shadow of the deity, in the beauty, |
| Southern Italy, or ain al-hasad, the "Eye of Envy," | | | | magnificence, and splendor of the universe."Within |
| by the Arabs. The ancient Sumerians referred to | | | | some of these Mystery schools, when the |
| it as IG-HUL, "Eye Evil." The Evil Eye is an ancient | | | | candidate is first initiated and accepted as a |
| belief and not without any metaphysical | | | | neophyte, he or she is often given an effigy of a |
| substantiation. From the metaphysical point of | | | | human hand filled with symbolic images to |
| view, eyes radiates energy and the quality of this | | | | contemplate. This hand is referred to as the Hand |
| force is tainted by the will and character of its | | | | of the Philosopher, or the Hand of the Mysteries. |
| emanator. Like all forces, the power flowing from | | | | When these symbols are understood, they |
| the eyes may bless or curse others. There are | | | | provide the neophyte the keys to facilitate the |
| many examples of amulets with a single eye on | | | | transformation of their lower nature into |
| the palm of the hand. It is believed that this | | | | divinity--from man to god. Regeneration, |
| attracts the Evil Eye in accord with the Law of | | | | transmutation, and empowerment are the |
| Attraction and absorbs its malevolent influences.In | | | | consequence of the application of the laws and |
| order to counteract the malignant rays emanating | | | | principles that these ancient symbols represent. |
| from the eyes of negative individuals, the Hamsa | | | | Among the many secrets that they portray, they |
| Hand, or the Hand of Fatima charm was invented | | | | teach how one may commune with one's Holy |
| by the Arabs to re-direct these individuals' willful | | | | Guardian Angel, or one's Higher Self. The |
| attention and malefic glances. Fatima was the | | | | practitioner of the secrets of the Mysteries |
| daughter of the Prophet Muhammed and Khadijah. | | | | undergo a rebirth as a result of the growing |
| She was said to be a very virtuous woman, and | | | | influence and expression of the Higher Self in |
| it is believed that the charms representing her | | | | everyday consciousness.The Philosopher's Hand |
| embody all of her solid virtues and would protect | | | | may be regarded as an alchemical manual taking |
| and bring good fortune to its bearer. The fingers | | | | the conscientious student step by step through |
| of the Hand of Fatima symbolically represent the | | | | the alchemical process. In Freemasonry, the Hand |
| five pillars of Islam: 1) observance of the | | | | of the Mysteries is known as the hand of the |
| Ramadhan fast; 2) pilgrimage to Mecca; 3) | | | | Master Mason. In some Masonic groups, this is the |
| alms-giving; 4) observance of the daily prayers; 5) | | | | title for the highest of the three degrees to be |
| profession of faith. The right hand is used to | | | | found in the hoary and august fraternity. In this |
| symbolize the Hand of Fatima, for it is the hand | | | | article we have included three examples of these |
| of honor, in contradistinction to the left, which is | | | | symbolical hands. The first illustration shown is a |
| the "unclean hand." In most Eastern cultures it is | | | | bronze hand to be found in the British Museum. |
| considered rude and inappropriate to give things | | | | This specimen in the Mano Pantea gesture, is |
| with the left hand.Like the Arabs, the ancient | | | | covered with several important symbols among |
| Egyptians used a symbol called "the Great Hand" | | | | which are : a ram's head, serpent, frog, vase, |
| for various protective purposes, one of which is | | | | crocodile, turtle, cornucopia, scales, woman with |
| to ward off evil magnetism. Most hand amulets | | | | child, table with loaves of bread, and a cane. It is |
| appear with a single eye on the palm. There are | | | | supposed to be Egyptian in origin.The second hand |
| instances of this in various cultures.Amulets were | | | | is a painting redrawn by J. Augustus Knapp from |
| not of value only to the living, but to the "dead" | | | | an 18th century water color, and is taken from |
| as well. In ancient Egypt, an amulet called dejebaui, | | | | Manly Hall's "Secret Teachings of All Ages"; it was |
| or "two-fingers" were often placed among a | | | | executed with the alchemical process in mind. In |
| mummy's swathings to help the deceased one to | | | | this illustration there is a figure of a fish which |
| ascend and ride on the boat of Ra to the afterlife. | | | | symbolizes mercury--the principle of the Spirit |
| This amulet depicted the index and middle fingers | | | | within the microcosm. This aquatic creature is |
| and was usually made out of black basalt, green | | | | surrounded by the element of fire that |
| stone, or obsidian.During the enunciation of a | | | | represents the psychological aspect of man, or |
| pledge the right hand is often raised in the air. This | | | | the human soul. The rest of the fingers individually |
| originated in ancient customs where the raising of | | | | refer to the various steps of the spiritual path of |
| the hands were used to invoke the presence of | | | | transmutation of the base nature of man into the |
| the gods. Raising the right hand while making a | | | | resplendent gold of divinity. Kaballistically, the hand |
| pledge is therefore, tantamount to saying, "In the | | | | shows the mastership of the crowned thumb (the |
| name of God . . ." Another version is to place the | | | | Will) over the four worlds represented by the |
| right hand on a holy book while uttering an oath. | | | | fingers. These four worlds are referred to as |
| The significance is similar to the above.In the | | | | Atziluth, Briah, Yetzirah, and Assiah, or the World |
| West, many hand-signs have been made popular | | | | of Archetypes, the World of Creation, the World |
| with its constant use throughout the centuries. For | | | | of Formation, and the World of Manifestation. |
| instance we have the V-sign with the index and | | | | Atop of the fingertips in Knapp's illustration are |
| middle finger raised while the others flexed and | | | | symbols representing the various components of |
| clasped by the thumb. This signified victory and | | | | the microcosm: the lantern, the Concrete Mind; |
| triumph. Similar to this is the Mano Cornuto, where | | | | the Sun, the Abstract Mind; the Star, Buddhi; the |
| only the index and little finger are raised, and the | | | | Crown, Atma. The little finger holds aloft a |
| rest folded onto the palms. This represents horns, | | | | philosophical key, which reveals the secrets of the |
| the devil, and the powers of evil. In the Orient, | | | | Mysteries. It also symbolizes the etheric body, |
| though, this sign is said to have the power to | | | | which is considered by Western Initiates as the |
| ward off demons. Kuan Yin is often depicted with | | | | key to occult development. The wings surrounding |
| this mudra. The Hung Society of China uses it as | | | | the hand is a sign for transcendentalism--the |
| a sign of membership and also to signify "Man," | | | | things of the Spirit as opposed to matter. The |
| who embodies both Heaven and Earth. In Italian | | | | eyes, on the other hand, indicate the divine |
| witchcraft, the Mano Cornuto represents the | | | | aspect of omniscience unfolded in the Master |
| crescent moon of the goddess Diana.Another | | | | Mason after having discovered and applied the |
| prominent hand sign is the Mano Fica, or figa, the | | | | "Lost Word."Hindu versions of the Hand of the |
| sign of coitus where the thumb protrudes | | | | Mysteries are diagrams known as Hastakara |
| between the first and second fingers of the | | | | Yantra. Like their Western counterpart, these |
| closed hand. It is of ancient origin The Romans | | | | hands have various symbolic images depicted on |
| and Etruscans were well familiar with this sign | | | | them. Among other things they illustrate the |
| having made images of it. Lika Mano Cornuto, the | | | | relationship between man and the cosmic |
| latter sign is a popular amulet against negative | | | | forces.Like Hindu yoga, in Feng Shui, or Chinese |
| forces. Crossing the index finger with the middle | | | | geomancy, there are 5 elements: Water, Wood, |
| finger also has a sexual significance. It symbolizes | | | | Earth, Fire, and Metal. In Chinese palmistry the little |
| the generation of life and by association a good | | | | finger is associated with air, the ring finger with |
| outcome in one's hopeful expectations, in one's | | | | fire, the middle finger with earth, the forefinger |
| enterprise possessing an ambiguous upshot. | | | | with water, and the thumb with chi or metal as |
| Another sexual gesture much more explicit is the | | | | mentioned before. This system differs from the |
| repeated insertion and withdrawal of the | | | | Hindu yogic mudra tradition. First of all, in yoga |
| forefinger of the right hand (the phallus) into a | | | | philosophy the fifth element is akasha or space, |
| circle formed by the thumb and index finger of | | | | which although correspond to chi, does not relate |
| the left hand (the vulva). The pose of the left | | | | to metal at all. According to mudra teachings, |
| hand in the above gesture is also an "O.K." | | | | Angutha or the thumb corresponds to fire, Tarjani |
| sign.One of the old superstitions states that the | | | | or the forefinger to air, Madhyam or the middle |
| sexual act brings good luck, good fortune, and | | | | finger to akasha, Anamika or the ring finger to |
| prosperity. Perhaps because of its connection to | | | | earth and Kanishthika, or the little finger to water. |
| fertility rites where the energy aroused and | | | | In this work on mudras, we will stress more on |
| released during sexual ceremonies in open fields is | | | | the Hindu yogic assignment of the elements to |
| believed to empower crops to grow abundantly. | | | | the fingers and thumb. The application of |
| This belief is also one of the reasons why phallic | | | | elemental mudras in conjunction with the |
| and coital amulets were carried on one's person. | | | | elemental tattvic tides is a great tool in elemental |
| Such charms were thought to bring about | | | | magick.Hand Signs in Religious ArtHand signs are |
| fortunate circumstances to the wearer. Sexual | | | | an essential part of life. They are used to convey |
| amulets made out of metal, bone, and wood | | | | silently but powerfully the intention and thoughts |
| were very popular in the classical worlds of | | | | of their user. Humanity has for ages utilized sign |
| Greece and the Roman Empire.A hand sign that is | | | | languages. It originated at a period of Man's |
| mainly used by the sacerdotal priesthood of the | | | | evolution when he was incapable of |
| Christian Churches, is the Mano Pantea. This is the | | | | communicating his abstract and concrete thoughts |
| sign of benediction posed by extending the thumb | | | | with words and phrases lingually. He was solely |
| and first two fingers. The ring and little fingers are | | | | dependent upon gesticulations as a media for |
| folded onto the palms. This mudra can be seen in | | | | expressing his feelings and passions. This primitive |
| the various paintings and murals of Jesus, the | | | | form of communication is still being used by |
| Saints, and priests. In Latin countries, the Mano | | | | modern man in certain situations and expediency. |
| Pantea is also often used as an amulet against the | | | | Not surprisingly, the intelligent classes of |
| "Evil Eye," when thus employed it is normally | | | | anthropoids also make use of hand-sign |
| covered with other protective symbols as | | | | movements such as the beating of the chest in |
| reinforcements.An upraised thumb represents the | | | | expressing anger or authority. The fictitious |
| erect phallus and is a sign for life, success, | | | | Tarzan could not resist aping this gesture from his |
| prosperity, and acceptability. In contrast, the | | | | Darwinian guardians.Certain specific hand signs are |
| downward pointing thumb denotes defeat and is | | | | to be found all over the world. Many cultures |
| the veto sign of condemnation or the death | | | | preceding and succeeding the Christian era share |
| sentence. The middle finger solitarily extended is | | | | common gestures that express particular |
| one of the obscene gestures vulgarly referred to | | | | concepts. It has been suggested that these |
| as, "up yours." It signifies the command to | | | | gestures all have comparable basic ideas or |
| perform an unnatural or perverse sexual act.The | | | | significance because of their appearances in similar |
| famed Buddhist temple, Borobudur in the island of | | | | contexts. This is known through their repeated |
| Java was constructed in the form of a mandala--a | | | | portrayal in the many paintings, sculptures, and |
| symbolic diagram of the cosmos. It is built in tiers, | | | | drawings of the past available for our scrutiny and |
| and at every level, there are numerous statues | | | | study. Mediaeval Christian art of saints, prophets, |
| of Buddhas sitting in silent meditation. At each | | | | and the Holy Trinity, and the gods and devas of |
| point of the compass the contemplative Buddhas | | | | Egypt, India and the South American Indians are |
| assume a certain mudra. Those facing North bear | | | | often depicted with similar hand |
| the Abhaya (fearlessness) mudra, while those in | | | | positions.Contemporarily, we find school children |
| the East show the Bhumisparsha (earth-touching) | | | | perpetuating certain traditional signs that have |
| gesture. The Dana (giving) mudra is the hand pose | | | | their origin in religion and pagan practices. For |
| of the Buddhas facing South, and the Dhyana | | | | instance, crossing the fingers as a sort of prayer |
| (meditation) mudra of those facing West. Other | | | | so that they may be free from chastisement |
| mudras in the precincts of the temple are also to | | | | when interrogated of their wrong behavior--this |
| be found such as the Vitarka (debate) and | | | | may be a corrupted form of the ecclesiastical use |
| Dharmachakraprayartana (teaching) gestures. This | | | | of the Sign of Benediction.There are many |
| careful orientation of mudra bearers to compass | | | | professions that make use of signs only known to |
| points is symbolic. It is related to the quaternary | | | | their members or affiliates. For instance, |
| principles to be found in the micro- and | | | | merchants, masons, tramps, gamblers, |
| macrocosm. Comprehensive teachings concerning | | | | prostitutes--all have signs known only to |
| these may be found in the esoteric aspects of | | | | themselves with which they signal one |
| Buddhism and esotericism in general.Symbolic | | | | another.Because of the profuse use of signs and |
| marks or imprints are often found on the palms | | | | gestures by the Italians in their everyday life, |
| of statues and icons of Buddhas and Avatars. | | | | anthropologists believe that these descendents of |
| These marks indicate the power, virtue, or | | | | Romulus and Remus are not able to carry out a |
| attribute of these God-incarnates. In Hinduism, | | | | satisfactory conversation if they were prevented |
| Shiva appears the most with these hand drawings. | | | | the use of gesticulation.Occultists believe that |
| Many kinds of marks exist. Several are to be | | | | most gestures or hand signs that are found in |
| found on just the palms of Gautama | | | | religion and in society have a common origin in the |
| (Shakyamuni) Buddha alone. These palmar designs | | | | prevalent Mystery Schools of the past where |
| probably originated from the special marks that | | | | they were used in a ceremonial setting. Modern |
| do physically appear on the palms. Cheiromancy | | | | Freemasonry as one of the many descendents of |
| identifies several of these as the square, the grille, | | | | these Occult Temples of Wisdom and Knowledge |
| the island, the cross or star, etc.Hands were | | | | still perpetuates this custom of hand signs in their |
| revered by the Hindus for centuries. One of the | | | | initiatory rites.Like the Freemasons, secret |
| Shivaic tantrik rituals of India gives the following | | | | societies in the Orient also have ceremonies |
| liturgical adoration to the fingers of the hands:"Om | | | | where esoteric signs are employed. One of the |
| Sham I bow to the thumbs Namah. Om Shim I | | | | secret associations of China, the Hung Society, |
| bow the index fingers Svaha. Om Shum I bow to | | | | have certain signs and gestures with which |
| the middle fingers Vashat. Om Shaim I bow to | | | | communication is carried-out among the affiliated |
| the ring fingers Hum. Om Shaum I bow to the | | | | members--not only in the ceremonies but in |
| little fingers Vaushat. Om Shah I bow to the front | | | | everyday life as well. The aforementioned society, |
| and back of hands Phat."This chant is | | | | likewise, have plentiful mudras or signs |
| accompanied by specific mudras that purifies the | | | | representing the principles of their philosophy. In |
| subtle channels of the upper limbs. Not only is this | | | | its doctrines, the five elements of Taoist |
| ritual practiced in India but variations of it may be | | | | esotericism are signified by poses that are also to |
| found in Bali as well.In the marriage ceremonies | | | | be found elsewhere around the globe.The mystical |
| and sexual rites of Oriental cultures such as in | | | | Dervishes, established by the Sufi Rumi, apply |
| Tantrism, Yoginis or Shaktis often paint Yantras | | | | hand signs for occult purposes. They invoke the |
| and other symbolical diagrams on the palms of | | | | Divine Presence by utilizing these signs that |
| their hands with henna or red dye. These | | | | corresponds with the 99 names of God in their |
| diagrams normally have intricate floral patterns | | | | dance rituals, as already alluded to |
| and are magical and hypnotic. They are used to | | | | previously.Artists of all ages have secret codes |
| attract, to mesmerize, and to empower | | | | and teachings with which they unveil in their |
| themselves and their sexual partners.In Islamic | | | | artwork. In archaic times it was a dangerous |
| mysticism, specific gestures are often employed | | | | matter to openly publicize occult and spiritual |
| to help produce an altered state of awareness. | | | | teachings that religions steeped in fundamentalism |
| Dervishes, for instance, pose their hands in | | | | were dramatically opposed to for these teachings |
| specific mudras and hand signs while dancing and | | | | threatened their political structure and lessen their |
| whirling around on a single spot. Some Sufi sects | | | | value in the eyes of an evolving humanity. It is |
| would trace the 99 names of God on their bodies | | | | for this reason that the Mystery and metaphysical |
| with their right hand while engaging in zikir, or | | | | schools established by the ancient sages went |
| recollecting and focusing upon God through | | | | underground and operated clandestinely. They |
| constant chanting.In ancient times there were the | | | | promulgated their teachings through signs and |
| Mystery Schools that taught to the selected few | | | | symbols that acted on one level as their calling |
| the laws and secrets of Nature and the Universe. | | | | card. |