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