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