There are many examples of amulets with a single eye on the palm of the hand. It also symbolizes the etheric body, which is considered by Western Initiates as the key to occult development. Thou who has known such suffering, reach out your hand with a blessing.Certain specific hand signs are to be found all over the world. It has been suggested that these gestures all have comparable basic ideas or significance because of their appearances in similar contexts. Om Shah I bow to the front and back of hands Phat. The first illustration shown is a bronze hand to be found in the British Museum. Perhaps because of its connection to fertility rites where the energy aroused and released during sexual ceremonies in open fields is believed to empower crops to grow abundantly.One of the Shivaic tantrik rituals of India gives the following liturgical adoration to the fingers of the hands:"Om Sham I bow to the thumbs Namah. In its doctrines, the five elements of Taoist esotericism are signified by poses that are also to be found elsewhere around the globe. In archaic times it was a dangerous matter to openly publicize occult and spiritual teachings that religions steeped in fundamentalism were dramatically opposed to for these teachings threatened their political structure and lessen their value in the eyes of an evolving humanity.Hands were revered by the Hindus for centuries.The Philosopher's Hand may be regarded as an alchemical manual taking the conscientious student step by step through the alchemical process. Modern Freemasonry as one of the many descendents of these Occult Temples of Wisdom and Knowledge still perpetuates this custom of hand signs in their initiatory rites.For instance, merchants, masons, tramps, gamblers, prostitutes--all have signs known only to themselves with which they signal one another. Mediaeval Christian art of saints, prophets, and the Holy Trinity, and the gods and devas of Egypt, India and the South American Indians are often depicted with similar hand positions. These four worlds are referred to as Atziluth, Briah, Yetzirah, and Assiah, or the World of Archetypes, the World of Creation, the World of Formation, and the World of Manifestation. The fingers of the Hand of Fatima symbolically represent the five pillars of Islam: 1) observance of the Ramadhan fast; 2) pilgrimage to Mecca; 3) alms-giving; 4) observance of the daily prayers; 5) profession of faith. They invoke the Divine Presence by utilizing these signs that corresponds with the 99 names of God in their dance rituals, as already alluded to previously. This originated in ancient customs where the raising of the hands were used to invoke the presence of the gods.

First of all, in yoga philosophy the fifth element is akasha or space, which although correspond to chi, does not relate to metal at all. In Hinduism, Shiva appears the most with these hand drawings. This hand is referred to as the Hand of the Philosopher, or the Hand of the Mysteries.Like Hindu yoga, in Feng Shui, or Chinese geomancy, there are 5 elements: Water, Wood, Earth, Fire, and Metal. One of the secret associations of China, the Hung Society, have certain signs and gestures with which communication is carried-out among the affiliated members--not only in the ceremonies but in everyday life as well. This signified victory and triumph. Dervishes, for instance, pose their hands in specific mudras and hand signs while dancing and whirling around on a single spot. There are instances of this in various cultures." In most Eastern cultures it is considered rude and inappropriate to give things with the left hand. Comprehensive teachings concerning these may be found in the esoteric aspects of Buddhism and esotericism in general. These palmar designs probably originated from the special marks that do physically appear on the palms. Crossing the index finger with the middle finger also has a sexual significance. For instance, crossing the fingers as a sort of prayer so that they may be free from chastisement when interrogated of their wrong behavior--this may be a corrupted form of the ecclesiastical use of the Sign of Benediction. These diagrams normally have intricate floral patterns and are magical and hypnotic. The ring and little fingers are folded onto the palms.An upraised thumb represents the erect phallus and is a sign for life, success, prosperity, and acceptability. In contrast, the downward pointing thumb denotes defeat and is the veto sign of condemnation or the death sentence. The aforementioned society, likewise, have plentiful mudras or signs representing the principles of their philosophy.

To state the mission and purpose of these metaphysical institutions we can do no better than to quote the eminent Freemason, Robert Macoy:"It appears that all the perfection of civilization, and all the advancement made in philosophy, sciences, and art among the ancients are due to those institutions which, under the veil of mystery, sought to illuminate the sublimest truths of religion, morality, and virtue, and impress them on the heart of the disciples. Atop of the fingertips in Knapp's illustration are symbols representing the various components of the microcosm: the lantern, the Concrete Mind; the Sun, the Abstract Mind; the Star, Buddhi; the Crown, Atma." Another version is to place the right hand on a holy book while uttering an oath.Contemporarily, we find school children perpetuating certain traditional signs that have their origin in religion and pagan practices. Not only is this ritual practiced in India but variations of it may be found in Bali as well.In Islamic mysticism, specific gestures are often employed to help produce an altered state of awareness. In ancient Egypt, an amulet called dejebaui, or "two-fingers" were often placed among a mummy's swathings to help the deceased one to ascend and ride on the boat of Ra to the afterlife.The mystical Dervishes, established by the Sufi Rumi, apply hand signs for occult purposes. It is related to the quaternary principles to be found in the micro- and macrocosm. Thy pierced hand inspires this humble prayer that I may call on Thee to grant me peace and happiness. The significance is similar to the above. It is built in tiers, and at every level, there are numerous statues of Buddhas sitting in silent meditation. In some Masonic groups, this is the title for the highest of the three degrees to be found in the hoary and august fraternity. In this illustration there is a figure of a fish which symbolizes mercury--the principle of the Spirit within the microcosm. This is known through their repeated portrayal in the many paintings, sculptures, and drawings of the past available for our scrutiny and study.The second hand is a painting redrawn by J. Humanity has for ages utilized sign languages. It is believed that this attracts the Evil Eye in accord with the Law of Attraction and absorbs its malevolent influences. The ancient Sumerians referred to it as IG-HUL, "Eye Evil.The famed Buddhist temple, Borobudur in the island of Java was constructed in the form of a mandala--a symbolic diagram of the cosmos. According to mudra teachings, Angutha or the thumb corresponds to fire, Tarjani or the forefinger to air, Madhyam or the middle finger to akasha, Anamika or the ring finger to earth and Kanishthika, or the little finger to water. The Hung Society of China uses it as a sign of membership and also to signify "Man," who embodies both Heaven and Earth. The middle finger solitarily extended is one of the obscene gestures vulgarly referred to as, "up yours.There are many professions that make use of signs only known to their members or affiliates. This amulet depicted the index and middle fingers and was usually made out of black basalt, green stone, or obsidian. In Italian witchcraft, the Mano Cornuto represents the crescent moon of the goddess Diana. Amen." It signifies the command to perform an unnatural or perverse sexual act.Symbolic marks or imprints are often found on the palms of statues and icons of Buddhas and Avatars. Regeneration, transmutation, and empowerment are the consequence of the application of the laws and principles that these ancient symbols represent. They promulgated their teachings through signs and symbols that acted on one level as their calling card. Om Shum I bow to the middle fingers Vashat. She was said to be a very virtuous woman, and it is believed that the charms representing her embody all of her solid virtues and would protect and bring good fortune to its bearer.In order to counteract the malignant rays emanating from the eyes of negative individuals, the Hamsa Hand, or the Hand of Fatima charm was invented by the Arabs to re-direct these individuals' willful attention and malefic glances. In this article we have included three examples of these symbolical hands. This system differs from the Hindu yogic mudra tradition.Artists of all ages have secret codes and teachings with which they unveil in their artwork.Another prominent hand sign is the Mano Fica, or figa, the sign of coitus where the thumb protrudes between the first and second fingers of the closed hand. The eyes, on the other hand, indicate the divine aspect of omniscience unfolded in the Master Mason after having discovered and applied the "Lost Word.Because of the profuse use of signs and gestures by the Italians in their everyday life, anthropologists believe that these descendents of Romulus and Remus are not able to carry out a satisfactory conversation if they were prevented the use of gesticulation.

Other mudras in the precincts of the temple are also to be found such as the Vitarka (debate) and Dharmachakraprayartana (teaching) gestures. Among the many secrets that they portray, they teach how one may commune with one's Holy Guardian Angel, or one's Higher Self. Those facing North bear the Abhaya (fearlessness) mudra, while those in the East show the Bhumisparsha (earth-touching) gesture. The little finger holds aloft a philosophical key, which reveals the secrets of the Mysteries. In Freemasonry, the Hand of the Mysteries is known as the hand of the Master Mason." sign. The wings surrounding the hand is a sign for transcendentalism--the things of the Spirit as opposed to matter. Augustus Knapp from an 18th century water color, and is taken from Manly Hall's "Secret Teachings of All Ages"; it was executed with the alchemical process in mind.Copyright © 2006 Luxamore. It symbolizes the generation of life and by association a good outcome in one's hopeful expectations, in one's enterprise possessing an ambiguous upshot.K. Sexual amulets made out of metal, bone, and wood were very popular in the classical worlds of Greece and the Roman Empire. For instance we have the V-sign with the index and middle finger raised while the others flexed and clasped by the thumb. The rest of the fingers individually refer to the various steps of the spiritual path of transmutation of the base nature of man into the resplendent gold of divinity. It originated at a period of Man's evolution when he was incapable of communicating his abstract and concrete thoughts with China Injection Molding Powder Metallurgy Copper-Based Parts Factory words and phrases lingually. When these symbols are understood, they provide the neophyte the keys to facilitate the transformation of their lower nature into divinity--from man to god. Prayers are said in conjunction with its presence on one's person. Another sexual gesture much more explicit is the repeated insertion and withdrawal of the forefinger of the right hand (the phallus) into a circle formed by the thumb and index finger of the left hand (the vulva). Among other things they illustrate the relationship between man and the cosmic forces. The pose of the left hand in the above gesture is also an "O. Raising the right hand while making a pledge is therefore, tantamount to saying, "In the name of God . Om Shaim I bow to the ring fingers Hum. Lika Mano Cornuto, the latter sign is a popular amulet against negative forces. This belief is also one of the reasons why phallic and coital amulets were carried on one's person. Hand Signs in Religious ArtHand signs are an essential part of life. The fictitious Tarzan could not resist aping this gesture from his Darwinian guardians. Fatima was the daughter of the Prophet Muhammed and Khadijah. Cheiromancy identifies several of these as the square, the grille, the island, the cross or star, etc. In Chinese palmistry the little finger is associated with air, the ring finger with fire, the middle finger with earth, the forefinger with water, and the thumb with chi or metal as mentioned before. When worn as an amulet it is said to be an all-round good-luck charm. It is for this reason that the Mystery and metaphysical schools established by the ancient sages went underground and operated clandestinely. This mudra can be seen in the various paintings and murals of Jesus, the Saints, and priests." The Evil Eye is an ancient belief and not without any metaphysical substantiation.Amulets were not of value only to the living, but to the "dead" as well. One prayer associated with this particular amulet is as follows:"I carry a likeness of your pierced hand as a fervent symbol of your infinite kindness."Hindu versions of the Hand of the Mysteries are diagrams known as Hastakara Yantra.A hand sign that is mainly used by the sacerdotal priesthood of the Christian Churches, is the Mano Pantea.