| [Note: This paper contains images which
| |
| | fidelity. However, with the placement of
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| may be seen as originally published at
| |
| | the hand at the heart we may make a
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| our website]As a support for our
| |
| | conjecture and say that it concerns the
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| statement above, we might mention the
| |
| | finer sentiments of a person conveyed to
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| Tarot cards as an example. These esoteric
| |
| | the object of his attention or
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| cards nowadays degraded to a method of
| |
| | affection.Sign of PrayerThis is probably
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| divination, was actually a training
| |
| | the best known of ecclesiastical signs
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| manual for the promotion of one's
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| | which is also used by the lay person. It
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| spiritual and divine expression in the
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| | consists of placing the palms of the
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| world of matter. The pictorial diagrams
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| | hands together with the fingertips
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| of the Major and Minor Arcana holds
| |
| | pointing in an upward direction. Another
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| secrets that the casual operator of the
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| | Sign of Prayer is the folding of the
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| cards are unaware of. When properly
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| | hands together intertwining the
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| understood the Tarot cards take us step
| |
| | fingers.Sign of Benediction or BlessingIn
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| by step to our goal of human perfection
| |
| | Christianity, this sign is utilized
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| through the alchemical process.Having
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| | mainly by the priesthood. It is used by
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| gone underground the Initiates of the
| |
| | priests to bless people and consecrate
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| Mystery Schools were quick to appropriate
| |
| | objects. To assume this sign, the third
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| the popular religions to embody their
| |
| | and fourth fingers are folded onto the
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| secret doctrines and practices. Not only
| |
| | palms with the index and middle fingers
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| are satanic elements quick to jump on the
| |
| | held upright. The thumb may also be erect
|
| bandwagon of spiritual establishments,
| |
| | or it may be folded upon the ring finger.
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| angelic forces are adept in letting the
| |
| | The significance of the erect thumb and
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| Dark Ones think that they have the
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| | first two fingers in the act of blessing
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| upper-hand while in the meantime
| |
| | is that the grace, virtue, and power of
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| reorganizing their army and infiltrating
| |
| | the Holy Trinity are being conveyed.
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| stealth-like into their religious camp
| |
| | Occultly, the subtle energies flowing
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| upsurped from the Light forces. Like
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| | from the hands are stronger at the
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| Dante, angelic consciousness wrote books
| |
| | terminal points of these digits than they
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| of their spiritual wisdom using Christian
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| | are at the ring and little fingers.Sign
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| imagery; or painters like the
| |
| | of SecrecyThis is a sign that has
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| multi-genius Leonardo Da Vinci, who
| |
| | survived to contemporary times and can
|
| represented important occult precepts in
| |
| | continually be seen in everyday life. It
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| his artwork using Christian themes. Music
| |
| | probably originated in Egypt during the
|
| composers too, cleverly inserted mystical
| |
| | heydays of the Mystery Schools. This sign
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| formulas and teachings into their
| |
| | was associated with Horus, or
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| symphonies, concertos, operas and
| |
| | Harpocrates--one of the forms of Horus.
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| sonatas. As an example, the musical
| |
| | This sign is executed by putting a finger
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| piece, "The Magic Flute" of Mozart comes
| |
| | to the lips as though to seal it. Its
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| to mind. However, what is relevant here
| |
| | significance is that of secrecy and
|
| is that occult signs are portrayed
| |
| | silence. In the Mystery Schools the
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| profusely, graphically in art, and we
| |
| | Initiates were pledged to a vow of
|
| would do well to focus on that.Above we
| |
| | secrecy, never revealing the secrets of
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| mentioned Da Vinci who conveyed teachings
| |
| | the Temple unless authorized to do so.
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| in his art productions. There were many
| |
| | Even nowadays, the following injunction
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| others, like Albrecht Durer, Fra.
| |
| | may be found in occult schools: "know,
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| Angelico, and Raphael. The signs that
| |
| | dare, do, and be silent."Sign of
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| these artists and many others around the
| |
| | DestructionWhen one or both of the hands
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| world for countless generations
| |
| | are seen on the solar plexus in religious
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| represented in their paintings and
| |
| | art, it signifies destruction. We can
|
| drawings were related to the secrets of
| |
| | understand the significance of this sign
|
| initiation and the process of spiritual
| |
| | when viewed from a metaphysical point of
|
| development where human genius, I.Q.,
| |
| | view. The solar plexus chakra is a
|
| creativity, morality, and holiness were
| |
| | storehouse of potent energies that may be
|
| raised to a sublime degree. The ancient
| |
| | used for good or ill. When this center is
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| Greeks, Chinese, Hindus and many other
| |
| | awakened prematurely in a disciple's
|
| cultures and civilizations all had their
| |
| | life, it may cause problems that the
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| initiates who were highly developed
| |
| | disciple is not equipped as yet to
|
| mentally, morally, and spiritually--these
| |
| | handle. Physical, physiological, and
|
| men and women were well beyond their time
| |
| | psychological--not to mention karmic
|
| and the lay people viewed them as
| |
| | difficulties--might arise when a disciple
|
| demi-gods and apotheosized them.The
| |
| | foolishly stimulates this center. The
|
| artists and artisans of the secret
| |
| | solar plexus chakra is an emotional focus
|
| Mystery schools made used of almost every
| |
| | and by being polarized at this level one
|
| material available for conveying the
| |
| | may have trouble extricating oneself from
|
| metaphysical doctrines of the Ancient
| |
| | the lower instinctive and egoistic
|
| Wisdom, such as papyri, stone, bronze,
| |
| | nature. The disciple may be destroyed by
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| terracotta, clay, mosaics, ivory,
| |
| | this center and evolutionary progress
|
| enamels, stained glass, gems, crystals,
| |
| | postponed, thus the hand gesture on the
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| cloth, wood, canvas, tiles, leather,
| |
| | solar plexus came to be associated with
|
| etc.The most prominent feature of the art
| |
| | destruction. There are numerous examples
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| productions of the Initiates of the
| |
| | of the Sign of Destruction in Art. In
|
| Mystery Schools were the hand signs and
| |
| | India, Shiva, the Destroyer is often
|
| this was known as the Ancient Sign
| |
| | depicted with this gesture. Many Greek
|
| Language which was transmitted from Age
| |
| | and Christian art-forms also bear
|
| to Age, culture to culture. J.S.M. Ward
| |
| | personages with this sign.Sign of
|
| made a thorough study of this secret sign
| |
| | ExultationThis hand pose is a sign of joy
|
| language and in his book, "The Sign
| |
| | and satisfaction; it is done by extending
|
| Language of the Mysteries," he identifies
| |
| | the hands above the head with the
|
| several of these hand signs and gestures
| |
| | fingertips of the hands touching. Though
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| to be found mostly in Christian art
| |
| | not as numerous as some of the other
|
| although by no means limited to
| |
| | signs, there are several examples of
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| Christendom. In his book Ward offers many
| |
| | these in Christian art. In China, the
|
| instances of each sign. He explains that
| |
| | Hung Society uses this sign to represent
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| these hand poses are to be found all over
| |
| | the metal element.Sign of
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| Europe, Africa, Asia, India, Oceania, the
| |
| | ReverenceReverence in the sign language
|
| Americas, ancient Crete, Polynesia,
| |
| | of the Mysteries, is indicated by the
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| Babylonia, etc., in short, all over the
| |
| | shading of one's eyes with the hand,
|
| world. Among the hand signs that he
| |
| | whether left or right. In some variations
|
| discusses are:Sign of PreservationSign of
| |
| | of this sign the eyes are fully covered.
|
| FaithSign of Distress/SurrenderSign of
| |
| | This sign originated in cultures where it
|
| DeathSign of PraiseSign of the HeartSign
| |
| | was impolite to look directly at one's
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| of PrayerSign of Benediction or
| |
| | superior; for instance, a soldier would
|
| BlessingSign of SecrecySign of
| |
| | make this sign when saluting a superior
|
| DestructionSign of ExultationSign of
| |
| | officer. Another possible origin of this
|
| ReverenceSign of HorrorSign or
| |
| | sign is the experiences had by blessed
|
| ResignationSign of SacrificeSign of
| |
| | individuals during angelic visitations.
|
| Heaven and EarthSign of Despair
| |
| | The presence of these spiritual beings
|
| RegretSign of PreservationThere are many
| |
| | compels the beholder to shield their eyes
|
| variations of this sign. Basically, it is
| |
| | from the angelic radiance. This hand
|
| posed by placing one hand over the heart
| |
| | gesture is not unique to any race for it
|
| and raising the other at an angle at the
| |
| | is to be found distributed all over the
|
| elbow with the hand pointing upwards. In
| |
| | world--in Ceylon, Australia, Africa,
|
| some forms, it is the index finger that
| |
| | Asia, and Europe.Sign of HorrorOne of the
|
| points skyward. In most depictions of
| |
| | dramatic signs, the gesture of horror is
|
| this sign it is the left hand rather than
| |
| | made by extending the right hand, palm
|
| the right that is raised. There are
| |
| | outwards, while the head is turned to the
|
| numerous instances of this pose in
| |
| | right as though refusing to see something
|
| Egyptian art. The Egyptologist, E.A.
| |
| | objectionable or frightening. The left
|
| Wallis Budge, interprets the hieroglyph
| |
| | hand is this gesture point outwards and
|
| with this sign as Hen, or "praise." The
| |
| | in a downward direction as if trying to
|
| god Anubis is often represented with this
| |
| | expel something. Examples of this sign in
|
| hand posture, and murals in the palaces
| |
| | art may be seen in the Vatican and in the
|
| and tombs of the pharaohs often
| |
| | British Museum.Sign or ResignationThis
|
| illustrate votaries of Ra with this
| |
| | sign consists in crossing the arms upon
|
| significant gesture. This sign is also
| |
| | the chest with the fingertips of the
|
| found in the Minoan and Mycenaen
| |
| | right hand on the left shoulder and the
|
| civilizations. In Christian art, Jesus is
| |
| | fingertips of the left hand on the right
|
| often portrayed assuming many occult hand
| |
| | shoulders. This gesture is sometimes
|
| signs, among these is the Sign of
| |
| | portrayed with the right hand over the
|
| Preservation. The sun god Damuzi of the
| |
| | left, but the reverse is regarded as a
|
| Babylonians while descending into the
| |
| | more proper representation according to
|
| underworld likewise bears this sign, as
| |
| | tradition. This is another one of those
|
| depicted on certain objects. In his book
| |
| | signs that may have originated in the
|
| mentioned previously, J.S.M. Ward tells
| |
| | Mystery Schools of Egypt. The god Osiris
|
| of a Roman sarcophagus in the Bardo
| |
| | and the statues representing Egyptian
|
| Museum, Tunis, showing the emergence of
| |
| | pharaohs are often depicted in this pose
|
| Jonah from the whale that swallowed him
| |
| | by artisans. For some specific reason the
|
| for three days, and making the Sign of
| |
| | Egyptians also buried their dead in this
|
| Preservation--in effect, indicating that
| |
| | manner, with the hands of the mummy
|
| his life was saved. Among the mystical
| |
| | crossed upon their breast. Even the
|
| Islamic sects, the Whirling Dervishes
| |
| | sarcophagi or mummy cases of the deceased
|
| appropriate the use of this important
| |
| | bear a pictorial resemblance of them with
|
| hand pose in their ceremonial rites and
| |
| | the same sign. In the Renaissance,
|
| practices. In archaic times, the Sign of
| |
| | artists often depicted Mother Mary with
|
| Preservation was adopted by those
| |
| | such a hand pose. Like the many hand
|
| petitioning the deity for the
| |
| | gestures described herein, the Sign of
|
| preservation of oneself or someone else,
| |
| | Resignation generates a certain occult
|
| and with the strong conviction that the
| |
| | power of which we shall discuss later in
|
| request was granted. In contradistinction
| |
| | an upcoming article when we apply and
|
| to this, it was also employed by those of
| |
| | incorporate the sign in our mudra
|
| high spiritual attainment assuring others
| |
| | practices. The occult function of a sign
|
| of their salvation. In Christianity it is
| |
| | is just as important as its esoteric
|
| often associated with the Second Person
| |
| | meaning, perhaps even more so.Sign of
|
| of the Holy Trinity.Sign of FaithThis
| |
| | Heaven and EarthThis sign is executed by
|
| sign resembles the Sign of Preservation
| |
| | extending one hand above the head
|
| with the exception that the hand pointing
| |
| | pointing skywards, and the other extended
|
| upwards is not squared at an angle and
| |
| | downwards pointing to the earth.
|
| not pointing to the sky. It points
| |
| | According to Ward, the significance of
|
| outwards away from the body. Like the
| |
| | this sign in Christianity is that someone
|
| above sign, many examples of these are to
| |
| | had descended to Earth and later
|
| be found distributed all over the
| |
| | re-ascended to Heaven. Or alternatively,
|
| world.Sign of Distress/SurrenderWhen the
| |
| | ascended to Heaven and later descended to
|
| two hands are lifted upwards above the
| |
| | Earth. There are numerous examples of
|
| head with the elbows bent--this is known
| |
| | this sign in Christian art related to the
|
| as the Sign of Distress. This is one of
| |
| | raising of Lazarus, the descent of Jesus
|
| those universal hand signs, and it seems
| |
| | into Hell to save the inhabitants, and
|
| almost human nature to fling the hands
| |
| | Jesus' resurrection. There are many
|
| into the air when in despair or when
| |
| | variations of this sign. Sometimes the
|
| faced with overwhelming pressure as a
| |
| | hand with its open palm pointing upwards
|
| sign of psychological turmoil and the
| |
| | has its fingers together; occasionally we
|
| "giving-in" to a certain situation, or
| |
| | find examples where the index finger
|
| when feeling helpless. Therefore, it is
| |
| | points upwards while the rest of the
|
| not surprising when we find the use of
| |
| | fingers folded onto the palm. The British
|
| this sign all around the globe as
| |
| | Museum has a collection of Babylonian
|
| depicted in artistic works, and
| |
| | objects where the Sign of Heaven and
|
| experientially in everyday life. This
| |
| | Earth may be seen. In Greece, examples of
|
| sign is an appeal for aid and is
| |
| | this sign are associated with the
|
| universal like many of the other signs
| |
| | Eleusinan Mysteries.Sign of Despair
|
| mentioned in this section. Its use can be
| |
| | RegretRegret, despair, and sorrow is
|
| traced as early as 3,000 B.C.
| |
| | indicated by resting the head upon the
|
| Quetzalcoatl, one of the gods of the
| |
| | right hand and the left arm, which is
|
| Mayans, is sometimes depicted with this
| |
| | horizontally across the solar plexus,
|
| hand pose.Sign of DeathThis hand sign is
| |
| | supports the right elbow with its hand.
|
| related to the throat chakra, or psychic
| |
| | Occasionally, this position is reversed.
|
| center. It consists of placing the hand's
| |
| | There does not seem to be any strict rule
|
| edge-whether left or right hand-at the
| |
| | to this. In paintings with crucifixion
|
| throat. The thumb points directly at the
| |
| | themes, the Virgin Mary is often depicted
|
| throat itself. It is actually a moving
| |
| | with this hand position. There are
|
| gesture and is effected by moving the
| |
| | examples of this sign of Persian and
|
| hand's edge across the throat as if to
| |
| | Greek origins preserved in museums all
|
| cut it. This sign suggests that something
| |
| | over the world.Having explained the
|
| is to be terminated or killed, or that it
| |
| | various hand signs to be found in art it
|
| is already dead. The ancient Romans and
| |
| | would be appropriate if we were to
|
| Egyptians were well familiar with this
| |
| | emphasize that the signs described above
|
| sign and in some Christian paintings of
| |
| | are not merely symbolic or gestures
|
| the crucifixion, the disciple John the
| |
| | without any occult significance. It is
|
| Beloved is portrayed with this sign of
| |
| | not too commonly known that these signs
|
| cutting the throat while standing before
| |
| | generate certain virtues as they modify,
|
| the crucified Jesus. Arabs and Sudanese
| |
| | purify, intensify, and empower one's
|
| make use of this sign to swear their
| |
| | auric energy-structure or one's
|
| innocence uttering that God should cut
| |
| | surroundings in some subtle manner. These
|
| their throats should they be telling a
| |
| | signs are mudras with occult values.
|
| falsehood. Several American Indian tribes
| |
| | Mantras, incantations, and liturgies
|
| employ this sign as a salutation meaning
| |
| | often accompany the signs. Most votaries
|
| that they are "faithful or true unto
| |
| | of religion are unaware that their
|
| death."Sign of PraiseThis sign is similar
| |
| | ceremonies are actually magickal rites
|
| to the Sign of Distress except that the
| |
| | and processes that call forth unseen
|
| hands are not lifted above the head but
| |
| | influences. For instance, making the Sign
|
| extended forward in front of the body,
| |
| | of Preservation by the spiritually
|
| inclining upwards with the hands facing
| |
| | evolved occult practitioner, evokes
|
| outwards and the elbows bent. This is
| |
| | spiritual and angelic forces that
|
| also a greeting sign and the initial
| |
| | protects the person or persons to whom
|
| start of the salaam gesture of the
| |
| | the sign is being directed to. The sign
|
| Arabs.Sign of the HeartThis sign is
| |
| | assures the petitioners and recipients
|
| accomplished by placing the hand over the
| |
| | that they will be protected and preserved
|
| heart. A survival of this gesture in
| |
| | from negative psychic attack.It is
|
| modern times is the bowing of a gentlemen
| |
| | instinctive for people to assume specific
|
| to a lady with his hand to his heart as a
| |
| | mental and physical attitudes when
|
| salutation of respect, or as it was
| |
| | interacting with divine forces. We
|
| customary in the 17th and 18th century in
| |
| | unconsciously feel hand signs and
|
| Europe, for a man to remove his hat and
| |
| | gestures to be efficacious in aiding the
|
| to place it at the heart region when
| |
| | establishment of a contact with higher
|
| greeting the opposite sex. This is a
| |
| | intelligences and requesting their
|
| hoary sign. It is to be found in ancient
| |
| | intercession.Hand-signs, or mudras are of
|
| Egypt, Rome, and even in Crete in the
| |
| | great benefit to our well-being. In
|
| Minoan period. It is also to be seen in
| |
| | future articles, therefore, we will apply
|
| the mosaic art of the many old churches
| |
| | this mystical science in a practical way
|
| and cathedrals. The meaning of this sign
| |
| | that may be practiced by the average
|
| is a little obscure. It has been
| |
| | person.
|
| suggested that it signify faith or
| |
| |
|
