Hand Gestures

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 18 Jan 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

maya	18 Jan 2004
I was happy that ros, an Elder, has taken up the question on feet and their meanings. This brought to me a row of thoughts that once was there, yet. What about the hands – and their gestures? It is no secret that ladies and gentlemen since they appeared have used their hands to communicate. Sign-language is still vital today; even in our modern virtual reality world. E.g. deaf-mute gestures. Also there is more but commonplace communication but divine one with our hands found in the art of mudras of india and so on. Tell me your insights. And thank you, ros. [font=times] [font=times][/font] [font=times]

ros	18 Jan 2004
Thank You! I was thinking about this also & will be reading your replys!

Phoenyx*	18 Jan 2004
This would interest me as well.

jmd	18 Jan 2004
An earlier thread started by Catlin, titled Mudras on R/W cards also questioned peculiar hand positions in, specifically, the RWCS deck. There are various views on hand positions, but generally, they can be separated into some broader categories - unless one starts looking at particular ways a specific artist may have included either a specific Mudra or other fine detail of note on a figure in a particular deck. Generally the right-hand and arm tend to denote active will, wheareas the left is receptive. Upwards as towards the spiritual, downwards as grounded, bringing to earth or manifesting. There are two main hand gestures of benediction, either open, or the ring and little finger folded - but in either case the palm facing the person(s) or item being blessed. The whole hand open-spread between the middle and ring finger shows a hoof, and is often a false sign of benediction, at times depicted on XV the Devil. I'm sure others will make other contributions... [on a small note, maya, some of us, myself included, prefer to have 'signatures' not showing - which is an option in the settings. if you make your signature within your post, however, it unfortunately appears for all... also, please note that the title 'resident', 'citizen', 'elder', and 'sage' are generated by post counts. subscribers may instead choose their own - such as my ambiguous 'ato']

maya	18 Jan 2004
hi jmd, thank you for the reference to the earlier thread. It gives some ideas. I would be happy if more people would join and share their knowledge. Specially – what connection is there between gestures or mudras and the whole picture of a specific card? [font=times] [font=times][/font] [font=times]

The Hand Gestures thread was originally posted on 18 Jan 2004 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.