Pollyannuh -

RE: "Sometimes I think we read more into a painting, situation or event, than is warranted. MHO, only."

True sometimes we do. And sometimes things are esoteric hence gang signs.

Given Jesus´ background, we know that hand position is everything. So for artists to portray him in this manner, well, it´s important. Plus it´s not that easily done. Your hand doesn´t naturally relax. Your first finger doesn´t just casually bend backwards covering your middle finger. It has to be purposeful. Like the "hook ´em" sign. It´s not a relaxed hand position.

In terms of the "X" an "X" is a cross is it not? Isn´t that what Christ spoke of? A cross to bear? So conversely does this speak of this cross or two strands that need to "uncross" in order to generate the proper outcome?

Anyway, my opinion and my intuition tells me this is important. Maybe because I´ve read of the Hebrew´s importance of the hand and hand position. Of its connection with language. Of how you speak or say the vowel or letter and then make the appropriate hand "sign" to go with it. It´s a lost art or maybe an esoteric one.

There´s also mudras in yoga. Hand position is so very important to what you´re doing. As concerns the normal prayer hand position, we have this:

[link to www.yogajournal.com]


"If you have attended even one yoga class, it is a familiar gesture: the drawing together of one´s palms at the heart. Your teacher may bring his or her hands together while saying "Namaste" at the beginning or end of a class. You may find this gesture within certain asanas—in Tadasana (Mountain Pose), before you begin Sun Salutations, or in balance poses such as Vrksasana (Tree Pose). This sacred hand position, called anjali mudra (AHN-jah-lee MOO-dra), is found throughout Asia and has become synonymous with our images of the East, from the smiling face of the Dalai Lama peering over his fingertips to images of devotees before a Hindu or Buddhist altar.

In the West, we translate this gesture as a posture of prayer. Because we have grown up with this gesture as part of our culture, each of us probably has our own personal connection to this mudra—positive or negative. Some of us may find a subconscious resistance to bringing our hands together as if it were a sign of submission. However, the beauty of this gesture, which positions us right at the core of our being, is timeless and universal. I know a 3-year-old who is delighted to greet people this way and an actor who prepares himself with this gesture before entering the stage. As we explore the significance and potential of this mudra, be open to your own experience and ways that this simple yet powerful hand position can be a practical tool in your practice and daily life. In Sanskrit, mudra means "seal" or "sign" and refers not only to sacred hand gestures but also whole body positions that elicit a certain inner state or symbolize a particular meaning. Anjali mudra is but one of thousands of types of mudras that are used in Hindu rituals, classical dance, and yoga. Anjali itself means "offering," and in India this mudra is often accompanied by the word "namaste" (or "namaskar," depending on one´s dialect). As the consummate Indian greeting, like a sacred hello, namaste is often translated as "I bow to the divinity within you from the divinity within me." This salutation is at the essence of the yogic practice of seeing the Divine within all of creation. Hence, this gesture is offered equally to temple deities, teachers, family, friends, strangers, and before sacred rivers and trees. Anjali mudra is used as a posture of composure, of returning to one´s heart, whether you are greeting someone or saying goodbye, initiating or completing an action. As you bring your hands together at your center, you are literally connecting the right and left hemispheres of your brain. This is the yogic process of unification, the yoking of our active and receptive natures. In the yogic view of the body, the energetic or spiritual heart is visualized as a lotus at the center of the chest. Anjali mudra nourishes this lotus heart with awareness, gently encouraging it to open as water and light do a flower."

Of course, others may disagree with this, but it´s a glimpse into a whole world of thinking behind the simple gestures we take for granted.

I´ve very attuned to these things. Don´t know why. Don´t know what they mean. Just notice them.

We always need to begin by simple observation.