Here’s a Jeopardy question for you… What weighs 200 million tons? The answer: the amount of electronic waste that goes into our landfills every year. Computers, monitors, cell phones, DVD players, copy machines, TV sets… you get the picture.

Most, if not all of this electronic waste, contains hazardous chemicals like mercury, lead and chromium that end up leaching into our ground water from landfills or being emitted into the air from incinerators causing a GROWING environmental and health crisis. This problem is fueled by the fast paced growth of new technology that renders electronic products obsolete long before their normal lifecycle ends and the fact that most people do not know how to properly dispose of these types of products. In fact, most don’t know that these products can be recycled and reused.

But discarded electronics can be properly disposed of or recycled and it is easier than most people think.  Tons of companies have programs that allow you to donate usable electronics to churches and schools, and other companies will recycle usable components, raw materials and materials like plastics, glass and aluminum.  Many cities also have e-waste pick up as part of their hazardous waste pick-up programs.

You can even take advantage of tax breaks when you donate your unwanted electronics.  The 21st Century Classrooms Act for Private Technology Investment allows large companies to donate used equipment to public and private schools for tax breaks and donations to nonprofits can be written off.  You will need to check with each nonprofit organization regarding its particular documentation for your tax returns. 

The environmental benefit to donating or recycling used electronics goes far beyond just keeping harmful chemicals out of our landfills; it also helps conserve our precious natural resources.  It takes approximately 530 pounds of fossil fuel, 50 pounds of chemicals and 416 gallons of water to produce one desktop computer.  Recycling electronic components can help preserve these resources and can also help use far less energy than the production of new components.  Mining of aluminum, for example, uses 20 times the amount of energy it takes to recycle the same amount of aluminum from electronic components.  Last year alone, electronics recyclers recovered over 100 million pounds of materials like aluminum, steel, glass and plastic which was reused.

Now that we know the benefits of e-cycling let’s, figure out how to find an e-cycler in your area.  You can start with the Electronic Industry Alliance . This site has an easy to use map that allows you to search for e-cycling by state and offers you several other helpful links to guide you through the process.  You can also check with your city government to see if it offers e-cycling as part of its hazardous waste programs or with Goodwill industries . There are several additional organizations you can check that offer training programs that teach students and individuals how to refurbish used electronics which are then donated to local schools:

Students Recycling Used Technology (StRUT)

Learning and Information Networking for Community via Technology (LINCT)

Reuse Development Organization (ReDO)

Even Sam’s Club has an interesting program that runs in cooperation with N.E.W. Customer Service Companies, Inc. Members of the organization who want to recycle computers, LCD monitors, printers, camcorders, digital cameras and MP3 players, can log onto the program’s website and print a FREE shipping label to have the products mailed to N.E.W. Those members will receive a Sam’s Gift Card for the value of the donated item.  All donated items are either refurbished or disassembled and the parts are used to rebuild electronics or recycled into raw material and reused.

 The final pieces to this recycle cycle are personal data security and rethinking your purchasing habits.  You need to protect all your personal data contained on computer hard drives and cell phones.  Please make sure to remove ALL stored phone numbers and call logs from your cell phone and you may even want to remove the SIM card to insure protection.  Cleaning up your computer may prove a little more difficult but is equally important.  If you are unsure of how to do this you can find FREE hard-drive erasers through your favorite search engine. Type in “free hard-drive eraser cleaners.”

Although there are no laws governing the use of hazardous materials in electronics equipment you can help to encourage manufacturers to move in a “greener” direction by considering the following when buying your next piece of equipment:



Does the manufacturer use recycled materials in their products?

Are the products designed for easy upgrades and disassembly?

Does the manufacturer offer a lease or “take back” program?

Does the manufacturer use minimal toxic materials in their equipment?

Does the manufacturer use minimal or recyclable packaging?



The age of electronics is upon us and with the constant introduction of new technology, system upgrades and fancy new gadgets coming at us daily we need to be more conscious of what we do with our e-waste. Take the time to do the right thing, remember one man’s trash is another man’s treasure and you may be surprised at who would love to have your “old” computer

Attending a Valentine’s Day costume party as a couple might just be more fun than going stag. However, for many prospective partiers, thinking of that perfect costume pair is rather hard work because now you have to decide for two! Sexy costumes are always appropriate for Valentine’s Day but they might be better suited for the bedroom, so why don’t you instead go for what tickles the funny bone?

Here are some suggestions for the funniest amorous costume pairs. Get into character and make your outfit effective with the following:

Animated Mates

1. Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse – Disney’s romantic rodents are a classic choice.

2. Donald Duck and Daisy Duck – Feathered friends…and maybe a little more, these two are another ideal Disney duo.

3. Shrek and Princess Fiona – The unlikely royal pair. Also a viable option is Shrek and Donkey, depending on your orientation of course.

4. Spongebob Squarepants and Patrick Starfish – You just need a yellow box dressed up with a shirt and tie plus short pants and black shoes for Spongebob. For Patrick? A pink suit.

5. Popeye and Olive Oyl – Sailor suit with pipe for Popeye but don’t forget the anchor tattoo on his arm. Turtle neck sweater and skirt for Olive plus hair parted in the middle worn in pigtails.

Animal Magnetism

6. King Kong and Ann Darrow – The blonde bombshell has just what it takes to tame the giant ape.

7. Beauty and the Beast – Their love affair began as an 18th century fairytale and hasn’t wavered for nearly 300 years.

Insects Appeal

8. Rose & Bee – Practice safe pollination!

Kitchen Combinations

9. Spoon & Fork – See what happens when you mix utensils in the silverware drawer?

10. Ketchup & Mustard – Condiments that complement one another perfectly

11. Salt & Pepper – Spice up any Valentine’s Day party with these titillating toppings

12. Bacon & Egg – Breakfast in bed anyone?

Hardware from the Heart

13. Nut & Bolt – Screwing around may be inevitable in this ensemble!

14. Lock & Key – Unlock your partner’s secret fantasies

15. Plug & Socket – Recharge the libido in your love life

As you can see, there are plenty of funny costume pairs to choose from. This Valentine’s Day try one on for size and watch Cupid’s arrow hit its mark.

Few images of Japanese culture are as evocative as an elegant lady in a beautiful silk kimono. Although rarely worn nowadays, the kimono holds a special place in the hearts of Japanese and Westerners alike; a symbol of refinement, sophistication and taste. Yet ‘kimono’ translates simply as ‘clothing’, and was the everyday attire of all Japanese people for centuries.

In modern Japan you will still see the occasional old lady who has never worn anything except kimono, but most people only don their national costume on special occasions. Weddings, New Year celebrations and highbrow performances are all places where you can see women (and men in their hakama version) wrapped in fine silks; their clothing revealing much about their social status, lifestyles and tastes.

There are many types of kimono and many ways of wearing each type. Each nuance has meaning which can be ‘read’ by others. Young, unmarried women wear bright, gaudy furisode with sleeves reaching to their ankles. This shows they are old enough to marry, but are still eligible and looking for a suitable bachelor. During the wedding, a heavy uchikake is worn on top. After the ceremony, the kimono is changed for a shorter-sleeved, married woman’s version to signify that she is no longer available.

Married women wear black tomesode or paler houmongi to formal occasions such as weddings. In this case, black is a joyful colour as it shows off the bride’s bright colours to greater effect. Here, the tomesode has colourful embroidery and auspicious motifs around the base.

In summer, light cotton yukata are easy for everybody to wear and can be seen during Japanese festivals and informal outdoor events.

It is very difficult to put on a kimono as there are many different folds, tucks and ties involved. Furisode can include up to 35 different pieces so the dresser must be very skilled (and the wearer must be very patient!). Several layers of underwear, ties and pads turn the body into a cylinder shape – it is not desirable to have a voluptuous figure and any curves will be flattened down or padded out. The kimono collar is ALWAYS worn left-over-right for both men and women. This is perhaps the most important point, because the only time you wear it right-over-left is as a corpse, at your own funeral!

The main kimono is tied with an obi, a strip of stiff, hand-woven silk approximately 13 feet long. The obi is wound around the body several times and then tied at the back. Why at the back? Well, traditionally, courtesans tied theirs at the front for ‘easy access’, so tying at the back denotes a woman’s virtue. The way the obi is tied also says a lot about the woman. Young women wear theirs very elaborately in the shape of a butterfly, turtle, bow or bird. Older women prefer a simpler shape with perhaps a picture on the obi itself. Those courtesans just tied it in a big knot as it wouldn’t be staying there for long!

The kimono is made from a single long piece of silk which is patterned before it is sewn together. Some are painted with lucky images using stencil dyes or freehand painting. Others are painstakingly embroidered with single-ply threads. Some have a mixture of painting and embroidery and can cost a small fortune. The obi can be almost as expensive as the kimono as it is hand-woven and takes many weeks to produce.

So, what about footwear?

Japanese people take off their shoes before they enter a house, temple or other special building, so traditional Japanese shoes are easy to slip on and off, looking a bit like Western flip-flops. Often, the shoes are exquisitely decorated on the inside, so that when they are removed people can see the lovely patterns. Japanese socks even have split toes so they can be worn with zori shoes. Tabi socks are made from starched white cotton and have elaborate hook and eye fastenings. They slide so beautifully across tatami flooring that this noise is an integral part of the Tea Ceremony.

I hope you are beginning to see how each component of the kimono is essential to the overall effect. It must be worn absolutely correctly otherwise the wrong impression will be given, but can be adapted to reflect the personality and feelings of the wearer.
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Pets whether exotic and rare, or the common and domesticated ones you get to see every now and then are second companions to man.

When you get to consider the affinity man (both sexes implied) has always displayed with regards to Pets in general, you can not help it at all but wonder in amazement how this world and human civilization would have been without them.

Pets are an integral part of man’s day to day living from prehistoric times to the present day.

Everybody loves pets (in the sense that it implies both the young and the old, boys and girls, men and women, civilians, military, para-military, high and low, the rich and the pauper, etc).

It is then not surprising to discover that pets abound all around- in the slums and the ghettos, in boulevards and palaces, state houses, circuses, zoos, sporting arena, villages and rural areas, cities and urban centers the world over.

As a starter, a list of pets considered to be exotic and rare is presented below.

While some Pets may be regarded as both exotic and rare, some others included in this list might only be exotic and not rare while some others may be considered rare and not exotic.

EXOTIC AND RARE PETS (a list featuring a mixture of birds and animals):

1. Tigers
2. Cheetahs
3. Cougar
4. Lion
5. Zebra
6. Peacock
7. Giraffe
8. Octopus
9. Orangutan
10. Crocodile
11. Turtle
12. Snake
13. Owl
14. Hyena
15. Antelope
16. Bear
17. Leopard
18. Eagle
19. Ostrich
20. Dolphin
21. Iguana
22. Rhinoceros
23. Bull
24. Elephant
25. Cameleon
26. Parrots
27. Camel

to mention just a few.

Majority of these pets are normally kept in Zoos and/or Game reserves while some others have found their way into private parks, royal palaces/ gardens.

Circuses the world over feature quite a lot of these pets showcasing them performing great feats to the wonder and admiration of circus enthusiasts comprising of men and women, children, the young and the aged (the ever young at heart).

There is much to learn and enjoy with regards to Pets (birds and animals) considered exotic and rare seeing many are only found in the wild.
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When designing for the web, an aspect of the web design that needs meticulous deliberation is colour. deciding on colour lacking substance or knowledge might discourage end users from the website. selecting the suitablecolour with substance and background knowledge might influence to a greater web design.

Knowing some colour psychology & symbolism is essential in knowing what colours affect people in certain ways. colour perception is linked strongly to feelings & emotions for instance happiness, sadness & passion.

Colours can also be used to emphasise contrast & emphasise sections of a webpage that you might want the user to interact with for instance a promotion box or a purchase button.

Here is a listing of popular colours & how they make people feel.

Red is linked with strength, fire, blood and lust. if used sparingly on a light background colour, it can be used to draw attention and emphasise.

Blue is the most popular colour and it can symbolise confidence, loyalty and royalty. the darker end often represents strength whereas the paler end can be used to represent fantasy and dream.

Green can be linked to feelings of durability, safety and harmony. its also a capable colour to use to highlight calm and relaxation.

Black can be related to death, mourning, power and style. numerous rock bands use black as their main colour due to its associations with death and evil.

Yellow summons thoughts of summer, joy and optimism. its a colour that could be overwhelming and if used in conjunction with black, it creates a feeling of warning.

Just like yellow, red is linked with love, sex and energy. it too can be over powering if over used, but it is wonderful to attract attention.

Grey can be associated with respect, humility, decay & boredom. it is used heavily to form shiny gradients in designing for the world wide web to give a slick, modern feel to a web site.

Orange is related strongly to spirituality & healing. it is the colour that represents Buddhism & it has a healing energy about it. it is a bold colour that’s not as lively as yellow but not as deep as red.

Brown, particularly the the lighter end can have a calming effect. Beige is also a top colour in designing web sites as it gives an earthy & relaxed feel. it could also mean tradition, poverty & nature.

Grey can be linked to sophistication, innovation & the future. The lighter side is similar to white in that it’s a great colour to use on a website’s background to produce a sense of space & modernism.

In conclusion, when selecting colours for designing for the world wide web, you should think about to the way it could affect users. The colour selection might look excellent or meet your brief, but will it put users off? by making some simple changes, like changing the purchase now button to a vibrant colour may generate more sales. Serious consideration & thought often means the difference between failure & success.
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We have been used to sexy, flirty light hearted looks all through Spring and Summer. This Autumn Winter Season, instead of the expected glamourously sexy looks we have come to expect, the fashion world decided to do something completely different. Sexy is so out. Now, romantic, genteel, ladylike styles that grandma used to wear are the hottest in thing.

That leaves us with a problem. Now our entire wardrobe is passe. What used to be sexy is now tarty. Time to rebuild your wardrobe from scratch.

Since the trend now is towards well tailored, high quality, hard to knock off clothing, aim for ladylike chic. Think of Grace Kelly. Even Lady Diana. Now what would they wear?

The look goes beyond princess like looks. It is now a cross between Cinderella and Goth. Dark, somber colors in luxurious styles, brimming with romantic details fit for that fairy tale princess, who somehow, ended up with Count Dracula.

Enough whining. Time to whip that wardrobe into shape. First, focus on quality, not quantity.

Pick 9 gorgeous pieces that are very now. These basics are all you need to rebuild your Autumn and Winter wardrobe from scratch. Prepare to look totally chic as the temperatures fall. Every piece has to be really well made. Go for the best you can afford. The look for this season is ladylike chic. The kind that demands and gets respect.

Get ready for plenty of somber black, plum, deep colors with a light touch from pink clothes to lift things a little.

Choose your color scheme. Pick 3 colors in tune with the season’s gothic romance mode. Black, plum and bright pink, or Navyblue, gray and pale pink are some ideas you could work with. Pick colors that you look your best in and which go with one another. Alternatively, try a striking combination of black, white and red.

Once you have decided on your color scheme, stick with it. That way, everything in your wardrobe goes with everything else, giving you countless looks from those few pieces.

Feel free to choose items with frills, ribbons and other romantic details as these define this season’s romantic fashion trends.

#1 1 gorgeous winter coats or a fur vest. This is going to be your main look whenever you are outdoors. The fur vest is the latest thing for this fall, winter season though. And it really dresses up everything you wear it with. Even a pair of jeans looks formal when you wear a fur vest.

#2 1 perfectly tailored women’s suits in any of your 3 chosen colors. A well tailored skirt and jacket combination that is feminine and versatile. This is something you can wear everyday. You could wear it with a blouse for work, and switch to a lacy camisole for a dinner date. You could wear the jacket and skirt (or pants if that is what you prefer) in the suit as separates.

#3 Ok. I know that feminine, loose floaty clothes are in. What with the tulip skirt and all. But seriously. Who wants to have hips that look even larger than reality? No, you still need a pair of jeans. I don’t care what the fashion magazines or designers dish out to us. Women have a right to wear clothes that flatter the real figure. What is hot, has always been hot and always will be hot is a pair of tight jeans. A pair that makes you look your very best. You wear the clothes, not the other way around.

#4 Wool tights, pantyhose or stockings. Again for warmth and class. to keep your legs warm when you wear a skirt or a dress. In autumn and winter, you need warm, practical tights especially when your legs are exposed.

#5 A romantic, floaty blouse that is so now. This time around, the look is romantic. The oversized man style shirt wouldn’t do. You need something romantic. The blouse is the new season’s must have.

#6 A beautiful dress. What could be more romantic than a dress. Dresses are hot this season, especially now that the romantic look is big. You need at least 1 blouse in your new wardrobe.

#7 A pair of boots that go with everything in your new wardrobe. They keep you warm they are versatile and give your outfit an edge. Ok, so if you want to go with the ladylike vibe, then a pair of stacked heel loafers would be more in order.

#8 A pair of leather gloves to keep your hands warm and which which look really sleek. Who needs fat hands? Leather gloves keep you warm without that added bulk.

#9 A knit top to stretch your wardrobe further. The classic every autumn and winter is the turtle neck. It looks elegant and keeps your neck warm. If your neck is short and you do look like a turtle in a turtle neck, then try a v-neck top but remember to wear scarves when you go out.
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For many children, the t-shirt emblazoned with a current favourite TV icon normally ranks amongst their most prized possessions, and for t-shirt manufacturers, producing such garments can be an extremely lucrative market. In fact, think of any cartoon character – from the Mr. Men to Walt Disney’s Donald Duck – and you’ll likely find a t-shirt to match.

Although the origins of the t-shirt can be traced back to the First World War, it wasn’t until the 1950s that the garment moved away from its plain exterior, as companies in the United States began experimenting with adding letter and character decorations to the material. The 1960s saw the introduction of the ‘Ringer’-style t-shirt, a t-shirt where the jersey is one colour, while the ribbing around the collar and sleeves is a different, contrasting colour quickly became popular with youths and rock-n-roll fans. The style enjoyed another brief renaissance in the early 2000s.

The same period also saw the emergence of tie-dyeing and screen-printing which led to a massive boom in customised t-shirts, especially throughout the heavy metal era of the 1970s, once bands of that era realised the commercial opportunities available to them. Bands and musical groups began to mass produce t-shirts to promote themselves, many of which would feature album covers and logos on the front, while on the back fans would find tour details and concert dates. These proved to be hugely popular with concert-goers and this trend has continued on with unwavering popularity into today’s subcultures.

During the early 1980s, some musical bands chose instead to emblazon promotional t-shirts with slogans instead of graphics. For instance, the Frankie Goes To Hollywood ‘Frankie Says…’ and Wham!’s ‘Choose Life’ t-shirts became synonymous with 80’s pop culture and could be seen in every town and street in Britain. From the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, t-shirts with prominent designer-name logos were also extremely popular and allowed consumers to exhibit their taste in designer brands in a less expensive manner, while retaining their sense of fashion. Among the many major brands to produce t-shirts for a massed public included Calvin Klein, FUBU and Ralph Lauren.

There have been many fashion trends involving t-shirts. Although they were originally worn as undershirts, often in place of vests, t-shirts are now more frequently worn as the only upper body garment. T-shirts have also become a standard for expressiveness and advertising, with an unimaginable combination of words, graphics and photographs being utilised to decorate garments for wear. Other t-shirt fashions include wearing over-size t-shirts, as seen in modern hip-hop fashion, tight-fitting ‘girly-fit’ t-shirts which are short enough to reveal the midriff, and wearing a short sleeved t-shirt over a long sleeved t-shirt of a different colour.

For adults, perhaps one of the most notable fashion trends in recent years involves wearing t-shirts which feature cartoon and TV characters which hearken back to the wearer’s childhood. With the much-touted 80s revival and the current resurgence of yesteryear’s TV being remade into Hollywood blockbusters or enjoying a TV renaissance, men’s t-shirts have seen increased demand for t-shirts proclaiming the wearer to be a fan of the latest incarnations of Transformers, Spiderman, Dukes Of Hazzard, The A-Team and Knight Rider, among many other 80s favourites.

However, t-shirts featuring cartoon characters from the 80s and even earlier have proven to be equally popular with young adults, both men and women alike, eager to revisit their younger days with ranges including Thundercats, Mr Men, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, He-Man and M.A.S.K also readily available and waiting to be seen on the High Street!

[Note: This paper contains images which may be seen as originally published at our website]

According to its votaries, the hand of the crucified Jesus is believed to possess occult virtues. When worn as an amulet it is said to be an all-round good-luck charm. Prayers are said in conjunction with its presence on one’s person. 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. Thou who has known such suffering, reach out your hand with a blessing. Thy pierced hand inspires this humble prayer that I may call on Thee to grant me peace and happiness. Amen.”

Generally, charms in the form of hands, and in any pose–whether made of metal, stone, or inscribed–were often carried to ward off the “Evil Eye,” or the ietattura as it is called in Southern Italy, or ain al-hasad, the “Eye of Envy,” by the Arabs. The ancient Sumerians referred to it as IG-HUL, “Eye Evil.” The Evil Eye is an ancient belief and not without any metaphysical substantiation. From the metaphysical point of view, eyes radiates energy and the quality of this force is tainted by the will and character of its emanator. Like all forces, the power flowing from the eyes may bless or curse others. There are many examples of amulets with a single eye on the palm of the hand. It is believed that this attracts the Evil Eye in accord with the Law of Attraction and absorbs its malevolent influences.

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. Fatima was the daughter of the Prophet Muhammed and Khadijah. 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. 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. The right hand is used to symbolize the Hand of Fatima, for it is the hand of honor, in contradistinction to the left, which is the “unclean hand.” In most Eastern cultures it is considered rude and inappropriate to give things with the left hand.

Like the Arabs, the ancient Egyptians used a symbol called “the Great Hand” for various protective purposes, one of which is to ward off evil magnetism. Most hand amulets appear with a single eye on the palm. There are instances of this in various cultures.

Amulets were not of value only to the living, but to the “dead” as well. 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. This amulet depicted the index and middle fingers and was usually made out of black basalt, green stone, or obsidian.

During the enunciation of a pledge the right hand is often raised in the air. This originated in ancient customs where the raising of the hands were used to invoke the presence of the gods. Raising the right hand while making a pledge is therefore, tantamount to saying, “In the name of God . . .” Another version is to place the right hand on a holy book while uttering an oath. The significance is similar to the above.

In the West, many hand-signs have been made popular with its constant use throughout the centuries. For instance we have the V-sign with the index and middle finger raised while the others flexed and clasped by the thumb. This signified victory and triumph. Similar to this is the Mano Cornuto, where only the index and little finger are raised, and the rest folded onto the palms. This represents horns, the devil, and the powers of evil. In the Orient, though, this sign is said to have the power to ward off demons. Kuan Yin is often depicted with this mudra. The Hung Society of China uses it as a sign of membership and also to signify “Man,” who embodies both Heaven and Earth. In Italian witchcraft, the Mano Cornuto represents the crescent moon of the goddess Diana.

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. It is of ancient origin The Romans and Etruscans were well familiar with this sign having made images of it. Lika Mano Cornuto, the latter sign is a popular amulet against negative forces. Crossing the index finger with the middle finger also has a sexual significance. 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. 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). The pose of the left hand in the above gesture is also an “O.K.” sign.

One of the old superstitions states that the sexual act brings good luck, good fortune, and prosperity. 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. This belief is also one of the reasons why phallic and coital amulets were carried on one’s person. Such charms were thought to bring about fortunate circumstances to the wearer. Sexual amulets made out of metal, bone, and wood were very popular in the classical worlds of Greece and the Roman Empire.

A hand sign that is mainly used by the sacerdotal priesthood of the Christian Churches, is the Mano Pantea. This is the sign of benediction posed by extending the thumb and first two fingers. The ring and little fingers are folded onto the palms. This mudra can be seen in the various paintings and murals of Jesus, the Saints, and priests. In Latin countries, the Mano Pantea is also often used as an amulet against the “Evil Eye,” when thus employed it is normally covered with other protective symbols as reinforcements.

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 middle finger solitarily extended is one of the obscene gestures vulgarly referred to as, “up yours.” It signifies the command to perform an unnatural or perverse sexual act.

The famed Buddhist temple, Borobudur in the island of Java was constructed in the form of a mandala–a symbolic diagram of the cosmos. It is built in tiers, and at every level, there are numerous statues of Buddhas sitting in silent meditation. At each point of the compass the contemplative Buddhas assume a certain mudra. Those facing North bear the Abhaya (fearlessness) mudra, while those in the East show the Bhumisparsha (earth-touching) gesture. The Dana (giving) mudra is the hand pose of the Buddhas facing South, and the Dhyana (meditation) mudra of those facing West. Other mudras in the precincts of the temple are also to be found such as the Vitarka (debate) and Dharmachakraprayartana (teaching) gestures. This careful orientation of mudra bearers to compass points is symbolic. It is related to the quaternary principles to be found in the micro- and macrocosm. Comprehensive teachings concerning these may be found in the esoteric aspects of Buddhism and esotericism in general.

Symbolic marks or imprints are often found on the palms of statues and icons of Buddhas and Avatars. These marks indicate the power, virtue, or attribute of these God-incarnates. In Hinduism, Shiva appears the most with these hand drawings. Many kinds of marks exist. Several are to be found on just the palms of Gautama (Shakyamuni) Buddha alone. These palmar designs probably originated from the special marks that do physically appear on the palms. Cheiromancy identifies several of these as the square, the grille, the island, the cross or star, etc.

Hands were revered by the Hindus for centuries. 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. Om Shim I bow the index fingers Svaha. Om Shum I bow to the middle fingers Vashat. Om Shaim I bow to the ring fingers Hum. Om Shaum I bow to the little fingers Vaushat. Om Shah I bow to the front and back of hands Phat.”

This chant is accompanied by specific mudras that purifies the subtle channels of the upper limbs. Not only is this ritual practiced in India but variations of it may be found in Bali as well.

In the marriage ceremonies and sexual rites of Oriental cultures such as in Tantrism, Yoginis or Shaktis often paint Yantras and other symbolical diagrams on the palms of their hands with henna or red dye. These diagrams normally have intricate floral patterns and are magical and hypnotic. They are used to attract, to mesmerize, and to empower themselves and their sexual partners.

In Islamic mysticism, specific gestures are often employed to help produce an altered state of awareness. Dervishes, for instance, pose their hands in specific mudras and hand signs while dancing and whirling around on a single spot. Some Sufi sects would trace the 99 names of God on their bodies with their right hand while engaging in zikir, or recollecting and focusing upon God through constant chanting.

In ancient times there were the Mystery Schools that taught to the selected few the laws and secrets of Nature and the Universe. History has recorded numerous of these schools and temples of esoteric knowledge among which were the mysteries of Isis, Sabazius, Cybele, Eleusis, Orpheus, Mithra, Asar-Hapi, and Odin. 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. Their chief object was to teach the doctrine of one God, the resurrection of man to the eternal life, the dignity of the human soul, and to lead the people to see the shadow of the deity, in the beauty, magnificence, and splendor of the universe.”

Within some of these Mystery schools, when the candidate is first initiated and accepted as a neophyte, he or she is often given an effigy of a human hand filled with symbolic images to contemplate. This hand is referred to as the Hand of the Philosopher, or the Hand of the Mysteries. 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. Regeneration, transmutation, and empowerment are the consequence of the application of the laws and principles that these ancient symbols represent. Among the many secrets that they portray, they teach how one may commune with one’s Holy Guardian Angel, or one’s Higher Self. The practitioner of the secrets of the Mysteries undergo a rebirth as a result of the growing influence and expression of the Higher Self in everyday consciousness.

The Philosopher’s Hand may be regarded as an alchemical manual taking the conscientious student step by step through the alchemical process. In Freemasonry, the Hand of the Mysteries is known as the hand of the Master Mason. 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 article we have included three examples of these symbolical hands. The first illustration shown is a bronze hand to be found in the British Museum. This specimen in the Mano Pantea gesture, is covered with several important symbols among which are : a ram’s head, serpent, frog, vase, crocodile, turtle, cornucopia, scales, woman with child, table with loaves of bread, and a cane. It is supposed to be Egyptian in origin.

The second hand is a painting redrawn by J. 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. In this illustration there is a figure of a fish which symbolizes mercury–the principle of the Spirit within the microcosm. This aquatic creature is surrounded by the element of fire that represents the psychological aspect of man, or the human soul. 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. Kaballistically, the hand shows the mastership of the crowned thumb (the Will) over the four worlds represented by the fingers. 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. 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. The little finger holds aloft a philosophical key, which reveals the secrets of the Mysteries. It also symbolizes the etheric body, which is considered by Western Initiates as the key to occult development. The wings surrounding the hand is a sign for transcendentalism–the things of the Spirit as opposed to matter. 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.”

Hindu versions of the Hand of the Mysteries are diagrams known as Hastakara Yantra. Like their Western counterpart, these hands have various symbolic images depicted on them. Among other things they illustrate the relationship between man and the cosmic forces.

Like Hindu yoga, in Feng Shui, or Chinese geomancy, there are 5 elements: Water, Wood, Earth, Fire, and Metal. 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. This system differs from the Hindu yogic mudra tradition. 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. 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. In this work on mudras, we will stress more on the Hindu yogic assignment of the elements to the fingers and thumb. The application of elemental mudras in conjunction with the elemental tattvic tides is a great tool in elemental magick.

Hand Signs in Religious Art

Hand signs are an essential part of life. They are used to convey silently but powerfully the intention and thoughts of their user. Humanity has for ages utilized sign languages. It originated at a period of Man’s evolution when he was incapable of communicating his abstract and concrete thoughts with words and phrases lingually. He was solely dependent upon gesticulations as a media for expressing his feelings and passions. This primitive form of communication is still being used by modern man in certain situations and expediency. Not surprisingly, the intelligent classes of anthropoids also make use of hand-sign movements such as the beating of the chest in expressing anger or authority. The fictitious Tarzan could not resist aping this gesture from his Darwinian guardians.

Certain specific hand signs are to be found all over the world. Many cultures preceding and succeeding the Christian era share common gestures that express particular concepts. It has been suggested that these gestures all have comparable basic ideas or significance because of their appearances in similar contexts. This is known through their repeated portrayal in the many paintings, sculptures, and drawings of the past available for our scrutiny and study. 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.

Contemporarily, we find school children perpetuating certain traditional signs that have their origin in religion and pagan practices. 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.

There are many professions that make use of signs only known to their members or affiliates. For instance, merchants, masons, tramps, gamblers, prostitutes–all have signs known only to themselves with which they signal one another.

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.

Occultists believe that most gestures or hand signs that are found in religion and in society have a common origin in the prevalent Mystery Schools of the past where they were used in a ceremonial setting. 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.

Like the Freemasons, secret societies in the Orient also have ceremonies where esoteric signs are employed. 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. The aforementioned society, likewise, have plentiful mudras or signs representing the principles of their philosophy. In its doctrines, the five elements of Taoist esotericism are signified by poses that are also to be found elsewhere around the globe.

The mystical Dervishes, established by the Sufi Rumi, apply hand signs for occult purposes. 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.

Artists of all ages have secret codes and teachings with which they unveil in their artwork. 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. It is for this reason that the Mystery and metaphysical schools established by the ancient sages went underground and operated clandestinely. They promulgated their teachings through signs and symbols that acted on one level as their calling card.

Copyright © 2006 Luxamore
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