OPEN HEART MUDRA






Begin with hands in Namaste.
Open them, releasing the intent held in the hands.
Cross them to rest over the heart in protection.
Turn palms to face each other,

hands still joined at the wrist,
fingertips touching, as if enclosing the heart.

Slowly open palms out and down.
Separate and uncross wrists,

moving arms down and out side, palms up,
elbows bent, hands at shoulder height.

Extend hands out in a large circleas if the palms are mirrors reflecting the world.

Turn palms to face you,

draw back the reflections into the heart,
hands side by side.

When they reach the heart, cross at wrists, rest on chest.
Tilt hands out and down,

one palm on top of the other and uncross,
returning to Namaste.

from Cielle Tewksbury

BEFORE MEDITATION

  1. Sumukham With hands in front of chest, close to the heart, join fingertips of both hands. The nails of the fingers face outward and the thumbnails face inward.

  2. Samputam Keep fingertips joined, straighten fingers and bring heels of hands together leaving space between the palms.

  3. Vititam Separate the hands slightly, palms facing each other. Do not spread fingers apart.

  4. Vistritam Separate hands to about twelve inches apart, palms facing, with fingers of each hand still together.

  5. Dvimukham Spread fingers slightly and bring hands close enough to each other to join tips of little and ring fingers.

  6. Trimukham Join middle fingers.

  7. Chaturmukham Join index fingers also.

  8. Panchmukham Join thumbs. Now all fingertips are joined with fingers spread apart.

  9. Shanmukham Separate little fingers and spread them apart.

  10. Adhomukham Close fingers and invert hands so that backs of fingers touch, pointing straight down. Thumbs are separated.

  11. Vyapakanjalikam Roll fingers in toward body and, keeping sides of little fingers together, expose palms upward.

  12. Mahakrantam Keeping hands beside shoulders, turn palms so they face backward.

  13. Simhakrantam Open hands and place them beside shoulders with palms facing forward.

  14. Mudgaram Bring left palm down to support right elbow, and make a fist with the right hand. Right forearm is vertical.

  15. Pallavam Bring left hand down to rest on left knee, palm upward. Open the right hand and spread fingers. With palm facing outward, bring right hand in front of the face and move just the fingers to imitate a leaf trembling.