myths symbols sandplay

Liminal Space

The liminal space in sandplay therapy:

the transitional place between conscious and unconscious; a space where change takes place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image: Daria Shevtsova

Live in the sunshine...

"Live in the sunshine. swim in the sea. drink the wild air ~"

Hand Symbolism Part 1

The symbolism of the hand is rich and varied. According to Jobes the hand represents amity, authority, benediction, construction, divine grace, divine presence, faith, force, greeting, honor, labors, mastery, oath, pledge, usefulness, vigor, and work. The fingers, the thumb, and the palm all have their individual symbolism. Hands made of gold, studded with jewels, or of glass or base metals, have been revered as talismans against evil influences (Jobes). Cirlot writes, "two hands joined signifies mystic marriage-the Jungian individuation" and "In Jung's opinion, the hand is endowed with a generative significance". In alchemical images, the king’s left hand grasping the queen’s left hand "may refer to the unconscious character of their union but that it may also be indicative either of affection or superstition" (pg. 137).

Walker writes, "The hand with an eye in the palm was shown in the Oriental fear-dispelling gesture by certain Tibetan bodhisattvas, and also, half a world away, in the symbols of the Native American mound builders. The entire field of palmistry is summed up in this symbol implying that insight is to be found in the palm of the hand. Walker goes on to state that the oriental "eye of mercy" can be linked to the pierced hands of crucified saviors. Following is a list of hand symbolism.

American Indian – denotes supplication to the master of life or Great Spirit; the use of universal hand gestures and sign language helped unite the linguistically divided Indian nations and allowed for communication

Buddhist – Buddha’s hand symbolizes protection; "with the palm upward it represents unlimited giving; in Buddhist iconography the right hand of Buddha touches the earth, depicting his lordship over it, calling the earth to witness; it is the active pole. His left hand, holding the alms bowl, or turning upwards, is receptivity and surrender; the passive pole" (Cooper, pg. 78)

Celtic – the "long hand" of Lugh represents the rays of the sun

China – symbol of longevity, called shou

Christian – the hand of blessing represents God, the Father, and the Divine Logos; rising from a cloud denotes the power of the Father; "Christian authorities claim that witches transferred the ‘hand of blessing’ to the left, though this was perhaps the pagan custom from the beginning. Christian Europe also demonstrated great fear of the witches’ so-called Hand of Glory, said to be the severed hand of an executed criminal, steeped in beeswax and made into a candle with a flame at the tip of each finger. Such an article would have been difficult to manufacture, to say the least, so it was probably just one more of the witch-hunters’ macabre fantasies" (Walker, pg. 315); in art, the hand represents "descent from heaven to earth or reascent to heaven or descent to the grave and then ascent to heaven" (Jobes, pg. 721); when three fingers are extended, symbol of the three hypostases, the three-fold benediction

Egypt – symbol of fortitude and handicraft; in the "Egyptian tongue, the term designating the hand was related to that for pillar (or a support, or strength) and for the palm. In esoteric doctrine, the position of the hand in relation to the body, and the arrangement of the fingers, convey certain precise symbolic notions" (Cirlot); represents manifestation, action, donating and husbandry; in Egyptian hieroglyphics the open hand represents magnetic force

Greek – "the votive Hand of Sabazios, has the thumb and first finger extended, with the third and fourth fingers crooked (the Cornuto), and has on it the cone, snake, cross, crescent, caduceus, lizard, insects" (Cooper); represents the helping hand of the god, protection, healing, blessing

Continued in Hand Symbolism Part 2

Hand Symbolism Part 2

Continued from Hand Symbolism Part 1

Hebrew – bestowal of a blessing, consecration to office, or divine gifts; "the hands of the high-priest [are] laid upon the scapegoat, as if transferring the guilt of the people to the animal" (Jobes, pg. 717); symbol of obedience, submission to God; right hand out-stretched symbolizes assistance; placed on left shoulder denotes anxiety, hope, martyrdom, sacrifice; charm against ill luck and the source of the superstition of throwing a pinch of salt over the left shoulder; when three fingers are extended, symbol of the three hypostases, the three-fold benediction

Heraldry – symbol of the pledge of faith; equated with hind of dawn and hound of heaven

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hindu – both Hindus and Buddhists use a system of hand gestures, called mudras, comprised of more than 500 gestures used in dance and rituals; the mudras are the manual expression of divine power; the hands of Siva are the uplifted hand meaning peace and protection, the lowered hand depicts deliverance, the hand beating the drum is the creative act, the hand with the flame symbolizes the destruction of the world by fire

Islamic – Use as an amulet; "according to Berber thought, the hand signifies protection, authority, power, and strength" (Cirlot); the hand is depicted with the star, the dove, a bird, the fan, the zigzag, and the circle; the open hand represents benediction, adoration, hospitality; the hand of providence and generosity; as the Hand of Fatima "the thumb is the Prophet and the fingers are his four companions, the first the lady Fatima, second Ali her husband, third and fourth Hasan and Hussein, their sons. The fourth finger is also spiritual and moral excellencies and the five together are the five fundamental dogmas and the five pillars of religion" (Cooper, pg. 79)

Mandaen – the gnostic religious group, which originated in Jordan, believe they descended from John the Baptist; they join hands in ceremonies to symbolize truth and faithfulness

Manichean – a religious group, whose doctrine is based on the separation of matter and spirit and of good and evil; originating in 3^rd century Persia, they combine elements of Zroastrinism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Gnosticism; shaking the right hand denotes the saving power of the deity

Native American – "In Yupik Eskimo stories and masks, the thumbless hand with holes in the palms is a motif representing impaired grasp. On masks it also represents the spirits (tunghak) willingness to release an abundance of animals for hunting. Hands are responsible for connecting the human world and the world the inuas of the animals dwell" (Gill & Sullivan, pg. 116) no quotes. Inuas: Eskimo; an independent human like entity, sometimes described as a spirit, which is possessed by all living things–not only plants and animals, but also mountains, bodies of water, and air

Roman – Mano Pantea, the Hand of the All–Goddess; carved examples depict the hand with thumb and the first two fingers raised in a blessing gesture; often engraved or encrusted with magical symbols and signs of the zodiac; the raised fingers stood for the Goddess and God respectfully; "The magic mother finger–which points, and cast spells–and the phallic father finger were also part of the Egyptian Amulet of the Two Fingers, which invoked the protection of parental spirits; the thumb stood for the child (Horus); Moslems adopted the Mano Pantea as "Hand of Fatima" (Walker, pg. 315); The manus symbolized the authority of the pater familias and of the Emperor

Sumero-Semitic – the hand is an attribute of the Great Mother as a bounteous giver and protector

Toltec – the long hand of Huemac represents the rays of the sun

See Biblioraphy for references