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Order III · Seals of the Divine Powers
Abhaya Mudra
अभय मुद्रा · abhaya mudrā · Σφραγὶς τῆς Ἀφοβίας
Also: Jp. semui-in
25
The raised open palm that grants protection. Fear is dissolved by the power that faces it.
- Meaning
- Seal of Fearlessness
- Tradition
- Buddhist and Hindu iconography; the seal of Amoghasiddhi among the Five Tathagatas
- Hands
- Right hand raised; left hand at rest
- Placement
- Right hand at chest or shoulder height; left hand resting.
- Associations
- The five elements and their fears.
- Level
- Intermediary
Formation
- Raise the right hand to chest level.
- Turn the palm forward, fingers extended and together, pointing up.
- Rest the left hand on the left thigh, in the lap or on the heart.
Example Meditation
Raise the right hand to the chest, palm forward, and rest the left hand on the thigh. Breathe calmly and face whatever is feared without retreating. The seal dissolves fear and turns the attention outward with courage.
Effects
PhysicalΣῶμα
- Upright readiness. The raised arm and open palm hold the body alert and erect.
EmotionalΘυμός
- Freedom from fear. Protection and freedom from fear; a first help in frightening situations.
- Fear by element. Fear is read through the five elements: fire as fear of others, wood as fear of being defined by others, metal as fear of distance, earth and water as fear of challenges and of life.
IntellectualΝοῦς
- Facing the cause. The gesture alone does not solve the problem: it opens a longer work of transformation.
SoulΨυχή
- Light outward. In its visualization divine light enters as through a funnel and flows out through the right hand toward the person who is feared.
AscentἈνάβασις
- The hand of the God. The Gods raise this hand over their worshippers. Zevism reads it as the protection of Zeus extended through the open palm.
Finger Key
| Finger | Element | Right hand |
|---|---|---|
| Thumb | Fire | resting beside the index finger |
| Index | Air | extended and held together |
| Middle | Aether | extended and held together |
| Ring | Earth | extended and held together |
| Little | Water | extended and held together |
Cautions and Variants
Caution. The gesture opens transformation; it does not replace it.
Variants. Japanese sources describe the hand raised to shoulder height, all 5 fingers extended, palm forward.
Recommended for Every Zevist Library
Gertrud Hirschi, Mudras: Yoga in Your Hands
The standard practical manual of the hand seals, with their indications and meditations. The Temple of Zeus recommends it as a purchase for every Zevist library, personal or communal.