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Order VI · Seals of Health and Restoration
Back Mudra
Σφραγὶς τῆς Ῥάχεως
68
Each hand holds a different seal and together they relieve the back.
- Meaning
- Seal of the Spine
- Tradition
- Yoga
- Hands
- Both hands, different forms
- Placement
- Seated, or more effective in a position that relieves the back.
- Associations
- Spine and intervertebral discs.
- Level
- Beginner
Formation
- Right hand: join the thumb, middle finger and little finger; extend the index and ring fingers.
- Left hand: place the thumb joint on the nail of the index finger.
- Keep the chin pulled in slightly so the neck is stretched.
Example Meditation
Sit or lie in a position that relieves the back, with each hand in its form. Breathe into the back and let the spine lengthen with the chin drawn in slightly. The seal eases the back and supports good posture.
Effects
PhysicalΣῶμα
- Back pain. For back pain after straining a weak back, as in gardening or cleaning, or after sitting too long in a poor position.
EmotionalΘυμός
- Carrying. It examines what weighs on the back and what is being carried.
IntellectualΝοῦς
- Posture. Attention to posture accompanies the seal.
SoulΨυχή
- Strength. Its affirmation begins: "My backbone is strong".
AscentἈνάβασις
- The spine as axis. The spine is the axis of the body as the pillar is of the world. The upright spine is the road of the rising fire.
Finger Key
| Finger | Element | Right hand | Left hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thumb | Fire | joins the middle finger; joins the little finger | its joint rests on the index fingernail |
| Index | Air | extended | its nail carries the thumb joint |
| Middle | Aether | joins the thumb | extended |
| Ring | Earth | extended | extended |
| Little | Water | joins the thumb | extended |
Cautions and Variants
Variants. The instruction does not describe the other fingers of the left hand; they are shown extended.
Sources
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.