Does the Hand Heart Symbol, Beloved by Millennials, Act as a Mudra?
As an adjunct professor, I have beautiful exchanges with my students. I teach them about public relations and life, and they nurture me with youthful enthusiasm. Recently, I launched into one of my inspirational chats about loving yourself and dreaming big. I was touched at the end of my words when a bunch of the students got emotional and held up the heart hands symbol to me. It took me by surprise and brought tears to my eyes. That wonderful experience got me using the symbol and eventually made me wonder if it acts as a mudra.
Mudras are hand gestures utilized in yoga and meditation to create a circuit of energy in the body. When I did the symbol, I noticed that it had a calming effect. We have this habit of leaving ancient practices pure so a part of me felt guilty for even thinking to add a new one to the mix. The rebel in me was like…nah ancient practices can always use a refresh or in this case the addition of a new mudra. So, I researched to find out if my intuition was spot on.
The origin is murky but appears to be rooted in K-pop’s use of the Korean finger heart, where your thumb and index finger form a cute heart shape. Making hearts with our hands appears to have evolved from that finger heart to full hand hearts made famous by the likes of Taylor Swift.
Anytime we are channeling energy physically and or spiritually it can have a powerful effect. Just like the ancient practice of mudras in yoga, these gestures may influence energy flow, stimulate specific nerves, and even impact our emotions.
Check out the latest episode of Citizen Journalist where I talk cyber security and the future of AI with tech entrepreneur Andrew Sispoidis
How It Could Work:
Nerve Stimulation: Crossing your thumb and index finger might activate pressure points. In reflexology and acupressure, each finger is connected to different body parts, so making these small gestures could subtly influence your nervous system.
Energy Flow: Many traditions see the hands as powerful conductors of life energy, whether you call it prana or chi. By creating heart shapes with your fingers, you may be tapping into your body’s energetic field, helping to promote feelings of love and compassion—much like the well-known Anjali Mudra (prayer hands) is thought to bring about inner peace.
Mind-Body Connection: Gestures like the Korean finger heart aren’t just cute and can inspire positive emotions. Because our hands are so connected to our brains and how we express ourselves, these simple gestures might help you feel more loving and connected to others.
Mindfulness: Even if the effects are small, the intention behind the gesture matters most. Making a heart with your fingers and focusing on positive, loving energy can bring a sense of mindfulness, just like in meditation or yoga.
So, while these gestures may not be traditional mudras, they can be seen as modern ways to express energy and emotion, potentially influencing our overall well-being.
Have an amazing week!
Cynthia
www.ShamanIsis.com
www.SoulTechFoundation.org
