Gestures


Gestures are silent counterparts to words. Gestures can enhance
Wiccan rituals when performed in conjunction with invocations or
dance, or can be used alone for their real power. Pointing the use of
the first and middle fingers splayed to create a "v", and the vulgar
presentation of an upraised middle finger.
Demonstrate the variety of messages that can be conveyed through
gesture, as well as the range of our emotional responses to them.
The magical significance of gestures is complex, and stems from
the powers of the hand. The hand can heal or kill, caress or stab. It is a
channel through which energies are sent from the body or received
from others. Our hands set up our magical altars, grasp wands and
athames, and pinch out candle flames at the conclusion of magical
rites.
Hands, as the means by which most of us earn our livings, are symbolic
of the physical world. But in their five digits lie the pentagram, the
supreme protective magical symbol; the sum of the four
elements coupled with Akasha, the spiritual power of the
universe. The lines on our hands can, to the trained, be used to link
into the deep consciousness and reveal things to the conscious minds
that we would otherwise have difficulty knowing. The palmist doesn't
read these lines as streets on a road map; they are a key to our souls, a fleshly
mandala revealing our innermost epths.
Hands were used as the first counting devices. They were seen to have
both male and female qualities and symbolism, and images of
hands were used around the world as amulets.
Gestures in Wiccan ritual can easily become second nature.
When invoking the Goddess and God, the hands can be held uplifted
when the fingers spread to receive their power. The Goddess can be individually
invoked with the lift hand, the thumb and first finger held up and
curled into a half circle, while the rest of the fingers are tucked
against the palm. This represents the crescent Moon. The God
is invoked with the first and middle fingers of the right hand raised or
with the first and fourth fingers up, the thumb holding down the 
others against the palm, to represent horns.
The elements can be invoked with individual gestures when
approaching the four directions: a flat hand held paralleled with the
ground to invoke Earth at the North; an upraised hand, fingers spread
wide apart, to invoke Air to the East; an upraised fist for the South
to invited Fire, and a cupped hand to the West to invoke Water.
Two gestures, together with postures, have long been used to
invoke the Goddess and God, and are named after them.
The Goddess position is assumed by placing the feet about
two feet apart on the ground, holding the hands out palms away
from you, elbows bent slightly. This position can be used to call
the Goddess or to attune with her energies.
The God position consists of the feet together on the floor, body
help rigidly upright, arms crossed on the chest (Right over Left)
hands held in fists. Tools such as the wand and magick knife
are sometimes held in the fists, echoing the practice of pharaohs of
ancient Egypt who held a crook and flail in a similar position
while trying disputes.
In coven work, the High Priestess and High Priest often assume
these positions when invoking the Goddess and God. In solo
workings they can be used to identify with the aspects of the Goddess
and god within us, and also during separate invocatory rites.
Gestures are also used in magic. Each of the fingers relates to
a specific planet as well as an ancient deity. Since pointing is
a magical act and is a part of many spells, the finger can be chosen by
its symbolism.
The thumb relates to Venus and to the planet Earth. Jupiter rules
the forefinger The middle finger is ruled by the god and planet
Saturn, the fourth finger the Sun and Apollo, and the little
finger by the planet mercury as well as the god after which
it is named.
Many spells involve pointing with the Jupiter and Saturn fingers,
usually at an object to be charged or imbued with magical energy. The
power is visualized as traveling straight out throughout the fingers and
into the object.

Other ritual gestures used in Wiccan rites include the "Cutting" of
pentagrams at the four quarters by drawing them in the air
with the magick knife, wand or index finger. This is done to
alternately banish or invoke elemental powers. It is, of course, performed
with visualization.
The hand can be seen as a cauldron, since it can cup and contain
water; an athame, since it is used to direct magical energy, and a
wand since it can also invoke.
Gestures are magical tools as potent as any other , ones we
can always take with us, to be used when needed.