Hands Up or Hands Down?

"Sit with your hands in your lap."

That is, normally, the instruction we hear regarding what to do with our hands when we meditate. Today I'd like to draw your attention to a very subtle movement, and encourage you to experiment with how it impacts your practice.

For a few minutes, sit in meditation with your palms facing down, whether that's on your thighs if you're sitting in a chair or on your knees if you're sitting cross-legged on a cushion or the floor.

Notice how this feels. Relaxed? Maybe like you're closing a loop? (Eyes closed or looking down, palms facing down, feet crossed or flat on the floor.)

Now, for the next few minutes, sit in meditation with your palms facing up. Nothing else changes, except for the position of the palms of your hands.

Notice how this feels. Also relaxed? More energetic? Maybe like you're allowing for an opening in the loop?

That's because "palms up" is a gesture of giving, and it is also a gesture of receiving.

Visualize that for a moment.

Palms up is also a gesture of receiving.

It is both. Giving and receiving.

Sometimes I need more of one, and sometimes I need more of the other. Sometimes I move from one to the other during the course of a meditation session, depending on how grounded or open I want to feel.

Try it out, and please let us know your experience. We're curious!

Namaste,

Cathy