High Five!

“High Five!” The person facing me raises her hand high above her head. Instantly, I answer her invitation and do the same, and our hands meet in a single clap of celebration. With our hands we say “Yes!” – to a victory, an accomplishment, a great idea. We honor the moment.

We use our hands in other ways as positive and meaningful expressions, too.  We clap our own hands together in joy or applause. We shake hands when greeting another. In prayer, we place our hands together.

We instinctively make these gestures with our hands. Why? It is part of our innate wisdom, that part of us that just knows. Like when we rub our forehead when we’re concentrating or trying to remember something, or stand with our hands on our hips. We cross our legs, fold our arms across our chest, and put our hands in our pockets. These and other gestures we make, and positions we put our bodies in, are expressions from a knowing deep within us that guides us to harmonize our energy. 

The Art of Jin Shin Jyutsu is all about this innate part of us. Studying this Art teaches us the language of our energy, how it speaks to us about its nature, and how we can bring ourselves into balance. It deepens our awareness, helps us understand, and teaches us how we may return to harmony. We can do this with our hands, touching select places on the body. Touching our palms helps us promote well-being because our palms connect us to the wholeness of our being, our divine nature. By holding our palms together, or by gently touching the fingers of one hand to the palm of the other, we tap into this natural energy and allow it to magnify. Do this for several minutes and you will begin to feel a sense of calm, connectedness, and peace. So, when we place our palms together – in prayer or expressing joy with applause – we are connecting with who we are. When we shake hands with another palm-to-palm, we are connecting with each other at that level. And when we celebrate a moment with a High Five, we are connecting at the highest height we can reach from the very depth of our being.

This year, National High Five Day is April 18th. Look for moments to celebrate with another. Honor a victory, an accomplishment, a great idea. And remember the deeper connection you make as your hands meet. High Five!

Copyright 2013 Nancy M Steele