Welcome and thank you for joining our third meditation in the Five Element Mudra series.
My name is Sarah and I will be offering guided meditations and mudra methods to enhance our awareness of the five elements within our body and the five elements within our natural surroundings.
Mudras are associated with the various levels of consciousness in the body.
They are an energetic lock as it locks the energy within the body and doesn't let it leak out.
This internalization of energy improves the mind-body connection that keeps us focused and helps balance our physical and mental energies.
Mudras are described as gestures,
Attitudes,
Symbols expressed through our hands,
Body,
Eyes and face.
In Hatha Yoga,
Mudras are not only associated with internal actions involving the pelvic floor,
The diaphragm,
Throat,
Eyes,
Tongue and other parts of the body.
Mudras are also used to tell stories,
Express deities,
Perform imagery and stimulate the flow of energy.
The Vedic teachings outline the relationship between the five elements and the five fingers as follows.
The thumb and the fire element,
The index finger and the air element,
The middle finger and the space or ether element,
Ring finger and the earth element,
Pinky finger and the water element.
The third element in our five element mudra series is the fire element.
The mudra for the fire element is Agni mudra,
Also called Surya mudra.
Agni is the Sanskrit word for fire,
Referring to the digestive fire in the body,
The intellect of the mind.
Agni is also the god of fire and a messenger.
The fire element is associated with the solar plexus chakra and housed in the area best described as four fingers above the navel.
The fire element manifests in our stomach,
Intestines,
Gallbladder,
Liver,
Pancreas,
Spleen and also manifests as our willpower and ego.
To Agni mudra,
Fold your ring finger so that the fingertip almost touches the base of the thumb.
Place your thumb on the folded ring finger.
Keep the rest of the fingers comfortably straight.
Place your mudra on your lap or at your side with palms face up and as much as possible do not move the fingers around.
Allow yourself to feel the qualities of fire.
Qualities of fire can be things like light,
Heat,
Understanding of knowledge,
Digestion and metabolism,
Transformation,
Willpower and self-confidence.
When you feel the sensations of the fire qualities you most need to experience at this time,
Affirm to yourself that you can access this feeling anytime you need to simply by taking the time to connect to the fire element with rhythmic breathing and the Agni mudra.
Close your eyes and focus on the pattern of your breath,
Giving your self-gratitude for this mudra and meditation.
Maintain your meditation for as long as you like.
It can be done in one sitting of 45 minutes or in a gap of three sittings,
15 minutes per sitting.
Open your eyes slowly and release your mudra.
Write down any notes if anything stood out to you about this mudra practice and fire element meditation.
Remember practice makes progress.
I look forward to focusing on the five elements and mudras with you next time.
I bring my hands over my heart and invite you to do the same.
I ask that you may all be happy and may all be healthy.
May we all experience what is good and let no one suffer.
Thank you for you.
Peace.
A pro tip,
Practicing prana mudra after Agni mudra will enhance both mudras effects.
Learn more about prana mudra in our fourth element meditation session next time.
Thank you.
Take care of yourself.
See you soon.
