THE OPEN HAND

 The Open Hand Image represents for me a hand open to give, as well as open to receive. Out of living with open hands comes fresh new openness for growth and development. 

Living with open hands is an expression of an open mind, open heart, and open will.

OpenHandTat

Living with Open Hands

 But this begins with being fully present and learning to See and Hear at a deeper level. Open eyes see the basic goodness in every person and everything in creation. Not only does living with open hands bring forth beauty but it is also the source of the passion of compassion. The flames of love are not stifled as with a clenched fist, but are fanned into all-consuming, all-embracing, all-inclusive, unconditional love, inevitably inviting the descent of the Dove of Peace.

 

There are two distinct approaches to living life:

Open hand living

or

Clenched fist living

Our hands are an expression of our heart and mind, our inner self.

As an artist expresses the inner self . . .

As a warrior expresses the inner self . . .

As a villain expresses the inner self . . .

As a thief expresses the inner self . . .

. . . Through the hand,

So do we in our every action, interaction, and re-action

To people and to life

“Think of the difference between being confronted with a clenched fist and being offered an open hand. The clenched fist signifies threat, rejection, arrogance, exclusion, refusal, anger and violence. The open hand means friendship, help, peace, sharing, communication and connection.” (fr. Vivian Boland)

“The holiest thing we have to offer the world is a broken-open heart, emptied of fear and vengeance, filled with forgiveness and willing to take the risks of love.” (Parker Palmer, Politics of the Brokenhearted)

Clenched fist living contrasted with open hand living

Clenched FistOpen Hand
ThreatInvitation
HiddenRevealed
UptightRelaxed
DefensiveInquiring
StagnationOpen System
BarrierConnection
Sees LimitsSees Possibilities
Energy Bottled-UpEnergy Released
Closed Mind: knows all, opinionated, full of certaintyOpen Mind: always learning, inquiring, anticipating
Closed Heart: guarded, controlled, fearOpen Heart: embraces change, diversity, people
Conquers / crushes risk and the unknownEmbraces the unknown and seeks new possibilities
CompetitionCollaboration
It is all about MEIt is all about ALL
 
 
 
 
 

Living Life with Open Hands

is an outward expression of the inner work

of opening the heart, mind, and will.

This opening up requires open eyes and open ears

that see and hear with the heart

. . . a “Seeing” (and “Hearing”) that goes beneath the surface of

actions, reactions, and interactions,

habits and conditioned responses,

mental models and assumptions,

. . . to the heart below the surface.

With this openness, we “See”

with new eyes at a deeper level

into ourselves, other people, organizations,

communities, and systems.

This inner work is then expressed outwardly

by living with open hands;

welcoming others and life,

giving and receiving openly,

living in community.

Living with open hands

is not a series of notions

nor is it a system of belief.

It is a way …

expressing oneself in action.

It is a way …

a spiritual discipline that can deepen the spiritual life

It is a way …

expressing oneself clearly and visibly in

integrity, equality, simplicity, community, and peace.

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