Do you ever pay attention to the work of your hands?  An intricate combination of bones, nerves, tendons and muscles, these tools give us the ability to both grasp and influence our environment like no other species.  Designed for both heavy lifting and precise manipulation, we often overlook the work of our hands until we lose the ability to use them. 

Early ancestors used their hands to hunt, build, weave and harvest everything they needed for survival.  They planted seeds, gathered ingredients, prepared meals at home and crafted their clothing and furniture by hand.  Today we leave much of this work to specialists and use our hands for communicating our needs via keypads and touchscreens.   But the repetitive nature of handiwork contains a seed of mindfulness that could be lacking in our modern lives.  Turning the page of a book or newspaper feels different than the sensation of a handheld electronic reader.  The measured pace and undivided attention required for gardening, sewing, building and painting lends calmness to these activities that might be worth preserving. 

In Western Feng Shui, the area of a building known as Knowledge is also associated with the hands.  Knowledge relates to education, self-awareness and spirituality.  When that sector of a building is compromised, underutilized or missing, members of the family or employees of a company often lack the ability to absorb and retain new information and expand their horizons.  A vital area of the Feng Shui bagua, a balanced Knowledge area will help to produce inquisitive children and employees who can grasp ideas and think beyond the scope of their job descriptions. 

As autumn approaches and the season for gathering the harvest is upon us, be mindful of the work you do with your hands.  In her poem "To Be of Use" Marge Piercy writes, "The pitcher longs for water to carry and a person for work that is real."

Wishing you expansive ideas, the ability to grasp the future and work that is real.

Diane Gallin, CFSC