Blue Chalcedony Gemstone Connectors, Brass Hand / Apana Mudra Charms and Findings. 24K Gold Plated Earring Hooks. Total Length 11cm.

Apana Mudra | Sign of the horns

Yoga & Meditation

Apana mudra is a sacred hand gesture or ‘seal,’ used during yoga and meditation practice as a means of channeling the flow of vital life force energy known as prana. Also referred to as the "purification mudra," apana mudra is specifically used to detoxify and purify the body, while balancing the elements of fire, space and earth within it. It is a hasta mudra, which means it is performed using the hands.Apana mudra increases the vata and kapha doshas whilst helping to decrease pitta, thereby helping to balance all three doshas in the body. Those with excess vata and kapha dosha should practice this mudra in moderation.

Heavy metal culture

Ronnie James Dio was known for popularizing the sign of the horns in heavy metal.He claimed his Italian grandmother used it to ward off the evil eye (which is known in Italy as malocchio). Dio began using the sign soon after joining the metal band Black Sabbath in 1979. The previous singer in the band, Ozzy Osbourne, was rather well known for using the "peace" sign at concerts, raising the index and middle finger in the form of a V. Dio, in an attempt to connect with the fans, wanted to similarly use a hand gesture. However, not wanting to copy Osbourne, he chose to use the sign his grandmother always made. The horns became famous in metal concerts very soon after Black Sabbath's first tour with Dio. The sign would later be appropriated by heavy metal fans.

Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath can be seen "raising the horns" in a photograph taken in 1969 The photograph is included in the CD booklet of the Symptom of the Universe: The Original Black Sabbath 1970–1978 compilation album. This would indicate that there had been some association between the "horns" and heavy metal before Dio's popularization of it. Although The Beatles aren’t directly associated with heavy metal, John Lennon can be seen doing the "horn-sign" in a photograph already two years prior to Butler. The photoshoot was done for the promotion for their upcoming cartoon movie Yellow Submarine in late 1967. The official movie poster of 1968 showing the Beatles in cartoon form depicts Lennon performing the same gesture.