We’ve all done it. We’ve been on the receiving, and giving end of this popular show of aggravation. What most comes to mind is it’s use in fits of road rage.
I remember driving with my father when I was a young girl. I was always terrified to see him get red faced with anger at other drivers when they were not doing what he wanted, when he wanted, or as fast as he would have liked.
In yoga class last week the teacher framed this common circumstance, in relation to yogic knowledge. We were doing a meditation using the Saturn finger, which is the middle finger and represents patience and tolerance. The teacher so aptly put it, this is what people do, when they have no patience or tolerance left, and how amazing it is that all of humanity seems to unconsciously know what this finger represents!
I do my best to shrug it off when on the receiving end. The driver is frazzled, late for an appointment, stressed from a long day at work. They ‘run out’ of patience. Time holds no abundance for them in that moment. Here we are, not driving fast enough, taking a turn to slow, when other drivers think they have the right of way, and so it goes up, the middle finger.
I have given this myself, though it has been quite a long time. Thanks to Kundalini Yoga, I saw a monumental shift in my driving attitude. It was one of the first results I noticed from my practice. Upon reflection. every time I have presented this behavior it has been unnecessary. Frustrated, impatient, or reacting to the other persons behavior I have ‘lost’ my patience.
When you’re in this situation, and feeling the inspiration to vent your spleen, instead of raising that finger up in a pissed off rage, try Shuni Mudra, the “seal of patience.” formed by the thumb and the middle Saturn finger. Shuni Mudra, encourages patiences and supports thoughts of a noble nature, it turns our negative emotions into positive ones. Breath deep, and let the light guide your way on.
Sat Nam