POT: Chapter 2
Chapter 2: The Hand as a Timekeeping Device: The Role of Fingers and Hands
Counting with the Fingers: An Ancient Method of Tracking Time
The human hand, with its five fingers, has long been a tool for measuring and marking time. While sophisticated clocks and instruments have become commonplace in modern society, ancient civilizations and spiritual leaders relied on the simplicity and accessibility of their own bodies to track the passage of time. One of the most intuitive methods for doing so involved the fingers.
Using the fingers to count is an ancient and universal practice. From childhood, people use their fingers to mark off steps, measure quantities, and even track moments. In many cultures, this natural ability to count with fingers became the foundation for more structured systems of timekeeping. The priesthoods that had an understanding of time through the body would have extended this knowledge into the use of their hands, turning the act of counting into a ritualistic process that served both practical and symbolic functions.
Using the Hands to Count to 3600: The Number of Seconds in an Hour
In this chapter’s theory, the hands could be used to count up to 3600—the number of seconds in an hour. A priest, with knowledge of both the human heartbeat and the passage of time, could track each beat of his heart, associating it with the number 1, the first second, in a long sequence. By using both hands, he could incrementally track 10-second intervals, moving through the 60-second mark, and eventually reaching 3600 seconds, or the equivalent of an hour. With a simple system of finger positions—each one representing a number—a priest could keep time as accurately as a clock.
The practical application of counting up to 3600 using the hands would have been essential in ancient navigation or ritualistic tasks. For example, while on a ship or during an important ceremonial event, the ability to track each second, minute, and hour through simple body movements would have been a useful tool. The priest’s hands, no longer merely symbolic, would serve as markers of time’s passage. They would allow him to track the intervals with an accuracy that would otherwise be difficult to achieve without the aid of external instruments.
While the method of counting may seem crude by today’s standards, it served its purpose in a world where time was often measured by the movement of the stars, the sun’s position, or the cycles of the moon. The hands were an effective and reliable tool for marking the seconds, minutes, and hours without the need for elaborate devices.
Symbolism of the Hands in Spiritual Traditions: Markers with No Real Value
As we’ve seen, counting with the fingers was an efficient way to measure time. However, this method also gained a level of mystique, particularly within spiritual traditions. The hands, as timekeeping devices, became symbolic of divine knowledge, as though the priest could connect to higher spiritual powers through his ability to measure time accurately. This perception added to the sense of mystery that surrounded the practice.
Throughout history, many cultures and spiritual traditions have imbued the hands with significant symbolism. The act of counting with the fingers could easily be seen as a spiritual practice, even if it was rooted purely in practicality. For example, the position of the hands in prayer or ritual was often seen as a conduit to divine influence. A priest who demonstrated skill in counting time through his fingers could be perceived as holding some form of secret knowledge, capable of connecting with the divine. The hands, in this sense, became markers of spiritual authority.
However, this symbolism, while potent in its effect, did not confer any real supernatural ability to the practice. The hands served as markers—simple tools used to track the passage of time—but their symbolic value was often inflated. In truth, the act of counting heartbeats and using the hands as timekeeping devices was a human skill, not a supernatural gift. As with many other aspects of spiritual rituals, the value of the hands was largely psychological and cultural. It was the perception of divine connection or authority that made the practice appear spiritual, not the act of counting itself.
This confusion between practical skill and spiritual significance is a key component of the "priestly facade" that developed. The ability to measure time with the hands became a form of exclusive knowledge, kept within the priestly class. Others, unfamiliar with the techniques or unaware of their true purpose, would view the practice as a sign of divine favor. Over time, the hands became a symbol of authority and mastery over time itself—something that was, in essence, rooted in an ancient and practical method of timekeeping but had been elevated to a position of spiritual mystery.
The connection between the hands and timekeeping reached its zenith in the context of navigation. When on a ship or out in the wilderness, the priest could use his hands as a reliable means to track the passage of hours and minutes, especially in the absence of advanced clocks or astronomical tools. As discussed in Chapter 1, the priest could use his heartbeat to track time, and then use the hands to break it down further, reaching a precision that enabled him to determine time even during the most challenging conditions.
In this context, the hands were not just symbolic of spiritual authority but were also effective tools for managing the practical tasks of navigation. They became indispensable for accurately determining longitude, a skill that was crucial for maritime explorers. By combining his knowledge of the natural world, the human body, and the symbolic use of the hands, the priest could serve as an effective timekeeper on a ship, and potentially help with calculations of location by calculating the difference between local noon and standard time.
Conclusion: The Hand as a Tool and Symbol of Time
The hands played a crucial role in timekeeping in the ancient world. Used to count the passage of seconds, minutes, and hours, they were at once simple tools and potent symbols of spiritual authority. The priest, skilled in both counting heartbeats and using his hands, could track time with precision and ease. The symbolism of the hands only grew over time, as people began to associate them with divine knowledge and spiritual power. But in reality, the skill of counting time through the fingers was a practical and human ability, one that allowed the priest to serve his community with the accurate measurement of time—even as others saw it as a mysterious, spiritual gift.
