The Left Hand in Folklore

Are you a left handed person or a right handed person?

Did you know in Old Europe using one’s left hand was considered evil? Where and when did this demotion of the left hand happen?

It originated with the Christian Reformation, a thirty year war that began 1450 CE to 1750 CE sported Catholics vs. Protestants. As you well know, wars begin to benefit a few that profit from these wars. A Pandora’s box opened wide, resulting in a whole bunch of fear mongering and negative superstitions against Left-Handed folks accused by both sides of Christianity. Like most of the old pagan deities were also demoted to Demons by the Church accept for the Gaelic goddess Brighid who became St. Bridget.

Christianity’s Reformation peaked hysteria ushered in the Witch trials of the United Kingdom, Europe and North America. Innocent women and men (in the case of Iceland) were accused of witchcraft they were put on trial, some were tortured, some died and some lived to tell their stories. Tragic indeed!

There is an imbalance with nature according to Patriarchal religions, the Eco-system becomes its enemy. That is why thousands of people today have returned to matriarchal spiritualism in one way or the other. Tribal Indigenous People, Neo-Pagans, Druids and Witches embrace a peaceful balance between nature and nurture. They work towards a healthy Eco-system that embraces alternative energy such as wind, solar and geothermal. They adopt a lifestyle that is kind towards animals, plants and mother earth. The Left-Hand Path reveres nature in all her brilliance. Similar to the Taoist symbol of Yin – Yang that displays a balance between feminine and masculine, light and dark energies shown below.

Left handed folks are known to be very creative. (No slight to you right handed folks as some of you are creative too 🙂

During the 19th century Madame Blavatsky created the Left-Hand Path and founded the Theosophical Society, a type of Western occultism, which was made up of some European philosophies like Neoplatonism, Hinduism, Buddhism including the Ascended Masters of Tibet which is well known with the contemporary New Age Movement.

Madame Blavatsky coined the term Left-Hand Path from the Sanskrit’s Left-Handed Way. She traveled Asia extensively, and spoke with several magic practitioners and shamans in India and Tibet. This term originated from and Indian Tantric practice Vamachara which broke tradition form the Hindu religion. Vamachara introduced drinking alcohol, eating meat, gathering in graveyards and sexual relations in ritual which was part of a spiritual practice.

Left-Handed Superstitions in Folklore:

Over time, Superstitions developed out of the chaos of the Reformation. Folks believed that left handed users were manipulated by the Christian devil called Satan sometimes confused with Lucifer.

Below Illustration of The Baphomet, from Eliphas Levi’s Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie, 1854, adopted symbol of some western esoteric “Left-Hand Path” belief systems. Public domain.

*A left-handed compliment was considered an insult.

*The French word for left, gauche means awkward.

*The Latin word Left is Sinistro means sinister. The left side of ones’ shield in heraldry, was termed sinister the same also referred to the left side on the coat of arms which was the maternal side. We see the maternal or left half during Medieval times was demoted and prejudiced against. Compared to the right side of the shield or coat of arms that refers to the patriarchal side or straight side.

*A left-handed pitcher in Baseball is called a Southpaw.

*A Leftist or Communist prefers a government that equalizes all people.

Today Left-Handedness is just as popular in a positive way as being right-handed. So much so that Lefties now have their own special day.

Left Hand in Palmistry
The 3D , graphic right side of the brain rules the Left- handed folks, they lean towards creative careers such as art, music, hypnotherapy, psychology or a collector of things. They enjoy hobbies that may turn into careers such as crafts, pottery, wood carving, gardening, quilting, knitting the list is extensive. Left handed people are more sensitive so be kind towards them. They are natural empaths.

Above Illustration of The Left Hand Public domain

Lefties Day

August 13 is International Left-Handers Day. This is a special day designated to all you left-handed creative or non creative types. It originated in the United Kingdom with the Left-Handers Club. The club members play left-handed games and give interviews. Here is the link if you would like to join. The Left Handers Club

Hats off to all you lovely Left-Handed Folks!

Source & References:
The Farmer’s Almanac for Kids, Volume 2
Bhattacharya, N. N. History of the Tantric Religion (1999) ISBN 81-7304-025-7
Lords of the Left Hand Path: A History of Spiritual Dissent by Stephen E. Flowers Ph.D.