Quick Answer
The merkaba mudras are specific hand positions used during the 17-breath merkaba activation meditation. Each mudra directs prana through a different energy circuit corresponding to one face of the star tetrahedron. The first six breaths each use a distinct thumb-to-finger mudra; breaths 7-13 use an interlaced fingers position; breath 14 shifts to a flat-hand mudra; breaths 15-17 focus on eye position and breath speed rather than hand placement.
Key Takeaways
- Six primary mudras: Breaths 1-6 each require a specific thumb-to-finger combination that activates one of the six directions of the star tetrahedron.
- Mudras as energy switches: Each hand position opens a specific pranic circuit in the body. The mudra determines which energy channel is activated during that breath.
- Sequential progression: The mudras must be performed in order. Each builds on the previous activation.
- Part of a larger system: Mudras are one component of the merkaba meditation alongside breath pattern, visualization, and eye position.
- Lineage source: The mudra sequence comes primarily from Drunvalo Melchizedek's Flower of Life workshops, which he attributed to the Egyptian mystery school tradition via Thoth.
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What Is the Merkaba?
The merkaba (also spelled mer-ka-ba) is described in certain esoteric traditions as a light-body vehicle composed of two counter-rotating tetrahedra, one pointing upward (masculine, electrical) and one pointing downward (feminine, magnetic), interpenetrating to form a three-dimensional Star of David. When activated through specific meditation practices, this geometric field is said to extend around the body as a living energy structure.
The word itself is often parsed as three Egyptian syllables: Mer (light), Ka (spirit), Ba (body). In Hebrew, merkavah refers to the divine chariot described in Ezekiel's vision (Ezekiel 1:4-26), the throne-chariot of God carried by four living creatures. Both etymologies converge on the idea of a vehicle of light that carries consciousness.
For a full treatment of merkaba history and meaning, see the Merkaba Meaning guide. For the complete activation meditation, see the Merkaba Activation Meditation guide.
The Role of Mudras in Merkaba Meditation
In Hindu and Buddhist traditions, mudras are symbolic hand gestures that direct the flow of prana (life force energy) through the subtle body. The merkaba meditation system, as taught by Drunvalo Melchizedek in the Flower of Life workshops, adapts this principle for a specific purpose: each mudra activates one of the six faces or directions of the star tetrahedron.
The star tetrahedron has six vertices that correspond to six directions: front, back, right, left, up, and down. Each of the first six breaths in the merkaba meditation purifies and activates one of these directional channels. The mudra for each breath serves as the energetic "switch" that opens that particular channel.
How Mudras Work in This System
Each finger is associated with a specific element and energy quality. The thumb represents prana or fire. When the thumb touches a particular finger, it completes an energetic circuit between the thumb's fire quality and the element associated with that finger. In the merkaba system, each circuit corresponds to one triangular face of the tetrahedron. The practitioner systematically activates all six faces across the first six breaths, bringing the entire star tetrahedron "online."
The Six Primary Mudras (Breaths 1-6)
Each of the first six breaths uses a distinct mudra. Both hands form the same mudra simultaneously. The palms face upward, resting on the knees or thighs.
Practice: Mudras for Breaths 1-6
Breath 1: Touch the tip of the thumb to the tip of the index finger on both hands. The other three fingers extend naturally, not rigidly. This is similar to the jnana mudra used in yogic meditation. It activates the first triangular face of the star tetrahedron (sun tetrahedron, front face).
Breath 2: Touch the tip of the thumb to the tip of the middle finger on both hands. Index finger releases. This activates the second face (sun tetrahedron, left face).
Breath 3: Touch the tip of the thumb to the tip of the ring finger on both hands. Middle finger releases. This activates the third face (sun tetrahedron, right face).
Breath 4: Touch the tip of the thumb to the tip of the index finger again (same as Breath 1). This now activates the first face of the earth tetrahedron (back face).
Breath 5: Touch the tip of the thumb to the tip of the middle finger again (same as Breath 2). This activates the second face of the earth tetrahedron (right face).
Breath 6: Touch the tip of the thumb to the tip of the ring finger again (same as Breath 3). This activates the third face of the earth tetrahedron (left face).
Note: The mudra pattern repeats (index, middle, ring, index, middle, ring) because the first three breaths activate the sun (male) tetrahedron and the second three activate the earth (female) tetrahedron. The same finger circuits serve both, but the breath direction and visualization differ.
Coordinating Mudra with Breath and Visualization
Each breath in the first set of six coordinates three elements simultaneously:
- Mudra: The hand position described above
- Breath: A slow, deep yogic breath (inhale and exhale of equal duration, approximately 7 seconds each)
- Visualization: On the inhale, visualize the corresponding triangular face of the tetrahedron filling with white light or prana. On the exhale, visualize that face being purified, with stale or dark energy released.
The coordination of all three elements is what makes the practice effective in this system. The mudra without the breath and visualization is incomplete, just as the breath without the mudra lacks directional specificity.
Breaths 7-13: The Interlaced Mudra
After the six directional activations, breaths 7 through 13 shift to a different mudra and a different purpose. These seven breaths work with the pranic tube, a channel of energy described as running through the center of the body from above the head to below the feet, aligned with the spine.
Practice: The Interlaced Fingers Mudra (Breaths 7-13)
Interlace all fingers together, with the left thumb underneath the right thumb (for males) or the right thumb underneath the left thumb (for females). Some teachers reverse this; follow the instruction of your specific lineage. Rest the interlaced hands in the lap.
This mudra unifies the energy of both hands into a single circuit, reflecting the purpose of these breaths: to unite the masculine and feminine polarities that were activated separately in breaths 1-6.
During breaths 7-13, the visualization shifts from the tetrahedron faces to the pranic tube. On each inhale, visualize prana entering through both the top and bottom of the tube simultaneously, meeting at the navel. On each exhale, visualize the accumulated prana expanding outward from the navel in a sphere.
The Pranic Tube
The pranic tube in the merkaba system is described as having a diameter equal to the circle formed by touching the thumb and middle finger of each hand together (approximately the width of a coin). It extends one hand-length above the head and one hand-length below the feet. This central channel is analogous to the sushumna nadi of the yogic system, the central channel through which kundalini rises. The merkaba meditation activates it through breath and visualization rather than through the bandha (lock) and pranayama techniques of classical yoga.
Breath 14: The Transition Mudra
Breath 14 marks the transition from energy cultivation to merkaba activation. The mudra shifts:
Practice: Breath 14 Mudra
Place the left hand flat, palm up, and rest the right hand on top of it, also palm up. The thumbs touch lightly at the tips. This is similar to the cosmic mudra (hokkai-join) used in Zen meditation.
On the inhale of breath 14, shift the meeting point of the prana streams from the navel to the sternum (heart center). On the exhale, visualize the sphere of prana expanding to encompass the entire star tetrahedron. This breath changes the energetic center from the third to the fourth chakra, preparing for the rotational activation of the merkaba in breaths 15-17.
Breaths 15-17: Beyond Mudra
The final three breaths do not use specific hand mudras. The hands return to a natural resting position. The focus shifts entirely to breath speed, eye position, and the visualization of the counter-rotating tetrahedra:
- Breath 15: Visualize the sun (male) tetrahedron rotating counterclockwise and the earth (female) tetrahedron rotating clockwise. The breath accelerates.
- Breath 16: The rotation ratio shifts to 34:21 (a Fibonacci approximation of the golden ratio). The eyes look slightly upward.
- Breath 17: The rotation speed reaches maximum. A powerful exhale sends the spinning field outward. The merkaba is described as now fully activated, extending approximately 55 feet (17 meters) in all directions around the body.
Why Mudras Phase Out
The progression from specific mudras (breaths 1-6) to a unified mudra (7-13) to a transition mudra (14) to no mudra (15-17) reflects the trajectory of the meditation itself: from detailed, sequential activation of individual components toward unified, spontaneous wholeness. The hands become less important as the entire body becomes the instrument. This mirrors a principle in many contemplative traditions: form serves as scaffolding for formlessness.
Practice Guidance
- Learn the mudras first. Before attempting the full 17-breath meditation, practice the mudra transitions alone until they are automatic. Fumbling with finger positions during meditation breaks concentration.
- Gentle contact. The thumb-to-finger touch should be light, not pressed. The circuit is energetic, not muscular. Pressing creates tension that interferes with the flow of prana.
- Same mudra, both hands. Both hands always form the same mudra simultaneously. If the left hand drifts into a different position, correct it.
- Gender variations. The thumb position in the interlaced mudra (breaths 7-13) differs between male and female practitioners in some lineages. If you are uncertain, try both and note which feels more natural and energetically clear.
- Seated position. The merkaba meditation is traditionally performed seated with a straight spine. The hands rest on the thighs or in the lap, depending on the mudra. See the meditation positions guide for details on stable seated posture.
The Hands as Instruments of Geometry
The merkaba mudras translate a geometric principle into a bodily practice. Each finger position maps to a face of the star tetrahedron; each transition maps to a shift in the energy field's configuration. The hands become instruments through which abstract sacred geometry becomes lived experience. Whether or not you hold a specific cosmological belief about the merkaba, the mudra sequence offers a structured meditation practice that systematically directs attention through the entire energetic body. What the hands do, the mind follows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a merkaba mudra?
A merkaba mudra is a specific hand position used during merkaba meditation to direct energy flow and activate the counter-rotating light fields that form the merkaba (the star tetrahedron energy body). The mudras change with each set of breaths in the 17-breath meditation sequence, with each position connecting different energy circuits in the body.
How many mudras are used in merkaba meditation?
The standard merkaba meditation uses six primary mudra positions across the 17-breath sequence. Breaths 1-6 each use a different thumb-to-finger mudra. Breaths 7-13 use an interlaced fingers mudra. Breath 14 shifts to a flat-hand position, and breaths 15-17 do not use hand mudras.
Why are mudras important in merkaba meditation?
In the merkaba system, mudras serve as energetic switches that direct prana through specific circuits in the body. Each mudra corresponds to one of the six directions of the star tetrahedron and activates a different energy channel. Without the correct mudra, the corresponding energy circuit remains inactive.
Can I do merkaba meditation without the mudras?
Some practitioners simplify the meditation by omitting the mudras and focusing on breath and visualization alone. This can still produce a centering effect, but practitioners in the Melchizedek lineage consider the mudras essential for full activation. It is recommended to add mudras gradually rather than skipping them entirely.
Sources and Further Reading
- Melchizedek, D. (1998). The Ancient Secret of the Flower of Life, Volume 1. Light Technology Publishing.
- Melchizedek, D. (2000). The Ancient Secret of the Flower of Life, Volume 2. Light Technology Publishing.
- Kaplan, A. (1982). Meditation and Kabbalah. Weiser Books. [On merkavah mysticism]
- Scholem, G. (1961). Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism. Schocken Books. [On merkavah mysticism]