Hand Eye Symbol #2

The meaning of this symbol is debated, but, as a southeastern Indian myself, I feel like I can give some insight on this subject. Let's dive in.

My father, a Chikashshanompa' native speaker and PhD in language revitalization, has always told me about what he calls Ofi' Tohbi's Trail. This is our name for the Milky Way. My ancestors believed that the milky way was the path that you took after you died so that you can go to the otherworld. After you finished the path, then there was a slippery log you had to cross to get to the afterlife. Good men would not fall off, but bad men would. After you crossed this log, there was a huge hand that had an eye (or vagina) in it. My father has told me that he remembers an elder telling him that (or someone else). This hand and eye/vagina is actually the lower half of orion in the greek tradition. This is the symbol we are discussing today.

It would make sense if this was a vagina, as a vagina would represent creation. The two put together would represent the creative hand of God, as it has associations with deity. Even if it is not, it would still represent that sort of idea of divinity. These solar associations along with oral stories have led me to believe that this symbol is representing the portal in the night sky that takes you to the otherworld with our ancestors and Aba' Binni'li' (the One who sits above in the clear blue sky).

This symbol also has association with the ogee motif, which may represent portals or female genitalia.