the heart in hand or heart-in-hand is a symbol of a heart in an open palm, and is symbolic of charity, given from the heart. it is an easily recognizable symbol in the northeastern united states and used by the shakers as a pictoral reminder of the words of mother ann lee, the founder of the shaker sect, who promoted a simple life of hard work and spirituality, "put your hands to work, and your hearts to god." the image is typical of the shaker attitude, and also implies a loving welcome.