The ancient art and science of palmistry¿the original and still the most accurate form of psychoanalysis¿is not a quick study. The science of palmistry consists of being able to recognize and name the various lines, mounts, and signs. This exercises the left-hand side of the brain, the linear self. The art of palmistry consists of the interpretation of these same physical signs and how they complement each other, and this engages the right-hand side of the brain, the lateral self. To develop skill in palmistry, you need both the scientific perspective of empirical observation as well as the intuitive and artistic abilities to weave the signs into an accurate reading.
The Notes contain essential information that supplement and enhance the Workshop. There is a formidable mass of detail to be absorbed; however, a careful reading of the Notes, combined with use of the Workshop, will remove most of the difficulties usually associated with the study of palmistry.
As you work your way through the Workshop, you may finish with only a few yes answers, or a great many. Since each definition contains a statement about a characteristic, representing a single facet of a personality, the number of yes answers reflects how complex and multifaceted the subject is.
ýome of the answers will be contradictory, while others will complement and tend to confirm traits. Contradictory answers reflect conflict and contradiction in the subject. Most of us are a collection of traits, habits, and characteristics mixed with coNditioning that somehow all balance out to form our individual personalities.
ýt is important that you, as the palmist, take a holistic view of the subject¿s personality. Yes answers should never be considered in isolation, nor should too much weight be given to a single aspect. This is the golden rule of palmistry: marks and sig¿s must be seen as a part of a functioning whole. Negative indications are often modified by more positive signs elsewhere on the hand.
The objective is to look at the subject as a whole; to view the mass of information and to weigh it all up and see how it combines to make the subject the person he or she is.
ýeferral to the palmistic map of a person is a simple and nonthreatening procedure, full of interest for the subject of the reading and the reader. Just watch the reaction of your friends when you admit you are studying palmistry. Even the skeptics want a turn!
¿he hand displays a wealth of information. The art is to weave this information into a clear portrait¿this is where intuition comes in.
Intuition
Intuition constitutes the inexact segment of the science and art of palmistry. Some of you will be gifted with intuition; others will, with practice, develop it. The information that feeds intuition comes from many sources: directly from the palm¿for while you hold a subject¿s hand many subtle, unconscious impressions will be received¿and the age, gender, clothing, and body language of the subject will also convey clues. Your own life experience and knowledge will also contribute to your intuition about a particular subject.
It is important for the serious student to read as many palms as they possibly can. Intuition is a muscle that strengthens with regular exercise.
Eventually, accuracy and confidence will grow, as will knowledge, and the need to refer to the text will decrease.
Don¿t be afraid of making mistakes. Have confidence in the basic accuracy of palmistry. If a subject denies some aspect ofthemselves that is clearly marked on their hand, it is more often than not a measure of that subject¿s lack of self-knowledge.
Left and Right Hands
There are a variety of opinions concerning which hand should be read: ¿The future is shown in the right, the past in the left¿ is one such opinion. ¿Length of days is in her right hand, riches and honor are in her left¿ is a quotation from the Bible (Proverbs 3:16). However, it is more usual to read the right hand. Custom has it that potential shows in the left hand, while the right hand shows the realized personality. If the subject is left-handed, it is still usual to read the right hand, though (confusingly) sometimes the hands are reversed and the left is the right, so to speak. Only experience and instinct will tell you when you have to read the left as you would the right, and vice versa.
Another saying goes that the left hand is the one we are born with, and the right is what we have made of it.
ãnd another has it that the right hand is read for men, while the left is read for women. Helped by relatively recent developments in psychology, modern palmistry has been able to clarify and enhance more traditional readings.
The Significance of the Left Hand
The left hand is controlled by the right brain, which regulates pattern recognition and understands the relationship between one thing and another. The left hand reflects the inner person. It is the yin aspect of the personality¿the feminine, receptive side of the self. It is the natural self, with an aptitude for art. It is the anima¿highly personal, intuitive, and erotic. And it is lateral thinking.
The left may be considered as a record of an individual¿s personal and spiritual development.
The Significance of the Right Hand
The right hand is controlled by the left brain, which regulates logic, reason, and language, and understands detail and how things work. The right hand reflects the outer person. It is the yang aspect of the personality¿the masculine, active side of the self. It is the objective self and shows the influence of social environment, education, and experience. It is concerned with practical, outward matters, such as adaptation to society and the need to make a living. And it is linear thinking.
The right hand may be seen as the individual¿s adaptation to the environment, and the influence of family and society.
Compare
It is always worthwhile to study a subject¿s hands together, taking care to note down any major differences between the left and right. The ideal would be to have left and right hands identical. The subject in such a case would prove a very balanced and integrated person, with an inner self matched to the outer personality. This is fairly rare, however.
ýands can vary remarkably in shape, size, coloring, and, of course, in the major lines. These display the difference between the potential and the actual in a subject. The need to make a living and to conform often overpowers a creative talent, for instance. You are bound to find many people who have been altered by the realities of social pressures.
It is sobering to note that the left hand is often clearer and cleaner than the right, illustrating the degree of repression of the natural, intuitive, and erotic self by our society.
In the course of practice, I have come across notable exceptions to the ¿read the right hand¿ rule. These exceptions have been the lateral thinkers, the people whose right brains are dominant. In their cases, itt was correct to read the left hand.
Experience is the only way you will learn to make fine distinctions. In the meanwhile, concentrate on the right hand, regarding the left as the potential.
Reading the Lines
Lines read literally, and should be examined for irregularities of any sort. It is useful to consider the lines as power cables on a grid. Very pale, faded lines are not very effective at carrying power. Thick, bright red lines may be all too efficient at energy-bearing, making the subject overactive, hypertense, or even violent. For examples of some of the irregularities found on lines, see Figure 1.
Islands
Islands are generally a negative sign and represent split energy. They usually signify a difficult period, often of change.
As the life line represents the physical self, an island here often represents a period of ill health. It can also show divided energy¿perhaps someone who dislikes their work or their marriage.
An island on the head line may, among other things, represent mental trauma, at times as simple as disliking one¿s workplace to psychological problems, mild and severe. It can also be a record of an actual injury to the head. In addition, it may indicate divided intellectual loyalties¿perhaps the person is leading a way of life not fully accepted.
¿n the heart line, it can mean divided emotional loyalties, hence the traditional interpretation of fickleness. It may also, accompanied by other signs in the hand, indicate cardiac disease.
Dots
Dots are full stops, and indicate a distinct interruption to the flow of energy. They are traditionally considered to be a sign of crisis. They certainly represent significant events.
On the life line, dots mean a major shakeup: retrenchment, failure, demotion, and so on. On the head line, they represent intellectual crisis. On the heart line, the crisis is emotional.
Bars
Bars are blockages and often represent influences that arise outside the personality.
On the life line, these are physical events¿perhaps an actual barrier that must be faced and overcome.
On the head line, they are a sign of mental blocks that reflect worry or lack of concentration.
On the heart line, they may represent problems that arise within relationships, such as rejection and disillusionment.
Breaks
Breaks are exactly that: a sign that a serious and major change to one¿s routine is at work; of energy quitting the old way and taking a new path. This new path may be negative or positive, and this may be assessed by examining the quality of the line that continues after the break.
On the life line, breaks show travel, change of job, or divorce. On the head line they represent a complete change in thinking, opinion, or attitude.
On the heart line they are an indication of a clear break in affection (a broken heart), emotional disi...
