Map of the Hand

Further it shows the character and even quality of the brain it represents. It shows in advance—often many years in advance— that 'undermining something' that like a canker is already eating the tissues or brain cells, and preparing the way for the inevitable mental breakdown.

The Line of Heart (Fig. 1)

The Line of Heart, as indicated by the.name given to it, relates to the affections rather than to the sensual or passionate side of the nature with which it is often confused.

Line of Fate and Destiny (Fig. 1)

The Line of Fate or Destiny might be better understood were it considered the Line of Individuality or Personality.

The hidden God essence of the man or woman, as it fights the battle—not of fate, but with fate—is indicated by this line. By its strength or weakness can be determined how the battle has gone, the 'broken bridges' it has crossed, or whether the I individuality has become submerged by the floods of 'outrageous fortune'.

Again it shows the character of the individual—the 'I am' of the soul that urges it onward.

Some hands have strongly marked Lines of Fate, which do not, however, attract other lines to them. In such cases the individuality may be strong, but it is more or less lonely or I isolated, and may produce less effect than a more finely traced Fate Line with 'influence lines' or 'attendant lines' travelling as it were by its side.

The Line of Sun or Success (Fig. 1)

As the Sun is to the Earth, giving fertility, wealth and happiness, so this line is to the hand, or more especially so to the Line of Fate or Individuality.

It is the most mysterious of all the signs. From the date at which it appears, especially if coming from the Fate Line, success in some form or another is usually a certainty. The nature of the success is estimated by the kind of hand which it is found. A successful preacher may have this mark, so may a successful criminal for that matter.

This line, like the Sun it stands for, brings fruition to the purpose and ambitions of the individual.

It may bring publicity and glory to an actress or a film star. It is likely to be the turning-point towards fame. To a painter his first picture recognized. To a writer a first book accepted, but to one and all it is a marked period in the destiny—a milestone, white, red, or black, as the case may be.

The Line of Life (Fig. 1)

The Line of Life is that line traced round what is called the ball of the thumb. By its position, depth, freedom from breaks, islands, length, etc., may be judged the general health, constitution, and duration of life that may be expected.

The Line of Health (Fig. 1)

The Line of Health was in more ancient times also called the Hepatica. Again it has been called the 'Liver Line' because in those days almost all ailments were put down to disorders of the liver. This line descends down the hand from underneath the fourth finger, otherwise called the Finger of Mercury.

Mercury represents the mind, and so worry and mental anxiety will often cause this line to deepen or to lessen according to the mental strain the person goes through. It is excellent if the line is missing from the hand, as its presence shows some unusual wear and tear on the mental machinery that is undermining the vital forces. When extremely strong in the early part, namely from the Mount of Mercury, to the end of the *Line-of Head, it denotes a tendency for nervous breakdown in 'the early years. Children with this mark heavily indicated should be spared in every way from mental work in their school routine. They should be made to rest as much as possible lest the anxiety over their examinations completely undermines their health.

As a rule, however, it is more marked in hands later on in life, and may be found increasing in strength from the Head Line downwards until it cuts or injures the Line of Life.

Where these two lines meet is always a danger spot in the years indicated, and if the Health Line appears stronger than the Life Line at the point of impact, it is invariably the sign of breakdown and death.

Line of Marriage (Fig. 1)

The Line of Marriage is generally considered as the line (or lines) found across the face of the Mount of Mercury at the base of the fourth finger. There are, however, other indications of love and marriage which will be explained specifically for this topic.

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If found by a delicate-looking Line of Life on a long narrow hand, it appears to support the life, and often carries it past any dangerous breaks or signs of illness as it adds vitality to the constitution.

The Girdle of Venus (Fig. 1)

The Girdle of Venus is that broken or unbroken kind of semi-circle often found lying from the base of the first and second fingers and finishing between the third and fourth. As a rule this line is associated with highly sensitive intellectual natures. It has a peculiar relation to the love nature, because it usually increases the mental desire for love and affection. People possessing this mark are usually enthusiastic over anything that engages their fancy, but they are people of mercurial moods—one moment in the highest spirits, the next despondent and gloomy.

When the Girdle of Venus goes over the outer side of the hand and comes in contact with the Line of Marriage, the happiness of the marriage will be interfered with on account of the peculiarities of the mental moods and temperamental vagaries of the subject.

The Ring of Saturn (Fig. 1)

The Ring of Saturn is very seldom found. It is not a good sign to possess. It appears to cut off the successful ending of the Line of Destiny. It also appears to accentuate the Saturnian nature, and with a very sloping Line of Head exaggerates the tendencies towards suicide.

The bracelets (Fig. 2)

The bracelets are not of much importance in relation to character or in the study of the hand itself. There is one point, however, that has a curious medical significance as it relates to weakness or some curious formation in the lower organs of the body. A bracelet arching into the base of a palm on a woman's hand foreshadows long, protracted child-birth and danger from such causes.

If, however, the bracelets are well formed, especially the top one nearest the palm, they increase the promise of sound health and robust constitution.

The Via Lasciva (Fig. 1)

The Via Lasciva is often confused with the Health Line. It is, however, totally distinct, both in its markings and its meaning. It is in reality a kind of loop line joining the base of the Mount of Luna with that of Venus. Its meaning is that it gives lascivious ideas, which by working on the mind generally shorten the natural length of life by its excesses, and if accompanied by the Girdle of Venus, especially on a soft hand, it is as a rule a most sinister mark to possess.

The Line of Intuition (Fig. 1)

The Line of Intuition is more often found on the Philosophic, the Conic, and the Psychic than on any other of the seven types of hand. Its form is that of a distant semi-circle, and is generally found from the base of the Mount of Mercury to the lower part of the Mount of Luna. It denotes a keenly sensitive person both to surroundings and influence. It gives a tendency towards all matters of intuition and presentiment, and a love of dealing with such things as clairvoyance, clairaudience, and a desire to investigate such matters as dreams, visions and spiritualism.

The Mystic Cross (Fig. 2)

The Mystic Cross is found in the centre of the Quadrangle—the space formed by the Head and Heart Lines. It is generally found directly under the Mount of Saturn. It denotes a strong leaning in the nature to mysticism, occultism and in some cases the pursuit of magic.

The Ring of Solomon (Fig. 1)
The Ring of Solomon is usually found as a kind of semi-circle apparently joining the Mounts of Saturn and Jupiter together. This increases the power of the adept or master in all mystic pursuits. In fact it appears to intensify gifts of this nature, so that the person with this sign and that of the Mystic Cross reaches the pinnacle of authority on such subjects.