THE LINE OF HEAD OR THE INDICATIONS OF THE MENTALITY
The object of the following chapters is to give clear and unmistakable
instruction on the lines and markings of the hands, both from the
student's standpoint and from that of the general reader. This is not
usually the course adopted in books printed on this subject which have to
appeal to a general public.
During my twenty-five years' professional experience in England, America,
and other countries, I have carefully noted down the questions that are
not answered in books published on this subject. I have also recorded
what are the difficulties that arise in the minds of those students who
meet this, that, or the other mark or line and search in vain for some
explanation as to its meanings. I may add that there is not a single
point on which I give information that has not been proved by me from
probably thousands of cases that have come before me during my own
professional experience.
As regards illustrations, I have endeavoured to make these of the
simplest and clearest kind possible. I have every confidence that if they
are carefully studied, no student can fail to grasp this subject in a
masterful manner, and that whoever acts upon the advice I give in these
pages, cannot fail to become successful as an interpreter of this study.
In all my work I regard the Line of Head (page 11) or the Line of
Mentality as the most important sign that can be found in the hand.
A Line of Head is like the needle in the compass, without a true
knowledge of which it is impossible to grasp the "direction of the
subject." I have seen more mistakes caused by a lack of grasp of this
point than by anything else.
I have seen, for example, many students make the mistake of paying great
attention to what looked like a good Line of Sun or Success, and, at the
same time, not noticing a weak, badly formed Line of Head, which
contradicted the promise of success given by the various lines. If, on
the other hand, the student had first noticed the Line of Head, he would
have been able to tell the subject that the promise of success was not
backed up by the intelligence or the mentality.
As regards the future being foreshadowed, it has been demonstrated that
the brain is always growing, changing, increasing, or diminishing. These
changes commence years before the effect is shown by the thoughts or
actions of the individual. A boy ten years old may at that point commence
a development which will not be felt until he is thirty, and then it may
change his whole life and career. As this development commences at ten,
even at that age it has affected certain nerves, and they in their turn
have already affected the Line of Head--a full twenty years before the
point of change or action has been reached. It therefore follows that the
future may be seen and told by a careful examination of the hand which,
as Aristotle has said, is the "organ of all organs, the active agent of
the passive powers of the entire system."
THE LINE OF HEAD AND ITS VARIATIONS
The Line of Head (page 11), or indication of the Mentality of the
subject, must in all cases be considered as the most important line on
the hand. The greatest attention should be paid to it, so as to obtain a
clear grasp of the Mentality under consideration.
The two hands must be carefully compared--the left showing the inherited
tendencies, the right the developed or cultivated qualities. The
slightest change or deviation in the markings from the left to the right
should be carefully noted down or remembered.
The direction or the termination or end of the line should, above all, be
distinctly noted, for the all-important reason that this shows the
direction that the Mentality is inclined to develop towards. For example,
if found with the end of the line sloping downwards in the left hand, and
having become straight or lying across the palm in the right--the student
is safe in concluding that the subject has not been able to follow his
natural bent, but by the force of circumstances has been obliged to make
himself more practical, to study business methods, and to have undertaken
a training towards practicality and level-headedness in order to rise
equal to the circumstances that he found himself forced to meet.
In this way the student obtains an insight into the earlier conditions of
the life under examination that is invaluable, especially when there is,
as will be found in many cases, no Line of Destiny visible in the early
years.
[Illustration: PLATE I.
THE THREE PRINCIPAL POSITIONS FOR THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE LINE OF HEAD.]
If, on the contrary, the Line of Head is found exactly in the same
position on the right hand as on the left, or even very nearly so, the
student can be sure that there was little or no strain in the early
years, but that the subject had easy conditions which were favourable,
and which allowed him to develop his natural bent of Mentality.
If, however, it is found that the left hand shows a forked ending to the
Line of Head, namely, one end sloping downwards and the other end
straight, or nearly so, and that the right hand shows only the straight
line, then the student may decide that the subject inherited from the
parents two natures, the imaginative and the practical, and that he chose
to develop the latter, either in the direction of business or science.
In such a case, the student may state with confidence that the parents of
the subject were decidedly opposite in their characteristics. If the line
has become straight in the right hand the subject takes more after the
side that was practical.
In the case of boys or men it must be remembered that they will take more
after their mother's mental peculiarities, and in the case of girls or
women that they more generally take after the mental qualities of the
father.
On a man's left hand that has the forked ending with the upper end
straight, or nearly so, the student can state that the mother was the
more practical of the parents. If on the right hand the same mark has
become clearest the man developed, followed, or cultivated the mental
qualities of the mother more than those of the father. When reading a
woman's hand the reverse will apply.
If, on the contrary, the lower line was the more developed on the right
hand, then the subject, if a man, had developed the imaginative or
artistic qualities of the mother, and _vice versa_ if the subject be a
girl or a woman.
When the Line of Head looks light or faint on the left, and strong and
clear on the right, the student can safely state that the subject did not
inherit any strong mental bent from either parent, but has cultivated and
developed his own mentality.
In such a case the subject has been a hard mental student, and has become
mentally superior to his or her parents. This is often found in the case
of "self-made" men or women, who have had little or no education in their
early life or in their home, but who from an innate love of education
developed themselves mentally. Such a sign would speak volumes for the
will power and ambition of the subject under examination.
If the Line of Head is lighter and poorer on the right hand than on the
left, the student can state that the subject has not made the most of his
opportunities mentally, and that he has not, and never will, equal the
brain power and education of his or her parents.
In such a case one may also be sure that the subject has not a very
strong will power--at least mentally--although he might be very obstinate
by nature, which will be seen from the quality exhibited by the nail
phalange of the thumb (page 129).
A poor or non-developed Line of Head in the right hand of any man or
woman is also the indication of a lack of purpose or ambition--there
being no ambition where a want of mental desire and development is so
distinctly shown.
A clean cut deep Line of Head is a more powerful sign of mentality than
when the line is very broad, or lying, as it were, merely on the surface
of the palm.
A wide broad line shows less concentration and a more vacillating
changeable nature. This rule applies with equal truth to all the lines on
the palm.
Broad, coarse-looking lines are more a constitutional sign than a mental
indication. They are often found in cases where the subject leads a
robust outdoor life, and those who have developed the physical side of
their nature more than the mental.
Great brain workers usually have thin, fine, clean-looking lines, and
especially that of the Line of Head.
It will thus be seen that by observation the student will be enabled to
class the sort of life led by the person under examination. No matter how
intellectual a man or woman may look, the lines on the hand will indicate
whether or not they have developed their intellectuality. In this way it
will be seen that a study of the hand becomes a far more accurate guide
than the study of the face. Many men and women may have handsome,
intellectual faces and yet prefer sport or outdoor life to any mental
pursuit or exercise.
Turning from an examination of the direction of ending of the Line of
Head, the student must next examine the indications of the beginnings of
this important Line. For example, the Line of Head may commence in three
distinct different ways.
(1) From inside the Line of Life (1-1, Plate I.).
(2) Joined to the Line of Life (2-2, Plate I.).
(3) And outside the Line of Life (3-3, Plate I.).
The first is the most uncertain of all. It denotes an over-sensitive,
over-cautious, timid person. It also indicates a highly nervous, easily
excited individual, one who has little control over himself or his
temper, who is easily put out over trifles, and liable to do the most
erratic things, or fly off at a tangent when irritated. Such people are
always in trouble, generally fighting or quarrelling with those about
them and over things that are of no consequence. They are likewise so
easily wounded in their feelings, that even a look or an imagined slight
will put them out of humour or upset them for days.
If this Line of Head farther out in the palm become straight, it denotes
that the subject will, later, by the development of his intelligence
largely overcome this failing of over-sensitiveness. If the line slope
much or bend down towards the wrist or on to the Mount of Luna (the Mount
of Imagination), then the subject will become still worse with his
advancing years. If the Line of Head is also poorly marked, or with
"hairlines" from it, it is often the indication of some form of insanity
which is likely to cause the subject to be placed under restraint in
later life.
If, with this latter indication, the student also finds all the upward
main lines, such as the Line of Destiny, etc., fading out past the middle
of the palm, the indication of insanity and restraint becomes all the
more certain.
This class of Head Line is largely found in cases where the subject is
naturally inclined towards drink and intemperance of every description.
Even in cases where there are good lines running up the palm, it will
usually be found that the subject gives way to occasional fits of
intemperance or the desire for drugs. The qualities of the fiery Mount of
Mars, from which such a Line of Head starts inside the Life Line, is
largely the cause of the peculiarities above indicated. The opposite
Mount of Mars (page 141) on the side of the hand, on the contrary, gives
mental control, so that even when the Line of Head runs out straight on
the palm it partakes of this "Mental Mars" quality, and so denotes that
later on in years the subject with such a Line of Head will be able to
develop mental control. The sloping Line of Head, however, would denote
that the subject allows himself to turn, as it were, away from mental
control, and so lets the earlier tendencies become his master.
This point alone is worthy of the consideration of all parents, and if
observed by them would do much to help such children to develop mental
control over themselves. The accompanying plates show this formation of
the Line of Head in all its variations.
THE LINE OF HEAD JOINED TO THE LINE OF LIFE
The position of this line indicates in all cases a highly sensitive
disposition, which inclines towards the side of caution and also lacks
self-confidence (2-2, Plate I.). Even the cleverest people with this sign
seem to rein themselves in too tightly, and are always inclined to
undervalue their capabilities and talents.
When, with the same indication, the line is also sloping slightly
downwards, the sensitiveness is still more increased. This form is
largely found on the hands of artists, painters, and those who even in
other walks of life have the sensitive artistic temperament, even though
it may not have been developed to a larger extent. If, on the contrary,
the Line of Head joined to the Line of Life runs straight out across the
hand towards the mental Mount of Mars (2-2, Plate I.), the subject,
though still extremely sensitive, has got greater courage of his
opinions. Such people do not get credit for being as highly sensitive as
do the other people with the line sloping downwards towards the Mount of
Imagination. The straighter the Head Line is found, the subject can be
more relied on to carry out his determination, and often these highly
sensitive and even nervous people are found doing very determined work in
connection with some battle for principle or for right which they believe
it their moral duty to carry out. If this class of Line of Head, however,
go very far across the hand and straight on to the Mental Mount of Mars,
it indicates an extremely strong-willed determined person who has the
power to hide his sensitiveness and nervousness and stake everything for
what he believes his duty to carry out.
The difference in the observation of these two distinct classes of
individuals, namely, those with the Line of Head joined but sloping, and
the Line of Head joined and straight across the hand, has caused many
exponents of this study to make great mistakes in the judgment of their
subject. When, as is very often the case, the Line of Head is forked
(3-3, Plate II.), also when joined and when these forked lines are equal
to one another, especially in cases where the Line of Head is joined to
the Line of Life showing the sensitive temperament, this forked mark
often indicates a certain want of decision. The subject is inclined to
balance too much between the two qualities of brain, the practical and
the imaginative. As to what they should do for the best, in such cases it
is always wise to advise the subject to act according to first impulse
either in dealing with practical or imaginative things. By so doing they
employ, as it were, the intuition of the brain, and by using it do not
waver and vacillate by too much reasoning over the question or
endeavouring to see both sides of it at once. When the sloping Line of
Head has a gentle curve downwards towards the Mount of the Moon (1-1,
Plate II.), distinct control over the imagination is indicated. The
student will then know that the subject simply uses his imagination when
he wishes to do so instead of being controlled by it. But the contrary is
the case when the line bends too far down this Mount (4-4, Plate II.). In
this case the subject is the slave of his imagination and generally does
erratic and peculiar things or can only work in moods of the moment.
People of this latter class seldom, if ever, produce the great results in
the world of art or imagination as do those who have the line simply
curving downwards into this Mount.
[Illustration: PLATE II.
THE LINE OF HEAD JOINED TO THE LINE OF LIFE AND ITS TERMINATIONS.]
When the Line of the Head bends completely down and turns with a curve,
as it were, under the base of the Mount of Luna (5-5, Plate II.), the
tendency is to extreme morbid imaginings and such extreme sensitiveness,
that people on whose hands it is found generally separate themselves from
the rest of their fellows, and either retire from the world altogether
and live a solitary life or else make their exit by the gate of suicide.
The latter is, in fact, generally the ending of such lives. Their extreme
sensitiveness evidently renders life for them almost unbearable. But this
formation must not be confounded with the Line of Head curving downwards
through the upper part of the Mount (4-4, Plate II.). In this latter
case, it can even descend as far down as the wrist itself, and, unless it
has an island or star at the end of the line, there is not the danger of
suicide. In all such cases, however, there is extreme imagination,
extreme sensibility, and a tendency to melancholy and morbidness, but
there is no indication of the brain breaking down under strain as there
is in the other case of what is known as the distinct tendency for
self-murder.
THE LINE OF HEAD SEPARATED FROM THE LINE OF LIFE
The Line of Head is more frequently found connected with than separated
from the Line of Life. When the space is not very wide (3-3, Plate I.),
it is an excellent mark to have, giving independence of thought,
quickness of judgment, and a certain mental daring that is invaluable in
fighting the battle of life. When the Line of Head is at the same time
lying fairly straight across the palm, such individuals have an immense
power over others, but their capabilities are always more distinctly
shown if they should in any form go in for some kind of public life.
People possessing this mark are rather less "hard students" than those
with the Line of Head and Line of Life joined together, but they have
such brilliancy and quickness of thought that they seem to see in a flash
that which takes the other class hard work to attain. But these people
with the "open Line of Head" must, above all things, have purpose in
their life. Without purpose they are rather like a ship drifting on an
idle sea. They may spend their life in an aimless way unless "the call"
comes to them or the tide of ambition turns their way and carries them
onward.
[Illustration: PLATE III.
THE LINE OF HEAD SEPARATED FROM THE LINE OF LIFE.]
The same class of line but sloping is the more uncertain of the two
characters, because the person is still more inclined to work only by
moods. If the mood or the desire does not come, such people, although
always brilliant and clever, may often waste their lives doing nothing.
Those people with the Line of Head "open" and ascending slightly upwards
towards or on to the Mental Mount of Mars (3-3, Plate III.), are
self-appointed leaders, organizers of any public movement. They will
sacrifice everything, home, affection, and all ties for what they believe
is their public duty in connection with the work that they have
undertaken.
The Line of Head very open and separate from the Line of Life denotes a
character with too little caution or sensitiveness (4-4, Plate III.). The
subject will go to the opposite extreme of him with the Line of Head and
Line of Life joined. When the space is very wide it denotes excessive
impetuosity and lack of continuity of purpose, a person who pushes
himself forward on all occasions, a great desire for notoriety and one
continually changing his plans as far as the world is concerned. When
this line is excessively open or separate from the Line of Life, the
brain seems to be an extremely excitable one. The subject suffers greatly
from excessive blood to the head, mental hysteria, sleeplessness, and all
things that affect the brain. If the Line of Head is badly formed with
islands, or a broad line with breaks and hair lines (1-1, Plate IV.), it
is just as much a mark of another form of insanity as the Line of Head
curving downwards at the wrist, but with the line mentioned the type is
inclined to be morbid with a tendency to suicide.
This other Line of Head with islands indicates the character that will be
more likely to be excitable and fly into a temper and kill other people.
A Line of Head not too widely separated and either one end of it
commencing on the Mount of Jupiter, or with its main branch from the
Mount of Jupiter (4-4, Plate III.), is one of the most brilliant marks of
all. The student must, however, carefully establish this difference of
the Line of Head in his own mind, as well as the termination or the
ending of this line. Once he has these two points firmly established, he
has gained the great keynote to this subject. When once this part is
mastered, he has a sure foundation to work on.
My next remarks will relate to the minor marks and their meaning, and to
islands or breaks on or in the Line of Head.
THE LINE OF HEAD AND ITS SECONDARY SIGNS
What are known as "islands" in the Line of Head are very important,
especially if they are considered both in relation to the age at which
they occur, and also in relation to the mentality itself.
In the first place the principal rule the student must bear in mind is,
that islands must be considered as showing a weakness in any line
wherever they may be found, and are to be considered unfortunate signs.
On the Line of Head when found in the form of a continuous chain (1-1,
Plate IV.), all through the line, they denote mental weakness, but
generally produced by ill-health which more immediately affects the
brain.
Such mental weakness or "brain illness," if found with nails showing very
small "moons" or none at all, denotes an anæmic condition of the blood
that affects the brain, a low condition of vitality and bad circulation,
which seems to starve the brain of blood and prevents such people from
making any continuous effort in regard to study or will power, and causes
them to act in an erratic fashion.
If at the same time the Line of Head is seen placed very high on the
hand, this sign is worse still in its meaning, and such subjects are
inclined to be "half mad" in periods.
When the Line of Head is widely separated from the Line of Life, then
this chain formation of islands is still more accentuated and more
difficult to cure. Such subjects have periods of mental excitability
which it seems impossible for them to control, and in such moments they
are liable to fly off at a tangent and commit mad or rash acts, but acts
generally dangerous to other people.
When, however, the Line of Head is very sloping (2-2, Plate IV.), with
this formation of islands the subject is inclined to have fits of
depression and melancholy, during which he is likely to shrink away from
people or make an attempt against his own life. "Suicide while
temporarily insane" is the verdict of the jury in such cases.
[Illustration: PLATE IV.
ISLANDS ON THE LINE OF HEAD.]
Another important point of consideration in relation to the islands in
the Line of Head, is to note their position on the line itself, or under
what finger they make their appearance. When these islands are found at
the commencement of the line under the first finger or Mount of Jupiter
(3, Plate IV.), it will be found that the subject in early life was
delicate mentally, and displayed no energy of will; no desire to study,
was listless and without ambition.
Under the second finger on the Mount of Saturn (4, Plate IV.), the
subject, on the contrary, is inclined to suffer from severe headaches,
morbidness, melancholy, and a tendency for inflammation, especially at
the base of the head.
If the line looks weak or frays into little hair lines from this point
out, it shows that the subject will never recover thoroughly from this
malady.
Under the third finger, the Mount of Sun (5, Plate IV.), an island shows
a very curious fact, namely that the person is inclined to suffer from
weakness of the eyes and short-sight. If many of these islands are marked
it generally foreshadows a still greater tendency to blindness and
weakness of the sight.
Islands under the fourth finger, the Mount of Mercury (6, Plate IV.), and
the extremity of the Head Line denote weakness of the brain in old age,
and a highly nervous worrying disposition. If very badly marked they
denote that in the latter part of life the subject may be disposed to
insanity proceeding from a worrying disposition, and often from the
overstraining of the mental faculties. It will thus be seen that every
portion of this remarkable line may be divided into sections to obtain
marvellous detail in making predictions for the future.
This line can further be divided, showing with considerable clearness the
ages at which troubles or changes in the mentality may be expected.
Under the first finger the period of the life indicated is the first 21
years, the second period contains another section of the three 7's, and
lasts until 42 years of age; the third period of 7's which will be found
under the third finger indicates the section from 49 to 63, and the
fourth section which takes in the remainder of the hand, under the fourth
finger, stands for the period from 70 up to the end.
CHANGES IN THE LINE OF HEAD
Another extremely interesting point in studying the Line of Head is to
take notice of certain changes in its position, or lines either dropping
or rising from it, which will also be found to give very remarkable
information. For example: if a sloping Line of Head at any point in its
track seems to curve or slightly bend upwards (1-1, Plate V.), it
indicates that about that period of the person's life some unusual strain
will be forced upon him. If this curved line is clearly marked and not
interfered with by things that look like blotches in it, the person,
although of a completely opposite turn of mind to the practical, will yet
rise superior to the occasion, and for the time being will develop a
practical or business-like way of looking at things which may even be the
very reverse of the nature.
If, however, instead of the curve or bend a fine line is seen leaving the
Head Line in an upward direction (2-2, Plate V.), that period will leave
a definite mark on the subject's entire character for the remainder of
his life. In some cases these fine lines will, after a few years, appear
to develop more strongly, and may even become a kind of second Head Line.
This would denote that the person continues to cultivate the practical
side of his nature that was at that period called into existence.
If one were examining a straight Line of Head and noticed a curve
downward or a fine line growing downwards from it (3-3, Plate V.), the
natural interpretation of such a mark would be that at that date in the
person's career he had become less practical, or for the time being
developed the more imaginative qualities of the mentality. In this latter
case, curiously enough, it often denotes that the person had at that
period of his life become more wealthy or prosperous, and so he was able
to develop the artistic side of his nature. It is logical to assume that
he could only have done this if the strain in the practical battle had
been lessened about that time, but this must only be presumed if, at
about the same date, the Sun Line (Plate XV.) were seen clearly marked or
suddenly appearing on the hand, then the student can be positive in
assuming that at that date greater ease and comfort came into the
subject's life and he consequently turned to the more imaginative side of
existence.
[Illustration: PLATE V.
MORE VARIATIONS OF THE LINE OF HEAD.]
If the Line of Head itself should curve upward, especially at the end
towards the fourth finger or Mount of Mercury (4-4, Plate V.), it denotes
almost without exception that the longer the person lives the more his
desire for money and his determination to possess it will become stronger
every year.
If the Line of Head apparently partly leaves its natural place, which
will be seen by an examination of the left hand, and completely rises as
it were to the Line of Heart (5-5, Plate V.), the person will develop an
enormous fixity of purpose for some one desire. He will apparently and
deliberately control the affectionate side of his nature by his will
power, and will stick at nothing to obtain the realisation of whatever
his desire may be. If this mark is found on a square thick-set material
looking hand, it is a foregone conclusion that the subject has set his
determination on some material object, such as wealth, and he will stop
at nothing, even crime, in carrying out his aim. If this mark is found on
a long hand the object of the ambition is certain to be connected with
intellectual power over people and absolute determination to accomplish
whatever the purpose of the career may be.
This mark must not be confounded with one clear line running across the
hand from side to side (Plate VI.), because in this case the Line of Head
has not risen out of its position, but simply denotes tremendous
intensity of character, for good or evil as the case may be; such a
person would exhibit great power of concentration, and if he concentrated
his mentality on any purpose he would unite with it his heart nature.
But if he had set his heart or affections on any person, he would unite
with that desire the whole force of his mental nature. In this case it is
as if these two sides of the mentality, the sentimental and the mental,
were linked or in some way united together. Such persons I have always
found possess greater intensity of purpose than any other, but I have
never found it a very happy mark to possess.
[Illustration: PLATE VI.
THE LINE OF HEAD AND THE LINE OF HEART RUNNING TOGETHER.]
In the first place, this peculiar type of person appears to be so rare in
life that he seems to have no companions and for that reason has always
the feeling of being intensely lonely and isolated from others. He is
usually also in every way super-sensitive and easily wounded in his
feelings. I have seldom found these people successful, unless when acting
alone, but if linked with others by partnership in business, etc., they
seem to feel their personality cramped, and the partnership as a rule
seldom results happily. In considering this, the student must carefully
observe whether this one line across the hand lies across the centre
where the Head Line would naturally be, or whether it lies higher up
towards the base of the fingers where the Heart Line is generally found.
If the former case, one may be sure that it is a question of head and
mentality and very little heart; but if the latter, it is a question of
more intensity of feeling emotion and affection than of mental intensity.
CROSSES AND SQUARES IN CONNECTION WITH THE LINE OF HEAD
Small, sharply-defined crosses in any position just over or touching the
Line of Head are generally signs of accidents to the Head itself.
_Under Jupiter_ (1, Plate VII.), they usually are brought about by blows
caused generally by the subject's desire to rule and to be too dogmatic
or tyrannical.
_Under Saturn_ (2, Plate VII.), crosses indicate injuries to the head
from accidents by animals, blows by treachery, mine explosions, etc., and
generally relate to accidents of a treacherous nature.
_Under the Mount of the Sun_ (3, Plate VII.), these crosses have been
found to relate to accidents to the head from sudden falls, such as the
subject striking his head by falling, concussion of the brain, etc.
_Under the Mount of Mercury_ (4, Plate VII.), these sharply defined
crosses relate to injuries to the head due to accidents generally
produced by scientific experiments or some hazardous business venture.
Small defined squares touching the Line of Head (5, Plate VII.), are in
all cases signs of preservation, and they relate to the particular
qualities of the Mount of the hand under which they are found. (_See_
chapter on Mounts, page 140.)
DOUBLE LINES OF HEAD
Double Lines of Head (6-6, Plate VII.), are as rarely found as are cases
of the single line right across the hand. In all cases where the Double
Line of Head stands out distinct and clear as two separate lines, the
object will be found to have a dual mentality. He is usually capable of
an enormous amount of mental work and is of that class of people who
carry out two separate mental lives with success. It is often found with
one line joined to the Line of Life and the other rising from the Mount
of Jupiter; if such is the case, the interpretation would be that one
side of the nature is extremely sensitive and cautious, while the other
is self-confident with a great desire to rule or enforce its mental ideas
on the world.
[Illustration: PLATE VII.
DOUBLE LINES OF HEAD, ALSO CROSSES AND SQUARES.]
Although such a sign as the Double Line of Head gives a remarkable degree
of mentality, yet I have always found it a more successful sign to find
one clear Line of Head well marked on the hand than the two Lines of Head
in any of their positions.
Another form of the Double Line of Head (7-7, Plate VII.), is one where
the main line seems to separate about the middle of the hand, and where
one branch goes across the hand and the other descends towards the Mount
of the Moon. In such a case we get the double mental personality, but one
which is more under the control of the will of the subject, whereas the
two double distinct lines denote that the two mental personalities seem
to act independently one from the other.
It has been considered by many ancient authorities that the Double Line
of Head, when found with two distinct lines, is a sign of the inheritance
of great riches or power. I have generally found, however, that what it
means is, that although the financial results of such a person's life may
be either great wealth or power, yet he may inherit it from his mental
right and not from his birth right.
THE LINE OF HEAD ON THE SEVEN TYPES OF HANDS
There are seven distinct types of hands, bearing in their own way more or
less relationship to the Seven Races of Humanity (page 118).
These seven types of hands are as follows:
I.--The Elementary or Lowest type.
II.--The Square, also called the Useful or Practical.
III.--The Spatulate or Active.
IV.--The Philosophic.
V.--The Conic or Artistic.
VI.--The Psychic or Idealistic.
VII.--The Mixed Hand.
As a rule the Line of Head is generally found in accordance with the type
of hand on which it is seen, namely, lying straight or what is called
"level-headed" on the Square-looking or Practical hand; or sloping, and
thus indicating the more imaginative qualities on the Philosophic, Conic,
or Psychic types.
Consequently, if it be found on a hand in what may be called opposition
to its class, such a Line of Head immediately possesses a greater
significance.
For example, if a sloping Line of Mentality were seen on the Square or
Practical hand, it would indicate that though the bases of that man or
woman's thoughts and plans were of the practical kind, yet they possessed
a far greater power of imagination than any casual observer would at
first sight give them credit for.
On the contrary, if the Line of Head were found straight or level on the
Spatulate, Philosophic, Conic, or Psychic types, it would denote that the
person in question was usually level-headed and practical, even in their
highest dreams of philosophy or idealistic creations.
On the Elementary hand the Line of Head is usually found short, straight,
and coarse-looking, often nothing more than a short deep-set furrow.
Consequently, if found long and clear, it would indicate a superior
mental development in a coarse brutal or animal nature.
If in a Square-looking hand the Line of Head were found sloping instead
of long and straight, it would denote an unusual development of the
artistic and imaginative qualities, but always with the practical and
logical basis for its support.
On the Spatulate hand the natural indication of the Line of Head is
long, clear and sloping, but if found straight or level it would indicate
a practical development of the brain endeavouring to set off the active
energy and originality indicated by the Spatulate formation.
On the Philosophic type, the hand of the thinker and philosopher, the
usual position of the Line of Mentality is long and sloping, but if found
straight or level it indicates a mental development of the logical and
practical qualities which might not be expected in such a class or type.
The same rules hold good with the Conic and Psychic, but with what is
called the Mixed type, the best Line of Head to find would be one, long
straight and level-looking, because this class, being a mixture as it
were of all the others, would require a practical or level-headed
mentality to hold its own amid the mixture of tendencies which the last
type personifies.