THE LINE OF DESTINY OR FATE
The Line of Destiny, otherwise called the Line of Fate (1-1, Plate XI.)
is naturally one of the most important of the principal lines of the
hand.
Although one may never be able to explain why it is, this line
undoubtedly appears to indicate at least the main events of one's career.
It may be found on the hand even at the moment of birth, clearly
indicating the class of Fate or Destiny that lies in the far distant
future before the individual.
In some cases it may look faint or shadowy, as if the path of Destiny
were not yet clearly defined, while in other instances almost every step
of the road is chiselled out with its milestones of failure or success,
sorrow or joy, as the case may be.
That some human beings seem to be more children of Fate than others has
been admitted by almost all thinkers, but why they should be so has been
the great question that baffles all students of such subjects.
There are some who appear to have no Fate, and others who seem to carve
their Destiny from day to day.
I have seen hundreds of cases where every step of the journey was
indicated from childhood to the grave; others where only the principal
changes in the career were marked in advance. There are, again, others
where nothing seemed decided, and where the events indicated by the Line
of Fate appeared to change from year to year.
The why and wherefore of such things may be impossible to fathom, but
there are so many mysteries in Life itself that one more or less does not
seem to matter.
Some of the greatest teachers and philosophers have come to the
conclusion that Fate exists for all. In the 17th Article of Religion in
the Episcopal Church it is stated, and in no uncertain manner, that
"Predestination to life is the everlasting purpose of God." All through
the Bible the Destiny of nations and of men is clearly laid down, and
from the first chapter of Genesis to the last page of Revelation the
trials, tribulations, and pathway of the Jews was prophesied and
predicted ages in advance.
Thousands of years before the birth of Christ, it was foretold in Holy
Writ in what manner He should be born, and in what manner He should die.
It was predicted that a Virgin should conceive and that a Judas should
betray, and that both were necessary "that the Scriptures might be
fulfilled."
In more recent ages thousands and thousands of predictions have been
fulfilled, and all point to some mysterious agency that underlies the
purpose of humanity, and that nothing from the smallest to the greatest
is left to blind chance.
It may be that the Soul--in being part of the Universal Soul of all
things--_knows all things_, and so through the instrumentality of the
brain writes its knowledge of the Future in advance.
To the mysteries of the mind there are no limits. Medical science has, in
late years, gone so far as to prove that there must be an advance growth
or change in the brain cells years before action or change in character
become the result of such development. For all we know, every deed in our
careers is the result of some such mental change, and as there are more
super-sensitive nerves from the brain to the hand, it may then follow
that such changes and subsequent actions in our lives may be written in
our hands even long years in advance.
It may be, then, that to all living beings there is a Destiny "that
shapes our ends, rough hew them as we will."
I would, however, humbly suggest that each of us endeavour by knowledge
to find what our Fate may be, and like loyal workmen accept whatever the
task should prove, and so carry it out to the utmost of our ability,
willing to leave the final result to the Master that thought fit to
employ us in the working out of His design.
All such questions as these the student of this subject must settle in
his own mind, for when he or she once broaches this study of Fate, he
will be assailed on all sides, and the student must be prepared to give
"an answer for the faith that is in him."
In studying the hand it will be found that the Line of Fate may rise from
the following distinct positions:
It may rise from and out of the Line of Life (2-2, Plate XI.), straight
up from the wrist (1-1, Plate XI.), from the Mount of the Moon (3-3,
Plate XI.), or from the middle of the palm.
The following is the meaning of these principal positions:
RISING FROM THE LINE OF LIFE
Rising from the Line of Life (2-2, Plate XI.), the subject's success will
be made by personal effort and merit; the early years of such a Fate will
be cramped and difficult; circumstances and the early surroundings will
not be favourable, and such people will be greatly hampered or sacrificed
to the wishes and plans of their parents or relatives. If the Line of
Fate, however, should run on clear and strong from where it leaves the
Line of Life, then the subject will overcome all such difficulties and
win success by his own personal effort and merit, and not depend on what
is termed luck at any time in the career.
Another striking and important point is that the date or years marked on
the Line of Fate of such a breaking out into the palm, will be found to
coincide with the year in the subject's life in which he asserted his
independence or launched out into what he more particularly wanted to do.
(_See_ also end of chapter on Time, page 112.)
In any case this date as indicated will be found to be one of the most
important in his career.[1]
[1] For how to obtain dates and years _see_ Chapter XIX.
RISING FROM THE WRIST
When the Line of Fate rises from the Wrist (1-1, Plate XI.) and goes
straight up the centre of the palm to the Mount of Saturn, provided at
the same time the Line of Sun (4-4, Plate XI.) is found well marked,
luck, brilliance, and success will attend the Destiny, and extreme good
fortune may be anticipated.
RISING FROM THE MOUNT OF THE MOON
Rising from the Mount of the Moon (3-3, Plate XI.) the Fate will be more
eventful, changeable, and largely depending on the fancy and caprice of
other people.
[Illustration: PLATE XI.
THE LINE OF DESTINY AND ITS MODIFICATIONS.]
If such a line be found joining the Line of Heart (1-1, Plate XII.), it
foretells a happy and prosperous marriage, but one in which idealism,
romance, and some fortunate circumstances play their rôle, and one which
results more from the caprice or fancy of the person of the other sex.
If the Line of Fate be itself straight but with a line running in and
joining it from the Mount of the Moon (5-5, Plate XI.), it indicates that
the influence of some outside person has helped the subject's Fate, and
it is generally an indication of the influence of another sex to the one
on whose hand it appears.
When this line of influence from the Mount of the Moon does not, however,
blend with the Fate Line (2-2, Plate XII.), it denotes that the other
person's life will always remain distinct, and the influence will last
only for the length of time that it runs by the side of the subject's
Fate.
When this influence line cuts the Line of Fate and, leaving it, travels
on for some distance towards the Mount of Jupiter (3-3, Plate XII.) it
tells that the person whose influence it denotes will only be attracted
to the subject by personal ambition--that this person will use the
subject for the furthering of his own aims and ambitions, and will desert
the subject when she is of no further use. This is more commonly seen on
the hand of a woman than on that of a man.
If the Line of Fate ascending the hand sends an offshoot from it on or
towards any of the Mounts, such as to Jupiter, the Sun, or Mercury, then
the Destiny will be more largely associated with the quality that the
Mount it approaches symbolises.
For example: If such a line be seen approaching or going towards Jupiter
(6-6, Plate XI.) it denotes responsibility, power of command over others,
or some high position which will commence to be realised from the date
when the offshoot leaves the Line of Fate. If such a mark continues its
course and finishes on the Mount of Jupiter, it is one of the most
magnificent signs of success that can be found for that particular aim or
purpose.
[Illustration: PLATE XII.
THE LINE OF DESTINY AND ITS VARIATIONS.]
If this offshoot ascends towards the Mount of the Sun (7-7, Plate XI.)
the success will be in the direction of riches and public life, which
will give great publicity or renown; this is also a magnificent sign of
success.
If the offshoot goes towards the Mount of Mercury (8-8, Plate XI.), the
success it indicates will be more in the direction of some special
achievement either in science or commerce.
If the Line of Fate itself should not ascend towards its habitual
position on the Mount of Saturn, but, instead, run up towards or on to
any other Mount, then the whole effort of the life will be tinged with
whatever quality that particular Mount signifies. Such an indication must
not, however, be considered as the certain or sure sign of success as
when the Line of Fate keeps to its own place and sends branches to some
particular Mount.
When the Line of Fate ascends the hand without branches and runs like a
lonely path up and on to the Mount of Saturn, such a person will be like
a child of Fate chained to an iron road of circumstances. It will be
impossible for him to avert the trials of his Destiny or mitigate them in
any way. He will receive no help from others, and little will ever happen
except to bring him sorrow or tragedy. Such a mark of Fate through the
hand must never be considered as "a good line of Destiny."
To have a really good Line of Fate it should not be too heavily marked,
but just clear and distinct, and, above all, be accompanied by a Line of
Sun in some form or other.
If a Line of Fate run over the Mount of Saturn and up into the base of
the finger, it is an unfortunate sign, as everything the subject
undertakes will get out of his control, and he will not apparently know
how or when to stop in whatever he takes up.
When the Line of Fate appears to be stopped by the Line of Heart, the
career will always be ruined through or by the affections being badly
placed.
When, however, it joins the Line of Heart and they together ascend the
Mount of Jupiter (1-1, Plate XII.), the subject will have happiness
through his affections and will be helped by love and affection to attain
his highest ambitions. He will also be extremely lucky through the
friendship and love of those he meets, and will be greatly benefited and
helped by others.
When the Line of Fate appears to be stopped by the Line of Head (4-4,
Plate XII.), it foretells that his career will be spoiled by the
subject's own stupidity or mental foolishness.
RISING FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE PALM
When the Line of Fate only makes its appearance far up in the centre of
the palm, in what is called the Plain of Mars, it indicates a hard early
life and that the subject must always have a hard fight to gain his ends;
but should the Line ascend clearly and strongly from the Plain of Mars
and have a branch to or on towards the Mount of the Sun, such a person
will be the architect of his own fortunes, and without help or assistance
will win success and fortune by his own personal hard work and merit.
When the Line of Fate rises from the Line of Head and when it is well
marked, everything will come to the subject late in life and only then by
his own brains.
When the Line of Fate is seen with one branch on the Mount of Venus and
the other on the Mount of the Moon (1-2, Plate XIII.) it indicates a
career of romance and passion, by which the whole of the Destiny will be
swayed.
When the Line of Fate itself rises inside the Life Line on the Mount of
Venus (2-2, Plate XIII.), passionate love will affect the whole career,
and such persons, it will be found, usually place their affections on
impossible people or on those who are in some way tied up by marriage or
who otherwise are unable to gratify the love that the other person
demands. This is a most unlucky sign for affection to find in the hands
of a woman.
[Illustration: PLATE XIII.
THE LINE OF DESTINY AND ITS MODIFICATIONS.]
When the Line of Fate is broken or made up in little bits, the career
will be found full of troubles, breaks, and nothing that one gets will
last long enough to bring any settled or continuous success.
A break in the Fate Line is not always a bad sign to have, provided that
one side begins before the other ends; in such a case it foretells a
complete change in surroundings and position, and if the new line looks
good and straight it will be found to mean that the change will bring
about an advancement in position commencing at the date when the second
line first makes its appearance.[2]
[2] For dates on the Line of Fate _see_ Chapter XIX.
INFLUENCE LINES
When any small line joins the Fate Line or goes on with it as an
attendant line, such a mark usually indicates marriage at the date when
these lines join (3-3, Plate XIII.). If, on the contrary, these lines do
not join, marriage with the person is not likely to occur although the
affection and influence will be present in the career.
When one of these influence lines appears by the side of the Fate Line
and crosses through it towards or on to the Mount of Mars, it indicates
that the influence thus shown will turn to hate and will injure the
career of the person on whose hand it is found (1-1, Plate XIV.).
DOUBLE LINES OF FATE
When the Line of Fate is itself double (2-2, Plate XIV.), it is a sign of
what is called "a double life," but if, after running side by side for
some length these two lines join or become one, it foretells that "the
double life" has been caused by some great affection, that circumstances
prevented a union, but that the preventing cause will be removed at the
point where these two lines join.
When, however, a double Line of Fate is clearly marked, especially if
they incline towards different mounts of the hand, such a mark indicates
that two careers would be carried out simultaneously--one perhaps as a
hobby and the other as the principal career.
When the Line of Fate is extremely faint or just barely traced through
the palm, it will be found to indicate a general disbelief in the idea of
Fate and Destiny. It is often found on the hands of very materialistic
persons, those who rebel against the idea that they are governed in any
way by Fate or by any power save themselves.
When this is found, and at the same time a good clear Line of Head, such
people will be sure to win success by their mentality alone, but the
details of their destiny will not be able to be told, and one must
content oneself with chiefly describing their characteristics,
peculiarities, etc.
When no Line of Fate whatever is found and only a very ordinary Line of
Head, then there will be nothing very particular to say about the
Destiny; such people, as a rule, lead very colourless lives, nothing
seems to affect them much one way or the other, and they will be found to
have very little purpose to illumine the drab monotony of their
existence.
An island (3, Plate XIV.) is an extremely bad sign to find in the Line of
Fate.
When found at the very beginning of the line (4, Plate XIV.) it
indicates some mystery regarding the commencement of such careers, such
as illegitimate birth.
[Illustration: PLATE XIV.
THE LINE OF DESTINY, ISLANDS, AND OTHER SIGNS.]
An island, when found on a woman's hand connecting the Fate Line with the
Mount of Venus, is an almost certain indication of her seduction (5,
Plate XIV.).
An island in any part of the Plain of Mars indicates a period of great
difficulty, loss in one's career, and in consequence, generally loss of
money (3, Plate XIV.).
An Island on the Fate and Head Lines together means loss also, but more
brought on by the person's own stupidity or lack of intelligence (6,
Plate XIV.).
An island over the Fate and Heart Lines indicates loss and trouble
connected with affairs of the heart or brought about by the affections.
An island on the Mount of Saturn or towards the end of the Line of Fate
(5, Plate XIV.) foreshadows that the career will finish in poverty and
despair.[3]
[3] For more details concerning the meaning of "islands" in general,
_see_ Chapter XV.
When the Line of Fate finishes suddenly with a cross, some great fatality
may be expected, but when the cross is found on the Fate Line and on the
Mount of Saturn, the ending of such a Destiny will be some terrible
tragedy, generally one of public disgrace and public death.