Palmists count on the hand seven muscular projections which are known
as mounts. The Mount of Jupiter is at the base of the index finger,
which, as we have seen, is supposed to be ruled by the planet of
Jupiter. The Mount of Saturn lies below the middle finger. The Mount of
Apollo is at the base of the ring finger, and the Mount of Mercury lies
next to the little finger. The Mount of Venus adjoins the thumb. The
Mount of the Moon or Luna is on the side of the hand opposite the Mount
of Venus. The Mount of Mars between the Hill of Luna and the Mount of
Mercury. Mention is sometimes made of a second Mount of Mars, under the
thumb and below the Mount of Venus.
In a firm hand, the mounts do not rise sharply above the level of the
hand, and they are not especially prominent. They are likely to be
more distinct in a soft and flabby hand. A good mount, according to
the chirosophists, should not be directly beneath a finger but rather
between two of them. It should be firm to the touch and developed
evenly. A mount is bad when it takes up too much or too little space,
is entirely absent, or is inclined to flabbiness.
The height of the mounts is carefully considered. If they are all
unusually high, the subject is supposed to be lazy and inactive. If
they are low, the hand is considered energetic. The development of
the mounts next to the fingers above that of the lower hills is said
to show that the intellectual nature is predominant. When the lower
mounts are excessively high, we are told that the passions are more
important than reason. This is especially true if Luna and Mars almost
come together. The mount which is highest indicates the qualities
which predominate because of the planet which rules it. The reader is
referred to my Little Blue Book on astrology for an account of the
influence of the various planets and for the meaning of the signs used
in some palmistical charts.
The equality of the mounts may point out a character which is developed
evenly, without any great irregularity or lack of harmony. The great
excess of a mount may be a particularly bad sign. It may even show
madness in the direction indicated by the nature of the hill. A mount
which is not high but which is covered with many little lines is read
as though it stood up far above the level of the hand. A single line
upon a mount is supposed to be a good indication, whereas two or three
may bring misfortune.
Lines placed crosswise upon a mount, especially if they actually cross,
are taken to indicate obstacles and perhaps misfortune in the field
where the planet of the hill is dominant. They must be considered in
relation to the development of the long lines of the hand and to the
general shape of the palm and the fingers.
Mount Jupiter is sometimes known as the social hill. Its most important
characteristic is pride, unless perhaps it is religion, ambition,
honor, gaiety, a love of nature, or agricultural ability. Such a
variety of possible interpretations permits the examiner of the palm to
use his own judgment. We are told that the Hill of Jupiter is strong
in public speakers and entertainers. When this region is excessively
developed, it is supposed to show vanity, selfishness, arrogance,
tyranny, extravagant ostentation and, if the fingers are particularly
pointed, superstition.
A single line upon this hill is a sign of success already attained or
presently to come. A large number of confused lines show an intense
struggle to attain one’s heart’s desire, never fully realized. Crossed
lines on the Mount of Jupiter indicate unchastity. A proud man should
never marry a woman with these marks. Thus, tell the palmists, the
chirosophers, the chirognomists, and the chiromancers their tale.
Crossed lines should not be confused with a cross, very short
indentations which intersect about at the middle. The cross forecasts
a happy marriage. If there is a star as well as a cross, the alliance
will be very fortunate, for it will bring wealth in addition to beauty.
But a red, black, or blue dot is an unfortunate token. It makes plain
that there will be some sort of loss of honor and dignity. If the
subject is the champion coffee-drinker or long distance dancer of the
country, his crown will presently be wrested from him.
The absence of Mount Jupiter--and it is not considered to be entirely
lacking unless there is a crater or depression in this region--is
taken to show idleness, religious indifference, lack of self-respect,
want of dignity, and even vulgarity. A strong Hill of Jupiter in a
square hand is supposed to show conventionality and respect for the
constituted authorities. With long, smooth fingers, it makes for a love
of luxury. Developed between the index and middle fingers, it indicates
self-consciousness and a feeling of inferiority.
Mount Saturn, below the middle finger, is never very high. But if it
is more elevated than usual, it is interpreted by the palmists as a
token of morbidness, fear, love of solitude, sadness, taciturnity,
remorse, and asceticism. Saturn’s children are earthy, interested in
the products of the soil, especially potatoes, rutabagas and orchids.
If they are not farmers, they may be miners or florists; and some of
them are priests, smugglers, or dealers in ice cream.
An influential Hill of Saturn takes away the attractive power of the
other sex. Hermits are supposed to have the mount unusually high. If
the hill is close to the finger, the subject is awkward. He never
knows, after dining at a strange house, whether or not he should fold
his napkin.
A spot on the mount shows some inevitable evil, the nature of which is
to be found in the lines of the hand. A star on Saturn indicates danger
of paralysis. If, however, the subject never becomes paralyzed, it
becomes evident that the danger is not very great. A single line on the
hill tends to show success and good fortune. A confusion of small lines
is an unfortunate indication. So ’tis said. The leaning of the mount
toward Apollo--that is, its rising in that direction--shows bad luck,
or perhaps a fluctuation of spirits.
As for the absence of the hill, some say that it denotes a vegetative
existence, without interest in the spiritual things of life. But one
authority declares that it is indicative of an inability to consider
matters seriously. “With a well-developed Mount of the Moon,” say
Oxenford and Alpheus, “Saturn gives a love of and talent for the
occult; and, curiously enough, the subjects are usually frightfully
ugly.”
The Hill of Apollo has to do with beauty, especially of a masculine
kind. This rises beneath the ring finger. Strongly developed, it makes
for an interest in art for art’s sake, a liking for natural loveliness.
It confers wealth, genius, and intelligence. People with high Mounts
of Apollo are responsive to changes in the weather. They are sometimes
affected and inclined to pose.
The subjects of Apollo have often inventive ability, we are told. They
may be of hasty temper, but their anger usually disappears in a short
time. They are interested in the artistic side of things. If they are
religious, they like the pomp and splendor of the Catholic service.
If they pay particular attention to food, they delight in artistic
arrangement and service. They choose automobiles for the body lines
and wives for their loveliness. But they are not passionate lovers,
and a beautiful wife is to them chiefly an object to be admired and
displayed.
An excessively high Mount of Apollo means a love of money and
extravagant display. Curiosity is a frequent trait in this case, we are
told. Artists of various sorts are likely to have Mount Apollo strongly
developed. A forked line on Apollo shows a conflict of interests. A
triangle is indicative of science applied to art.
Mount Mercury is under the little finger. It is on the percussion
side of the hand, the side which husbands bang against the table to
show a determined negation, just before they agree that their wives
may buy the new spring hats which they eagerly desire. A strong hill
indicates hopefulness, eloquence, an interest in antiques, speculation,
commercial ability, a preference for Virginia cigarettes, industry,
invention, agility, and speed in thought and action.
A good Mount of Mercury, assisted by pointed fingers, makes for
brilliant oratory and the ability to sell circus tickets or patent
medicines. With square fingers, it makes the preacher who proves
logically that there is no death and that he needs to have his salary
raised in order to pay his insurance. With spatulate fingers, the
subject speaks loudly and forcefully. He is able to sway mobs and to be
elected to the state legislature.
Mount Mercury excessively high makes thieves and charlatans. In such
individuals, my masters in palmistry say, the fingers are usually long
and twisted. The palms are soft and flabby. There are many confused
marks on the Hill of Mercury.
Lines along the percussion side of the hand are taken to indicate the
future course of domestic relations. Horizontal lines show serious
affairs of the heart. Each line means a separate love partner. A long
and faithful marriage is shown by a single deep line. Islands on the
lines show either unchastity or marriage to relatives.
The Hill of Mars is above the Mount of Mercury. It includes three
areas, known as the mount proper, the plain of Mars, and the second
mount. The first or most important part is near the percussion. Here
are read the fighting qualities of the subject. If this and the plain
are both high, the subject is pugnacious. A strong mount without lines
gives equanimity of temper and resignation to circumstances. If the
mount is covered by a great many lines, it shows insolence, fury, and
cruelty. So the story is told.
According to another interpreter, lines running across Mars represent
enemies. Each one stands for a particular individual, and the amount of
harm he can do is made clear by the length and the depth of the lines.
Small cross-lines at the percussion make for scandal.
The Hill of Luna or the Moon, which lies between Mars and the wrist,
makes for imagination when it is strongly developed. The subjects of
the Moon love mysticism, solitude, and silence. If the mount is soft
and flabby, dreaminess and an unpractical character are to be inferred.
If it is strong, the subject may be fond of voyaging to the distant
parts of the world. He may be something of a romancer. He is not
likely to talk well, especially when he is speechless with indignation.
He (or she) may make a hasty marriage, afterward deeply regretted.
Lines on the percussion in the district of the Moon show voyages.
A star at the end of such a line makes for shipwreck or some other
disastrous end to a journey. Many crossing lines on the mount are taken
to show that the subject is worried. Or perhaps they refer to nervous
complaints and neuralgia. Then again, they may be taken to indicate
that the individual under examination is fond of playing marbles or
euchre.
The Mount of Venus is the large area at the base of the thumb. It is
usually higher than any other of the chirosophical hills. A good mount
gives the reading of affection. Excessively developed, sexual desire is
strong. If the region is flat, coldness is supposed to characterize the
emotional life of the subject.
Venus is supposed to rule poetry, music, painting, and the other
arts together with Apollo. Apollo and Jupiter stand for masculine
beauty, while Venus--goddess, planet, and hill--rules the loveliness
of women. On the lines of the mount, islands stand for lost marriage
opportunities. A triangle indicates calculation in affairs of the
heart. So the story is told.
The Plain of Mars is the middle part of the hand. If it is high and
hard, we are supposed to read great combativeness. If it is hollow,
submissiveness is to be inferred. The subject will not fight adverse
circumstances or ill health. Perhaps it really means that the subject
objects to the combination of grapefruit and cream for breakfast, or
it may presage the loosening of a shoelace while he is marching in a
parade.