The Line of the Head

THE is to find a cold head (see plate 27, number 2), showing mental balance, control, interests, depth, and concentration, is one of the most im- portant lines of the hand. Its normal position lies in a course across the palm, about midway between the wrist and the base of the line of fingers. This line requires very careful study, for its variations are of significance. Particularly should the most minute two hands be compared as to their headlines; for early training, environment, and the effects of outside circumstances on the mental characteris- a person often outweigh the influence of heredity. The right hand, of course, indicates our composite personality, the left, our natural endowments. If you are lefthanded, the reverse will be the tics of case, for the left hand is then the operative one. study the quality of the line. The best headline is clear, reddish in color and deep. With such a line, you can expect the ability First, sound judgment, a good memory, and vigorous, keen broad, shallow line indicates less precision and sureness, but, though the mind may be less penetrating, it is not necessarily less purposeful. It is the chained line (see plate 28) which shows to concentrate, thought. A and lack of concentration. Often you will find a line which varies in quality through its length. In that case, the mental abilities will differ at various periods of life. Sometimes the cause of such variation will be apparent in flightiness other signs of the hand. The life line may, for example, show a seri- ous illness at the time the line of head is of inferior quality, or the line of heart may indicate emotional unbalance for a period.ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION 52 A broken shows line is impairment always unfortunate. In the headline, a break interference with thinking and memory. or When there are dots or islands at the termination of a break, the injury is the more serious. If the break is repaired by a square, or bridged by a sister line running parallel to the main line and close by it, the ill effects of whatever is responsible for the break may be largely discounted. Refer back to plate 28 for examples of these variations in a line. The course of the line of head is often altered by small rises or downwards. For example, it may arch upwards under the middle finger. In that case, the qualities associated with the mount of Saturn and the Saturn finger seriousness, thoughtfulness, pru- dence in money matters are a strong influence on the thought pat- deflections terns. If the rise in the headline occurs towards the finger of Apollo, sensibilities, lightness and gaiety of Apollo must be connected with the line’s change in direction. As a rule, small dips in the line of head are considered signs of depression, rising arches, signs of good spirits or of an uplifting influence. The most usual place of origin for the line of head coincides with the beginning of the line of life (see plate 33), the two lines being then the artistic joined together for a short distance. This indicates caution, timidity 33 35 34 and dependence on others at the beginning of life. The earlier the two lines separate, the sooner will self-reliance be manifested. When the line of head begins inside the line of life (see plate 34), the negative qualities associated with the exaggerated. In a person with first position are very you find very this formation, much littleLINE OF HEAD self-confidence. You You will will see a 53 find nervous apprehensions inflated into who is supersensitive, always looking person with a headline beginning in this position is very often a solitary individual, not necessarily by inclination, but because he is too timid to dare the criticism of his fellows and the give and take which social contacts entail. phobias. person for slights, lacking control. A A head beginning about midway between the origin of the and the base of the first finger (see plate 35) is a strong line of life of indication well-balanced, independent headwork. Such a line shows self-confidence without conceit, an energetic, daring mind, not bound line of pathways followed by conventional thinkers. With such a head- line, there is usually strong ambition and the mental clarity needed to realize that ambition. Of course, the quality of the line itself will modify the indications of its position, but, on the whole, a headline to with this origin is strong augury of success. When the space between the line of life and the headline is wid- ened, and the latter begins high up on the side of the hand near the base of the first finger (see plate 36), the quality of self-reliance is turned to recklessness. A person with his headline beginning so close to the finger of Jupiter is too conceited to listen to the counsel of on careful judgment. He is a gambler, thoughtless of consequences, careless of his actions’ effect on others. When this high headline is short, a jealous temperament is also shown. others, too impatient to base his actions Usually the line of head commences at the edge of the hand. One exception to this position is found in the line which leaves a slight margin at the side and commences under the finger of Jupiter (see plate 37). Strong ambition will motivate the thinking of a person with this kind of headline. Usually a headline having this origin is in quality, and there is every probability of fulfilling the ambi- good tion unless a weak thumb and generally forceless hand gainsay its promise. The course followed by the line of head and its termination must be read in conjunction with the origin. A straight, even path (see plate 33) denotes good mental balance, excellent control, and a mind which is neither too taken up with fantasy nor too restricted by small, practical considerations. A straight course will do much toANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION 54 counteract the weakness implied by an origin coinciding with the line of life and will to some extent reduce the timidity and oversen- sitiveness of a headline the line of life. which begins inside the space enclosed by With a headline which starts outside the line of life, 37 a straight, even course is a brilliant indication. Its balance will even somewhat counteract the recklessness of a line starting too high on the hand. When and fantasy, represented by that mount, govern the mind. In a weak hand, one lacking will and force, faculties of imagination will downward direction or ends in Luna (see plates 34 and 35), the the line of head points in a a sharp curve towards the mount ofLINE OF HEAD one which the origin of the in line of 55 head shows excessive timidity, this direction is unpromising. It gives us the tive builder of castles in the air, the dreamer, the introspec- conqueror of non-existent em- But, when there is sufficient strength to use the gift of creative imagination, a headline dipping onto Luna is the mark of the artist, the writer, the discoverer, the man or woman who is not afraid to pires. venture beyond the realms of known fact. The best combination with a headline descending onto Luna is one which begins outside the line of life, but not too high on the side of the hand (see plate 35). The worst is a headline commencing inside the line of life (see plate 34), for with so little mental balance and self-confidence, there is always danger that a strongly imaginative person will take refuge completely in his land of make-believe, becoming the victim of de- lusions and fancies. A star at the termination of a headline of this even stronger indication of insanity, especially when the quality of the line is also poor chained or much broken up. A headline which curves up towards Mercury (see plate 37) shows character is a practical mind, taken up with the problems of business and ma- terial existence. On a narrow hand this line will indicate an exces- sively humdrum man of affairs, concerned with nothing but material and bigoted in his opinions. On a broad, active hand, it still does not show great liberality of mind, but at least it does not reveal a narrow-minded fanatic. It will indicate a person success, very positive who who looks at material things in a broader perspective, though one impatient of things which are not of immediate utility. is When there is a sort of double curve in the line of head, first down “S” (see plate 38), you have a person with complete coordination of the mental and muscular processes, in other words, an athlete. I found this double curve in the headlines of and then up, like the letter persons as diverse in their general makeup as William Tilden, Babe Ruth, Spencer Tracy, Gene Tunney, Jack Dempsey and Helen Wills Moody. One thing they all have in common the wonderful control of their muscular reactions which made them champion athletes. A forked headline (see plate 39), one ending in two or more branches, may mean one of two things, depending on the strength of the hand. In a strong hand, the added branch gives versatility. For example, a straight headline with a branch descending onto theANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION 56 mount of Luna show the soundly balanced judgment and will reasoning power of the straight line plus imagination. In a hand, such a forking results in uncertainty and vacillation. The clear weak general position of the line of head is also of significance. very high, thus overshadowing the line of heart, you If the line is have a strongly rational being whose emotions are completely con- trolled by his mind. When, on the other hand, the line of heart is placed low, close to the line of head, mental balance will be more precarious, subject to the vagaries of the emotions.