I’d never have pursued hand reading if I hadn’t found a knowledgeable and powerful teacher, Laurie Block Spigel, who encouraged me to set aside my skepticism, take a leap of faith, and do the work. After studying the Benham system of western palmistry for several years and examining several thousand sets of hands, Laurie encouraged me to teach beginning palmistry students a series of ten rudimentary three-hour hand-reading lessons.

We insisted on three key requirements.

1. If you can’t be helpful or leave people feeling hopeful, don’t say anything at all.

2. Practice what you preach.

3. Never predict anyone’s death.

We encouraged students to look and listen carefully, think clearly and creatively, feel fully and freely, examine a multitude of hands, and ask abundant questions. Weekly reading assignments, study, and research were required. After completing ten classes, one student felt so confident in his abilities that he printed business cards and hung out his shingle as a professional palmist.

“There’s no substitute for time and experience,” I warned.

“Proceed cautiously and lead with your heart,” I advised.

A few months later, a very impressionable client showed up and told me about a palmist who had predicted her death. I asked to know the palmist’s name. It was my ex-student. As soon as my client left, I called and confronted him. He denied the accusation. It’s not uncommon for people to accuse readers of saying things they never said. It’s happened to me. I didn’t think that was the case with him. I promised to destroy his reputation if I ever heard another dark forecast. That was twenty-five years ago and I haven’t taught formal classes since.

I had been a good judge of character, but that hadn’t stopped me from making a wrong choice. I accepted my student’s money, knowing he was dishonest, while rationalizing and idealizing how I would be “the one” to help him raise his consciousness. I regret not asking him to leave when I saw how hastily he applied techniques he had learned in class to playing head games on people. Instead of kicking his butt to the curb, I scolded and cautioned him, then proceeded to give him more knowledge and tools to hurt people. It’s extremely easy to take advantage of others when you know what makes them tick. People are impressionable. Prophecy is a powerful pill. Only life predicts death.