Favorite Quotes from Palmistry

Note: out of focus images are single frames from videos or tiny originals

quotes 1a

“Each of us believes we are familiar with our own hands, and we tend to take them for granted and use them automatically. It is not until we examine our hands critically that we begin to appreciate the many interesting features that they actually possess.”

The Art of Hand Reading ~ Lori Reid ~ 1996

quotes 2

“To understand and analyze your own hands you must look at each component in turn: the shape and structure of the palm, the length and build of the fingers, the strength and flexibility of the thumb, the size and construction of the nails, the pattern and composition of the skin ridges, and the quality and formation of the lines in the palm.”                                                                                                                                                     Lori Reid ~ 1996

quotes 3

“Destiny in palmistry means choice, and the purpose of palmistry is to help you choose what you want, in accordance with what you have already become.”                                                                                             Palmistry the Whole View ~ Judith Hipskind ~ 1986

quotes 4

“Palmistry is an art which requires powers of deduction and a clear grasp of the nature of the hands themselves. As an extension of the brain, hands never reflect isolated or random traits, but rather the whole person: the spirit and motivation, the personal needs and temperament of every individual.”                                           Judith Hipskind ~1986

qoutes5

“Knowing your life purpose means being clear about your big picture: what your life has amounted to so far and where things are headed. More than a set of core values or a worthy goal, your life purpose is your right life, your reason for being. Finding and living your life purpose is the single most important thing you can ever do.”                       Richard Unger ~ LIFEPRINTS ~ Deciphering Your Life Purpose from Your Fingerprints

quotes 6

Diagram from William Benham ~ ‘How to Choose Vocations from the Hand’

“As an aid to the choice of profession, trade or occupation, it (palmistry) is extremely helpful. It shows what the “subject” is naturally most fitted for, and were it more often applied to this purpose, there would be fewer mistakes in launching a boy or a girl on the ocean of life. The talents and qualities most useful for a future career would be cultivated and much valuable time would be saved which is now wasted in teaching the child what will never be of any use to him, worrying his poor little brain with subjects he has really no aptitude for, and neglecting to develop the gifts he possesses.”                                                                                                                         E. Rene’ ~ Hands and How to Read Them

qoutes 7

“The expression of the eyes and face, to a great extent, is under the control of the individual. A man may assume an emotion he does not feel, but his hand betrays him when he is least conscious of it. To the student who seriously and diligently takes up this study, it is a wonderfully interesting and fascinating example of the marvelous intricacies in the workings of the human mind, and physical organism, showing how one acts upon the other.”                                                                                                                         E. Rene’

Reading Laura

“The hand is a jig-saw puzzle, you take bits and spread them out, you note their size and shape, and then you begin the all-important task of fitting them together within the circumference of that individual potentiality. The result should be a perfect picture of the individual, a picture that should show the most intimate physiological and psychological detail.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The Hand Speaks ~ Noel Jaquin ~ 1973

 

qoutes 9

“My whole aim and object is to prove, or rather to enable you to prove for yourself, that the human hand betrays both intimate psychological processes and also the presence of disease in active or semi-active states.”                                        Noel Jaquin ~ 1973

qoutes 10

“Palmistry is the most fascinating art in the world. It is simple enough for anyone to learn the basics. You can gain an insight into the lives and characters of people you meet which will totally amaze them. Hand reading is an invaluable tool as well as a source of endless interest. If you care to study and become an expert, there is no limit to how much you can discover.”                                                                                                                                                                                             Andrew Fitzherbert ~The Palmist’s companion 1992

qoutes 11

“When we come to the practice of Palmistry, first of all, dear Student, let me entreat you to take your work in earnest; not only in your mind, but in your manner”.                                                                                                     Katharine St. Hill ~The Book of the Hand ~ 1974

favorite quotes

“Much nonsense still abounds, simply because real palmistry is not easy to practice”.                                                                    Fred Gettings ~ The Book of Palmistry ~ 1974

favorite quotes 2

“Certain it is that the vast literature relating to palmistry is very often contradictory, even about the most fundamental lines in the hand, with the result that the casual observer may be tempted to reject the hotchpotch of superstitions and half-truths as no longer applicable to the modern age.”

Fred Gettings ~ The Book of Palmistry ~ 1974

qoutes 14

“The tragedy is that whilst there are very many different systems of palmistry- many truths by which we may arrive at an understanding of man through the hand – if they are used for the wrong purpose, then they are all quite wrong.”                                                                                                                                        Fred Gettings ~ The Book of Palmistry ~ 1974

qoutes 15

“Remember that the hands are the immediate servants and instruments of the brain. There are more motive and sensory nerves from the brain to the hand than to any other portion of the body and, whether sleeping or waking, they continually and unconsciously reflect the thought and character of the mind or soul of the individual.”                                                                                                                            Cheiro ~ Palmistry for All ~ a century ago

qoutes 16

“Let us approach this study with minds filled with its seriousness, for in no other way can we fully receive its benefits; and let us put aside forever the idea that its whole object is to tell a gushing maiden of her lovers.”                                                                                                                                  William Benham – The Laws of Scientific Hand Reading – 1900

qoutes 17

“Through the analysis of the hands, it can be determined what changes are necessary and would be beneficial in order to improve the character and disposition and thus make for a complete and more successful way of life. A person must recognize a weakness in order, by effort, to overcome it.”                                                                                                                                                                                                          William Benham 1900

qoutes 18

“It is possible to change anything in the hands including their shape… one must first have the desire to change in order to bring it about.”                                                                                                                                                                                  William Benham ~ 1900

qoutes 19

“God has placed signs in the hands of all the sons of all men, that all the sons of men may know his work” ~ THE OLD TESTAMENT ~ God is in your hands (no matter who ‘his’ is)

qoutes 20

It’s not what you see, but what you say and how you say it that matters…                                                                                                                                                   Mark Seltman

Summer Solstice 2016 ~ Honoring my Gemini Mother

 

Micki Seltman 1

Yesterday, I remembered dad on father’s day. Today is mom’s birthday. No longer in physical form, mom would be 91 years old. She passed from her body at 83 after living as gratefully and gracefully as possible with metastasized breast Cancer for many years. Before she left this plane, she assured me that if there’s another side, she’ll be in touch. I haven’t heard from her yet, but haven’t given up hope. Mom’s cultivated Gemini hands with her square palms and long fingers harmonize well with her Gemini sun, moon, mercury, and midheaven conjunction.

Even in the direst of circumstances, our family always kept their sense of humor. Mom was lying in her hospital bed with tubes sticking in and out of her. She said to me, “What worries me most is how nice everyone is. Do they know something I don’t?” My sister warned, “You’re not allowed to die until you finish raising my (teenage) kids”. Jennifer joked about buying mom’s casket at Costco and mom loved the idea. Gary quipped, “I’ll start worrying about you when you stop putting on your makeup”. He threatened to taxidermy her and stick her in a corner of his living room. Mom’s intensive care doctor said he had never had a patient so sick and so determined not to look like it. I wheeled mom around the hospital. People thought I was her husband. I’d say, “Thanks for the compliment, but I’m her father”. “Pleased to meet you”, they’d say. At sixty, I could still embarrass my mother. Some things never change.

mom portrait

exercise ballMom was literally a poster child for the geriatric crowd at seventy-seven (above). To get a real taste of her, watch this exercise ball video. Mom made it as a response to Jennifer sending her the ball. The quality isn’t great, but her humor and attitude are well worth the watch!

Father’s Day 2016 ~ Remembering Dad

DadDad was a Pisces, born 2/22/22. His Sun, Venus, Uranus, and ascendant were conjunct in Pisces. My brother, Gary (Pisces), sister, Jennifer (Taurus), and I (Gemini) were well aware of how blessed we were. If the definition of a genius is an average kid with a Jewish Mother, ours was father. He was our biggest fan. When I was seven years old, I played a Chopin Prelude on the radio. Dad distributed radios to my whole grade school. He made sure everyone we knew listened. Despite my mortification, I quickly became a celebrity in our little community, which turned out to be fun.

Dad Mark Gary & JenniferI never got to read dad’s hands, nor did I ever find a decent photo of them. He died suddenly and unexpected at age 54 of a massive heart attack. I remember loving his hands as a child. They were warm, strong, and capable. He had a firm hand shake, a grip of steel, and an energetic touch that was always gentle and loving.

 

BoboDad was an incredible storyteller. Hardly a night went by in early childhood when my brother, sister, and I didn’t go on an exciting far off imaginary adventure at bedtime. “BoBo” the gorilla and “Squeaky” the mouse were friends ~ two magical characters that dad physically performed for us. I told Bobo stories to Cassie many times in her early childhood and can imagine her telling her children and them telling their children one day.

Pride and JoyI know, it’s a corny salesman’s tool, but dad would ask people if they’d like to see his ‘Pride and Joy’. Dad always worked for a fixed salary. I never understood why. I believe it was probably because I was conceived on the night my folks were married and born nine months and one day later. He certainly rose with grace and dignity to embrace his responsibilities. Ironically, dad never found anything to sell that truly inspired him. He sold crystal, candles, pens, furniture, life insurance, and real estate.

 

Dad's commercialsThe reason Dad was a great salesman was his desire and ability to care about people. Everybody looked forward to seeing him and he was as happy as a puppy to see them. Dad remembered everyone’s important personal stuff and made them glad to be themselves when he was around. His heartwarming smile and comical humor was contagious. Click here to watch dad in action. He created commercials for our family movies. The quality of the video isn’t great because it was converted from old 8mm film. It’s impossible not to laugh at the content.

Palmistry for Astrologers ~ Truth vs Fiction

Your Life is in Your Hands

“How long will I live?”  “When will I die?”

We all die. Life is about quality, not quantity. No one can or should tell you when. I’ve seen very long life lines on people who have died young and short life lines on very old people. You’re very lucky if you have a strong full life line. No matter what your life line says, you can  exercise your thinking and free will and transform your circumstances.

Untitled-1 copy

FICTION ~ there’s no connection between astrology and palmistry

TRUTH ` Assuming a date, time, and place of birth is correct; natal astrology reveals positive and negative potentials, challenges, life cycles, patterns, habits, and timing. Hands reveal what we’ve done, do, and are likely to do with all of the above.

mark, joanna, and cassie as a newborn2

                                     FICTION ~ you can see when a person will marry,                                     how many children they’ll have, and what genders

TRUTH ~ accurately and consistently predicting partnerships and children is not a right use of palmistry. Behavior is predictable. It’s good to examine partnerships through that lens. A combination of hands, astrology, and tarot reveal a person’s basic potentials, and how they relate. Check out our marriage ‘You’ve Got’ ~   https://www.youtube.com/watch

mark speaking

FICTION ~ the left hand is the hand you read

TRUTH ~ hands must be read together. The hand you write with is your dominant hand. The other reveals your subconscious mind. Both morphology and topography of hands tell us who we are, what we have, what we’ve done, are doing, and are likely to do with what we have. As we change our thinking and circumstances, our dominant hand changes. The other hand changes less because inner space is harder to change.

mystic crosses

FICTION ~ mystic crosses are magical

TRUTH ~ Mystic crosses are independent X’s between head and heart lines. Many palmists will tell you that you’re mystical, psychic, blessed, gifted, or fated for greatness. Between ages 35 and 47, crosses symbolize the trials of mid-life. As people are searching for deeper meanings in their lives, they sometimes turn to esoteric sciences and arts for insights and answers. For those folks, an X is a mystic cross. For everyone else ~ they’re challenges and obstacles that need to be seen, figured out, and overcome.

past life myth

FICTION ~ you can see past lives in a hand

TRUTH ~ clients have told me that some palmist or other told them that a certain marking revealed they’d been a high priestess, witch burned at the stake, or other notable person in a past life. I can’t confirm or deny such pronouncements. They’re not from the science of palmistry. Hands are topographical maps of character with their corresponding propensities, probabilities, and possibilities in past, present, and future.

Fingers and careerFICTION ~ you can see a person’s career in their hands

TRUTH ~ No reader can consistently pinpoint career. Knowing a dominant type, modality, finger, phalanx, and print patterns gives enough information to see career potentials. I get lots of practice at corporate special events. People often say, “That’s what I always wanted to be” or “That’s what I studied in college”. They didn’t pursue it for practical or social reasons. The illustration is from William Benham’s book “How to Choose Vocations in the Hands” and shows some careers for the early 20th Century.

predicting the future 2

FICTION ~ you can accurately predict the future

TRUTH ~ you can accurately judge a person’s character and project that character and behavior into the past, present, and future. History frequently repeats itself. As people exercise their thinking and free will, their behavior patterns, habits, and destiny will be reflected in their hands. In my opinion, that’s the most important application of palmistry.

seeing hands in hands 2

FICTION ~ you can see other people in hands

TRUTH ~ you can only see the person whose hands you’re reading and how they relate to others. My calling as a quickie counselor includes role playing. When I look at hands, I can see who a person attracts, why, and what that person actually needs to be happy and fulfilled in relationships. I play different roles to help my clients define their boundaries, recognize their capabilities, and set realistic expectations.

great seal crystal ball

FICTION ~ you can see wealth in hands

TRUTH ~ you cannot see money in a hand. You can see potentials for finances and what a person values. I’ve read many hands of millionaires and billionaires. I expected to see a lot of practical and intuitive types with powerful index and strong pinky fingers. I did. I also saw deficient index and pinky fingers on individuals with challenging histories. They toiled ceaselessly with strength, courage, and dignity to overcome enormous odds and achieve success. Many had powerful wills (strong thumbs) forged by determination (bulging percussion) and tempered with virtue (healthy ball of thumb).

Head lines 3

 

 

FICTION ~ you can see what a person thinks in their hands

TRUTH ~ you can anticipate what a person may think when you understand how a person thinks. A head line starts somewhere, ends somewhere, and follows the path of mind between. Once you get a gestalt for a person, you can observe the processes of their mind while interpreting the directions and qualities of their head line and thinking.

heart lines 2

FICTION ~ you can know what a person feels from their hands

TRUTH ~ feeling is embodied in the morphology and topography of our hands. Once a basic type is known, you can judge that person’s feelings from the position, direction, and qualities of their heart line. The heart line is a path to how and why we feel what we feel. It’s easy for thinking types to analyze, rationalize, and compartmentalize feelings. Practical types hold back feelings when they interfere with what they must accomplish. Intuitive types hang on to inspiration and learn about feelings in hindsight. Heart lines that curve gently up from pinkie to index finger are sentimental and romantic. Bearers tend to see people and circumstances as they want them to be.

Purnima's palm print

FICTION ~ you can see unimportant events in hands

TRUTH ~ a hand is a small space for a whole life. A tiny change in a line can embody a huge change in a life. “Will I pass the test?” “Win the game?” “Get the girl?” People are incredulous when I tell them I don’t have a clue. I’m mind boggled when I ask them about their major relationship and career issues and they’re clueless.

timing on lines of hand

FICTION ~ you can see age in hands

TRUTH ~ many people are surprised when I don’t know their age. “How old are you?” I ask. “You don’t know?!!” they respond. I’ve seen young looking hands on the oldest and old looking hands on the youngest. Palmistry is a powerful path to truly knowing oneself and others. Judging accurate timing is nearly impossible without astrology.

Palmistry for Astrologers ~ Three Modalities

hand with symbols

Traditional palmistry identifies seven basic archetypes based on seven planetary places in the hands. Even the newest palmistry books promulgate traditional methods and impart obsolete knowledge derived from centuries of unoriginal thinking. Palmistry and astrology need each other. Astrology establishes twelve basic archetypes based on combinations of four elements and three modalities. Palmistry has embraced the four elements, but has ignored the three modalities. Learning to judge modalities in hands is challenging, but absolutely necessary.

The devil is in the details and there are many levels of details. No matter what your archetype and lines say about you, modality modifies interpretation. Knowing a modality is fundamental to knowing a person. If your hands are hard and fingers are stiff, you’ll fight change with every molecule in your psyche. Getting started and letting go will be major life challenges. People whose hands are soft and fingers are very supple and flexible are challenged to be disciplined, structured, and focused. Major life issues include avoiding distraction and saying ‘No’. Mutable types must be more patient and persistent in order to build strong structures on solid foundations that support greater purpose and meaning.

four types

Modalities separate traditional palmistry from modern palmistry. I discussed the four elements in a previous blog post. Multiplying four elements by three modalities gives twelve unique character types. Anyone who knows astrology agrees that sun signs are distinctly different from one another. Palmistry represents the same twelve types and shares the same mythology. The greatest challenge is seeing the modalities and judging the degrees to which they’re affecting the elements. That takes practice.

twelve hands

                      Four Elements         Cardinal               Fixed               Mutable

Here’s a brief generalized description of how to see the three modalities in the hands.

FlashCardinal signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn. Solstices and equinoxes are changes of seasons. Aries (spring), Libra (fall), Cancer (summer), and Capricorn (winter) are new beginnings. Cardinal types have boundless energy and enthusiasm when they’re feeling inspired and passionate. Powerful ambition blends with magnetic natures to impel action and achieve goals. They’re best at starting things and not so good at finishing them. When the work becomes mundane or routine, impatience, intolerance, and impulsiveness is imminent.

‘Pure’ types have enthusiastic handshakes, openly held fingers, low set thumbs, and resilient pink elastic skin. Their head and life lines are frequently separate where the thumb joins the hand. I frequently see one or more conical or spatulate fingertips and multiple whorl fingerprints on cardinal types. Flash Rosenberg is an initiator, a great friend, Guggenheim award winning visual artist, profuse performance artist, professional photographer, prolific writer, and artist in residence for ‘LIVE from the NY Public library’. Check out her remarkable live drawing and direction: IMAGINE: How Creativity Works – http://vimeo.com/38798735

Dr. BryksMid-seasons embody fixity. Taurus (mid-spring), Leo (mid-summer), Scorpio (mid-fall), and Aquarius (mid-winter) are fixed signs. Fixed types maintain, support, and nourish what exists. They’re logical and practical. You can depend on them. They say what they do and do what they say. Their greatest challenge is to see the proverbial handwriting on the wall and then accept and embrace change.

They have firm honest handshakes. Their hands and fingers are stiffer than cardinal and mutable types. Large stiff thumbs embody abundant will, supported by dogged determination, and sustained by relentless persistence. Square shape fingertips and developed second knots represent an organized, practical, responsible, reliable, and dependable nature. Cautious types hold fingers closely together and are better team players. Fixed head and life lines are often intertwined at their beginnings. I’ve observed multiple arch finger prints on fixed hands. Procrastination can be a substantial problem.

Dr. Bryks is my dentist. He’s a great craftsman and a compassionate, competent, and caring person with a huge ball of thumb. Full ball of thumb people are givers and lovers of home, food, comfort, nature, children, beauty, and art. It’s hard for them to say “No”. Dr. Bryks appreciates everyone. He hums his favorite melodies as he mines for decay in my teeth. If someone has to dig around in my mouth, I’m glad it’s Dr. Bryks.

self for three modalitiesGemini (late-spring), Virgo (late-summer), Sagittarius (late-fall), and Pisces (late-winter) are mutable signs. They represent changeability. Mutable types generally have warm handshakes that convey honesty and sincerity (which may not be the whole truth). They’re clever, hate conflict, and work hard to avoid confrontation while employing the fine art of tact and diplomacy. Mutable types have the most openly held, flexible, and elastic hands and fingers of all three modalities. My open hands and strong straight pinkies are saying I have nothing to hide (although I hold many others’ secrets).

Cardinal types create, fixed types maintain, and mutable types communicate. Mutable does what cardinal and fixed don’t do or don’t want to do. As a mutable type, I love language and words. Anyone reading my blog knows I’ve chosen to speak for one of the most esoteric and obscure subjects on the planet. I hope to shift the false paradigm of palmistry as a gypsy fortune-telling scam (before I kick the impending bucket). As an expert on hands and a clear communicator, my mission is to give everyone a helping hand, their own. Priceless treasure waits to be discovered at the ends of our arms.