Saturday, March 1, 2014

March Read



Title: Lines of Destiny: How to Read Faces and Hands the Chinese Way
Author(s): Ho, Peter Kwok Man; Palmer, Martin; O’Brien, Joanne
Call Number: 138 H678L 1986
Subject(s): Physiognomy; Palmistry; Fortune-Telling; Occult Sciences-China
ISBN: 0877733651
Number of Pages: 190
Book Description/My Read:
            The book starts with beliefs and history of physiognomy. Reading the history and stories one might wonder how wise the ancient Chinese are. A person’s destiny, from childhood to the day s/he swallows the last breath, could be implicated by simply reading a person’s face and hands.
            Then the book talks about five elements: water, fire, wood, gold, and earth followed by five features of a person: the eyebrows, the eyes, the nose, the mouth, and the ears. It’s interesting to learn about that the body can be read in relation to the five elements or in relation to animal shapes (page 132). For instance, the tortoise shape person. This person will have a dome-shaped head, round eyes, high nose, thick eyebrows, round jaw, long neck and thick shoulders. The body is quite fat and round and the five mountains of the face are well balanced. The person’s disposition is calm and his life will be comfortable and rich (page 137).
            According to the book, the lines on the hand take longer to develop than the lines on the face and are more permanent; therefore they give a more accurate reading than the features of the face. It’s fascinating to read the texts and the diagrams in the book to learn about a person’s past, present, and the future.
            Basically speaking, if a person’s features, skin color, and bone structure are well-developed and formed, his/her life is above average well and might live a good life.

            Some features and lines on both face and hand are quite distinctive and unique, so are the readings. Some readings even give a detailed and fixated ages and events going to take place at the indicated ages. It’s scary to read such implications. For example, locking lines at the mouth combined with lines running from below the eye to the area of the mouth are an indication of death by poisoning, either gas or food poisoning. This is likely to happen around the age of fifty (page 86). And there is a drawing referring to the text. It’s unpleasant to learn about such detailed description of what’s going to happen, how it happens and the outcome of having such feature.
            My thought after finishing the book is that there are good reasons why our previous lives’ memories are hidden and unknown to us. It’s best that I don’t have any idea what’s going to happen next. If my life, my fate, and my future are ordained and locked there will be less room for me to aspire, or look forward to seeing tomorrow’s sun, rain or shine. The will to pursue the purpose and the meaning of this life will be questioned and life would become less joyful and exciting.
            At the age of 50 I strongly believe in the power of a person’s attitude and mindset. An attitude serves as an engine empowering my will and eagerness to explore this given life. The more positive I am the more promising of my future and the influence I would have upon people around me. A person’s mindset is like a map; it directs which route and path a person might take and adventure into the jungle of physical challenges, mental stimulus and spiritual inspiration. Unlike the body features, both attitude and mindset are choices a person can make and take actions based upon the decisions.
            What do you want to believe and how do you want to live your life? Do you consider the future an intimidating unknown and uncertainty or will you become excited, look forward to getting up tomorrow morning and stride with determination and commitment to live a meaningful life and have a life full of joy and sense of achievement?
            Let’s explore!

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