4. THE MOUNTS
掌丘
There are seven main fleshy contours that appear on the palm of the hand.
Some are named after their ruling finger, but all have planetary names to indicate their significance, and also so astrology can be a good sister art to palmistry.
The mounts act as repositories of power and energy for those areas of the hand they dominate, and also for the fingers that have corresponding planetary names and meanings.
In general, the larger and more pronounced a mount, the stronger the characteristic in the person.
Every chance you get, look at the mounts on people’s hands and you will soon have an idea of what an average-sized mount looks like.
Use a magnifying glass to identify your own mounts, while holding your hand at eye level, and you may notice that one or more is especially developed. The firmness can be assessed by gently pressing on each individual mount (see diagram above).
The firmer the mount, the more its talents are being expressed in one’s everyday life.
If all mounts seem absent, the possessor may have lacked opportunities or faced discouragement in life.
Look for strengths in other parts of the hand, and always emphasize more positive than negative factors.
In this way, the subject can see how a weakness is a challenge to be overcome using untapped strengths, especially on the Inactive hand, not a doom-or-gloomforever prediction.
It may be that the mounts are more pronounced on the potential Inactive hand, but the Active hand mounts can be strengthened by the techniques I suggested in the previous chapter and the pendulum healing method I describe later in this chapter.
Practice is the key to assessing the relative sizes and fleshiness or otherwise of mounts, so practice giving readings as often as you can.
THE MOUNT OF JUPITER (UNDER OR CLOSE TO THE INDEX OR JUPITER FINGER)
The Mount of Jupiter is the most important for assessing strength of character.
It signifies ambition, leadership, idealism and wisdom, authority, and altruism (also qualities of the first index Jupiter finger).
• FIRM, NOT TOO HARD OR SOFT, RISING DIRECTLY UNDER THE FIRST JUPITER FINGER: A wise teacher or mentor, sociable and good in public life, a natural problem-solver and someone who is personally ambitious but fair-minded and cares about those less fortunate.
• HOLLOW: A natural follower, ideal for making things happen behind the scenes, may find social interactions hard.
• SPONGY AND HIGH: Loves good living, may boast.
• VERY LARGE AND HARD: A big ego, eager for professional and social recognition and can be ruthless in seeking power (observe also if the warlike mount of Mars is overdeveloped). Relationships may need hard work or a very compliant partner to survive.
THE MOUNT OF SATURN (UNDER 2ND OR SATURN FINGER)
The mount of Saturn is concerned with life’s problems and coping with them.
Generally, this mount is relatively flat, compared with the others, so any prominence suggests someone who has firm boundaries in lifestyle and interactions and the ability to organize efficiently.
This mount, along with the corresponding second finger, speaks of a serious, introspective nature, with strong values of right or wrong, hard-working but finding emotions hard and needing self-time; good at law, accountancy, or research.
• HALFWAY BETWEEN THE JUPITER AND SECOND FINGER: The best of both qualities.
• EXCESSIVE OR HARD: Rigid beliefs, unwillingness to change, dogmatic and stubborn.
• UNDERDEVELOPED: Indecisive and fluctuating opinions based on the influence of others.
THE MOUNT OF APOLLO OR THE SUN (UNDER RING OR APOLLO FINGER)
The mount of Apollo and its corresponding ring or third finger is the area of artistic talent of all kinds, creativity, communication skills whether written or spoken, sensitivity, musical talents, a natural performer, good fortune, and scientific or technological ability.
• IF DIRECTLY BELOW THE APOLLO, THIRD FINGER: Gifts in and appreciation of arts and culture, a lover of beauty and harmony and with creative tendencies.
• LARGE AND WELL-DEVELOPED (SIMILAR IN SIZE TO THE JUPITER MOUNT): Significant success in the arts, luck in games of chance and money-making, especially in an arts or technological-based business.
• SOFT AND SPONGY: Charismatic, may be insincere.
• UNDERDEVELOPED, HOLLOW: Totally unimaginative, needs facts and figures and guidelines.
THE MOUNT OF MERCURY (UNDER THE LITTLE OR MERCURY FINGER)
The mount of Mercury like the little finger above it, is the area of inventiveness, desire for travel, business and sales acumen, awareness of practical skills, intelligence, versatility, and psychic ability.
It involves communication in a factual, as opposed to creative, Apollo sense, persuasiveness, competitiveness, mental alertness, and devotion to family and friends.
Because it is a larger mount than Saturn or Apollo, a similar size would indicate that it was small and under-developed.
• LARGE, WELL FORMED: The ability to express ideas coherently and effectively, especially in sales or entrepreneurial ventures; also healing abilities, found in those involved in medicine or alternative therapies.
• SMALL, UNDERDEVELOPED: Talking especially in public or more than one to one is hard, both professionally and socially.
• HOLLOW OR SPONGY: A flatterer, prone to impractical schemes or with delusions of grandeur.
• IF DISPLACED BETWEEN THE APOLLO AND MERCURY FINGERS, ESPECIALLY IF BOTH MOUNTS ARE STRONG OR FORMING ONE LARGE SINGLE MOUNT: Innovative ideas, but may need direction; skilled public speaker; entertainer.
MARS
Mars represents proactive, strong and courageous energies, and sometimes warlike, aggressive tendencies.
There are three main areas associated with Mars on the palm: one main mount, directly under the mount of Mercury, and two areas on the center of the palm forming the Plain of Mars (see diagrams below).
It may be useful to consider this Martian powerhouse as a whole, to see the relative strengths and weaknesses and the overall emphasis.
A strong overall Mars is advantageous, since we all need drive and determination to stand up for our beliefs and to thrive in the world, rather than being downtrodden by others.
Teenagers and indeed adults without a strong Mars component may find it hard to stand up against bullying.
Those with strong overall Mars may be attracted to security-service careers, in action-packed work, or as campaigners for justice, especially combined with a powerful Jupiter.
A powerful but not overdeveloped Mars is also good for business success in a competitive world, or sports.
To easily identify the main upper mount and Plain of Mars, place your fingers of the Inactive hand on the back of your Active hand while applying pressure over your upturned palm with your other thumb.
Especially focus on what you feel in energy terms in the different Mars areas.
THE MOUNT OF MARS (DIRECTLY UNDER THE MOUNT OF MERCURY)
The main outer mount of Mars represents physical courage, self-control, desire for action rather than deliberation, and strong passions and the ability to push on regardless of obstacles.
• IF FLESHY BUT SOFT TO THE TOUCH: An argumentative nature, but will generally back down if confronted.
• FIRM AND FLESHY: Definite unshakeable opinions on every subject.
• HARD AND OVERDEVELOPED: Pugnacity and an unwillingness to back away from conflict.
• IF UNDERDEVELOPED SO YOU CAN HARDLY FEEL IT: Timidity and gentleness, may have been bullied when young, won’t defend own rights or stand against injustice.
• SPONGY: Can be sarcastic and critical.
• LINKED TO THE HEAD LINE: Excessive nervous energy that can prevent relaxing or switching off mind chatter.
A second inner mount of Mars is also frequently identified just above the mount of Venus within the Life line; generally, if one Mars mount is developed, the other will also be.
This second mount especially talks about the ability to stand up for principles and friends and, thus, moral courage.
The meanings of the two are very similar.
• WELL DEVELOPED AND FIRM: Always eager to do duty, may join organizations when young; a good team leader.
• OVERDEVELOPED: Temper tantrums if possessor does not get own way and sometimes unwise behavior to show how tough the person is.
• UNDERDEVELOPED, FLAT: Unconventional, won’t fit into organizations or play by the rules, prefers to follow own ethics.
THE PLAIN OF MARS
This is situated in the area of the palm that descends from the center, at the level of the outer mount of Mars, almost to the wrist.
The Plain of Mars can be subdivided into Middle Mars, the Quadrangle (so called because of its shape), and Lower Mars (also called the Triangle).
The plain tells us, according to its fleshiness and clear formation, how quickly passions are aroused, sometimes as anger, but more positively as excitement and enthusiasm for new ventures.
• CRISS-CROSSED WITH FINE RED LINES: Unresolved anger issues, especially if plain is well developed; volatility in close relationships.
• FLESHY OR HARD: Easily roused, especially by teasing; vulnerable young people need tactics to deal with this.
• UNDERDEVELOPED: An emotional vampire who drains others.
MIDDLE MARS/THE QUADRANGLE
This lies between the Heart line and the Head line.
• IF CLEAR AND WELL FORMED: Sincerity, protection of the vulnerable, mitigation of the basic warlike aspects of Mars.
LOWER MARS/THE TRIANGLE
This is situated above the mount of Venus which is under the thumb, forming an isosceles triangle downward from the Head line to the Life line.
It joins the Quadrangle/Middle Mars.
• IF CLEAR: Intellectual achievement using the determination of Mars, also balancing physical and mental energy; physical health and vigor, generosity. Those who have made good after a bad start in life will show strong deep lines on the Triangle.
• FAINT: Can have lost incentive to achieve, subject to stress.
THE MOUNT OF THE MOON OR LUNA (UNDER UPPER MARS)
The Mount of the Moon is just above the wrist, forming the second-largest Mount in the average hand (after Venus), and is often quite fleshy, extending to the percussion or edge of the hand.
Mount Luna is formed directly opposite mount Venus and deals with imagination, psychic abilities, past world and predictions/premonitions through enhanced psychometry (information from palms and objects using psychic touch); astral and predictive dreams, and unconscious impulses.
More than one area of the hand may express similar qualities, thus enabling a weakness to be counterbalanced, in this case by a clear Intuition line.
• LARGE AND WELL DEVELOPED: An active imagination expressed through creative endeavors and spiritual/religious interests; a potential inventor, enjoys travel, happier outdoors, especially by water.
• SMALL AND SOFT: Loves routine and familiar places and activities, happiest following directions or instructions rather than improvising.
• LARGEST MOUNT ON HAND: A daydreamer who may sometimes lose touch with reality.
THE MOUNT OF VENUS (UNDER THUMB, ACROSS FROM MOON)
This mount is the fount of the human personality; when there are emotional difficulties, it is the one most dramatically affected by circumstances.
It is usually the largest of the mounts, extending from the base of the thumb to the edge of the hand and the wrist.
The mount of Venus, encircled by and empowering the Life line, represents love, passion, including but not exclusively sexual passions, affection, or sentimentality, and is influenced in prominence over time by major changes in relationships, whether romantic, family, or more formal partnerships.
• IF HIGH, LARGE, AND FLESHY: Desire for beauty and luxury and the incentive to attain it but can be possessive.
• IF VERY HIGH AND PROMINENT: Jealousy, self-indulgence, laziness, sexual excesses, especially if spongy.
• CRAMPED, HOLLOW, OR COLD TO THE TOUCH: An absence of sexual desire, perhaps because of a previous hurt, lack of interest in possessions or fine living, may be miserly.
• IF THE FATE LINE BEGINS ON THE MOUNT OF VENUS: Strong motivation influenced by family; good at physical activity.
DEVELOPING YOUR READING SKILLS
Now you can start reading in earnest, remembering that it is most helpful if you offer the opportunity at the beginning for people to tell you what they want to know, so you can apply the information in the palm to resolving real-life issues.
Mark the mounts on your own diagrams and that of the person whom you have been monitoring closely, and see how this new information modifies or adds to previous findings.
USING A PENDULUM TO FIND AND CLEAR AREAS OF BLOCKAGE, EXCESSES, OR WEAKNESS
This is an extension of the intuitive method that we met in the Introduction: using your hand as a guide to feeling the energies.
Now we are going to use a pendulum, a crystal on a chain widely available in crystal stores, New Age shops, and online, to tune in to the palm energies and strengthen or calm discordant areas.
We are going to focus primarily on the Active hand initially as the most immediate to positively affect; by working through the palm, you can balance your entire system.
You can also later experiment at energizing the Inactive hand and then putting the palms together, as we practiced in the previous chapter.
Why the pendulum? Because if you relax as you pass it over the different lines and mounts on your palm, a few centimeters (an inch or two) above, it will automatically move counterclockwise for as long as necessary to remove any negative palm energies, from side to side to smooth excess energies, and clockwise with varying intensity to strengthen and repair broken or weak lines or mounts.
Use a traditional clear quartz crystal or gentle balancing amethyst pendulum.
Hold your pendulum when working on your own energies in your Inactive hand to balance the Active hand, and in your Active hand when working for others.
The beauty of the pendulum method is that you can program the pendulum in advance, by dictating as you move it over a flat surface a few centimeters above, what you would like each directional swing to signify.
Usually the positive swing of a pendulum indicates and inputs energy and activity; stillness in movement, a dead area that will be reactivated by the spontaneous to-and-fro movement of the pendulum to get things going.
A blockage is generally indicated by a rushing sensation through your fingers as the pendulum spirals to unravel it; or powerful alternate clockwise and counterclockwise swinging for excess energies, and a reverse swing for a negative or unhelpful energy that needs clearing.
Simply place the palm to be read flat on a table, gently and slowly passing the pendulum over each line and mount in turn, feeling the sensations as well as observing the direction of movement.
Concentrate on the energies you are feeling, whether a gentle warm tingling or even dead areas in a line or area of the palm where you feel nothing.
Then relax; trust the pendulum if necessary to make a remedial action on that area.
When finished, it will simply stop until you move it on to the next area.
Top to bottom, left to right over the palm is easiest.
Crystals are millions of years old and far wiser than we are, and the amazing thing is that if you trust your pendulum to move in its own way and to make the appropriate movements as long as necessary (you will feel the clearing in your whole system), then the system will move into balance and strong energies will be transferred quite automatically to the appropriate place on the palm—and so to the whole system.
Run the pendulum over the whole hand again, and you may be rewarded by a gently flowing tingling of electricity, as all the aspects move into harmony.
This could take up to half an hour; and if problems are deep-set, the whole process may have to be repeated at weekly intervals for a month or more.
We will work in Chapter 7 on using a pendulum as part of an integrated palm reading that not only diagnoses but also improves the energies.
PENDULUM PALMISTRY AND PAST LIVES
If you hold your pendulum slowly about an inch over each Mount on your Inactive Hand of Potential, starting with the Mount of Jupiter, you may see images in your mind, hear words, or have strong impressions and memories of earlier worlds and lives when the energies of that particular mount were predominant.
Jupiter may offer flashes of former worlds where you took the lead; Saturn, hard-working lives; Apollo, creative ventures; Mercury, healing and money making; Mars, battles and conflicts; and Venus, love and your Twin Soul and Luna, old ceremonies, and sacred places.
Scribble these feelings, images, and words down while you are writing or drawing, and more may come in your dreams in the following nights or in meditation.
As you become more practiced and tuned in, you can do this for other people as part of a general psychic consultation as well as add it to your own past life recall.
Often, you may discover the origin of a particular fear, and by using one of the palm-healing techniques I have described in the book, you can gradually remove the fear.
In the next chapter, we will examine the all-important thumb and finger significance.