THE MOUNTS

Palmists count on the hand seven muscular projections which are known as mounts. The Mount of Jupiter is at the base of the index finger, which, as we have seen, is supposed to be ruled by the planet of Jupiter. The Mount of Saturn lies below the middle finger. The Mount of Apollo is at the base of the ring finger, and the Mount of Mercury lies next to the little finger. The Mount of Venus adjoins the thumb. The Mount of the Moon or Luna is on the side of the hand opposite the Mount of Venus. The Mount of Mars between the Hill of Luna and the Mount of Mercury. Mention is sometimes made of a second Mount of Mars, under the thumb and below the Mount of Venus.

In a firm hand, the mounts do not rise sharply above the level of the hand, and they are not especially prominent. They are likely to be more distinct in a soft and flabby hand. A good mount, according to the chirosophists, should not be directly beneath a finger but rather between two of them. It should be firm to the touch and developed evenly. A mount is bad when it takes up too much or too little space, is entirely absent, or is inclined to flabbiness.

The height of the mounts is carefully considered. If they are all unusually high, the subject is supposed to be lazy and inactive. If they are low, the hand is considered energetic. The development of the mounts next to the fingers above that of the lower hills is said to show that the intellectual nature is predominant. When the lower mounts are excessively high, we are told that the passions are more important than reason. This is especially true if Luna and Mars almost come together. The mount which is highest indicates the qualities which predominate because of the planet which rules it. The reader is referred to my Little Blue Book on astrology for an account of the influence of the various planets and for the meaning of the signs used in some palmistical charts.

The equality of the mounts may point out a character which is developed evenly, without any great irregularity or lack of harmony. The great excess of a mount may be a particularly bad sign. It may even show madness in the direction indicated by the nature of the hill. A mount which is not high but which is covered with many little lines is read as though it stood up far above the level of the hand. A single line upon a mount is supposed to be a good indication, whereas two or three may bring misfortune.

Lines placed crosswise upon a mount, especially if they actually cross, are taken to indicate obstacles and perhaps misfortune in the field where the planet of the hill is dominant. They must be considered in relation to the development of the long lines of the hand and to the general shape of the palm and the fingers.

Mount Jupiter is sometimes known as the social hill. Its most important characteristic is pride, unless perhaps it is religion, ambition, honor, gaiety, a love of nature, or agricultural ability. Such a variety of possible interpretations permits the examiner of the palm to use his own judgment. We are told that the Hill of Jupiter is strong in public speakers and entertainers. When this region is excessively developed, it is supposed to show vanity, selfishness, arrogance, tyranny, extravagant ostentation and, if the fingers are particularly pointed, superstition.

A single line upon this hill is a sign of success already attained or presently to come. A large number of confused lines show an intense struggle to attain one’s heart’s desire, never fully realized. Crossed lines on the Mount of Jupiter indicate unchastity. A proud man should never marry a woman with these marks. Thus, tell the palmists, the chirosophers, the chirognomists, and the chiromancers their tale.

Crossed lines should not be confused with a cross, very short indentations which intersect about at the middle. The cross forecasts a happy marriage. If there is a star as well as a cross, the alliance will be very fortunate, for it will bring wealth in addition to beauty. But a red, black, or blue dot is an unfortunate token. It makes plain that there will be some sort of loss of honor and dignity. If the subject is the champion coffee-drinker or long distance dancer of the country, his crown will presently be wrested from him.

The absence of Mount Jupiter—and it is not considered to be entirely lacking unless there is a crater or depression in this region—is taken to show idleness, religious indifference, lack of self-respect, want of dignity, and even vulgarity. A strong Hill of Jupiter in a square hand is supposed to show conventionality and respect for the constituted authorities. With long, smooth fingers, it makes for a love of luxury. Developed between the index and middle fingers, it indicates self-consciousness and a feeling of inferiority.

Mount Saturn, below the middle finger, is never very high. But if it is more elevated than usual, it is interpreted by the palmists as a token of morbidness, fear, love of solitude, sadness, taciturnity, remorse, and asceticism. Saturn’s children are earthy, interested in the products of the soil, especially potatoes, rutabagas and orchids. If they are not farmers, they may be miners or florists; and some of them are priests, smugglers, or dealers in ice cream.

An influential Hill of Saturn takes away the attractive power of the other sex. Hermits are supposed to have the mount unusually high. If the hill is close to the finger, the subject is awkward. He never knows, after dining at a strange house, whether or not he should fold his napkin.

A spot on the mount shows some inevitable evil, the nature of which is to be found in the lines of the hand. A star on Saturn indicates danger of paralysis. If, however, the subject never becomes paralyzed, it becomes evident that the danger is not very great. A single line on the hill tends to show success and good fortune. A confusion of small lines is an unfortunate indication. So ’tis said. The leaning of the mount toward Apollo—that is, its rising in that direction—shows bad luck, or perhaps a fluctuation of spirits.

As for the absence of the hill, some say that it denotes a vegetative existence, without interest in the spiritual things of life. But one authority declares that it is indicative of an inability to consider matters seriously. “With a well-developed Mount of the Moon,” say Oxenford and Alpheus, “Saturn gives a love of and talent for the occult; and, curiously enough, the subjects are usually frightfully ugly.”

The Hill of Apollo has to do with beauty, especially of a masculine kind. This rises beneath the ring finger. Strongly developed, it makes for an interest in art for art’s sake, a liking for natural loveliness. It confers wealth, genius, and intelligence. People with high Mounts of Apollo are responsive to changes in the weather. They are sometimes affected and inclined to pose.

The subjects of Apollo have often inventive ability, we are told. They may be of hasty temper, but their anger usually disappears in a short time. They are interested in the artistic side of things. If they are religious, they like the pomp and splendor of the Catholic service. If they pay particular attention to food, they delight in artistic arrangement and service. They choose automobiles for the body lines and wives for their loveliness. But they are not passionate lovers, and a beautiful wife is to them chiefly an object to be admired and displayed.

An excessively high Mount of Apollo means a love of money and extravagant display. Curiosity is a frequent trait in this case, we are told. Artists of various sorts are likely to have Mount Apollo strongly developed. A forked line on Apollo shows a conflict of interests. A triangle is indicative of science applied to art.

Mount Mercury is under the little finger. It is on the percussion side of the hand, the side which husbands bang against the table to show a determined negation, just before they agree that their wives may buy the new spring hats which they eagerly desire. A strong hill indicates hopefulness, eloquence, an interest in antiques, speculation, commercial ability, a preference for Virginia cigarettes, industry, invention, agility, and speed in thought and action.

A good Mount of Mercury, assisted by pointed fingers, makes for brilliant oratory and the ability to sell circus tickets or patent medicines. With square fingers, it makes the preacher who proves logically that there is no death and that he needs to have his salary raised in order to pay his insurance. With spatulate fingers, the subject speaks loudly and forcefully. He is able to sway mobs and to be elected to the state legislature.

Mount Mercury excessively high makes thieves and charlatans. In such individuals, my masters in palmistry say, the fingers are usually long and twisted. The palms are soft and flabby. There are many confused marks on the Hill of Mercury.

Lines along the percussion side of the hand are taken to indicate the future course of domestic relations. Horizontal lines show serious affairs of the heart. Each line means a separate love partner. A long and faithful marriage is shown by a single deep line. Islands on the lines show either unchastity or marriage to relatives.

The Hill of Mars is above the Mount of Mercury. It includes three areas, known as the mount proper, the plain of Mars, and the second mount. The first or most important part is near the percussion. Here are read the fighting qualities of the subject. If this and the plain are both high, the subject is pugnacious. A strong mount without lines gives equanimity of temper and resignation to circumstances. If the mount is covered by a great many lines, it shows insolence, fury, and cruelty. So the story is told.

According to another interpreter, lines running across Mars represent enemies. Each one stands for a particular individual, and the amount of harm he can do is made clear by the length and the depth of the lines. Small cross-lines at the percussion make for scandal.

The Hill of Luna or the Moon, which lies between Mars and the wrist, makes for imagination when it is strongly developed. The subjects of the Moon love mysticism, solitude, and silence. If the mount is soft and flabby, dreaminess and an unpractical character are to be inferred. If it is strong, the subject may be fond of voyaging to the distant parts of the world. He may be something of a romancer. He is not likely to talk well, especially when he is speechless with indignation. He (or she) may make a hasty marriage, afterward deeply regretted.

Lines on the percussion in the district of the Moon show voyages. A star at the end of such a line makes for shipwreck or some other disastrous end to a journey. Many crossing lines on the mount are taken to show that the subject is worried. Or perhaps they refer to nervous complaints and neuralgia. Then again, they may be taken to indicate that the individual under examination is fond of playing marbles or euchre.

The Mount of Venus is the large area at the base of the thumb. It is usually higher than any other of the chirosophical hills. A good mount gives the reading of affection. Excessively developed, sexual desire is strong. If the region is flat, coldness is supposed to characterize the emotional life of the subject.

Venus is supposed to rule poetry, music, painting, and the other arts together with Apollo. Apollo and Jupiter stand for masculine beauty, while Venus—goddess, planet, and hill—rules the loveliness of women. On the lines of the mount, islands stand for lost marriage opportunities. A triangle indicates calculation in affairs of the heart. So the story is told.

The Plain of Mars is the middle part of the hand. If it is high and hard, we are supposed to read great combativeness. If it is hollow, submissiveness is to be inferred. The subject will not fight adverse circumstances or ill health. Perhaps it really means that the subject objects to the combination of grapefruit and cream for breakfast, or it may presage the loosening of a shoelace while he is marching in a parade.