ON the Mount of Venus and inside the Life line are a set of lines, some of which run parallel to the Life line and others which run across the Mount (277). These are called Lines of Influence, and are the first introduction in this book to any factors outside of the subject himself, forming a part of what is called his "environment." Only those indications which my own experience as well as that of other careful investigators has fully verified are here considered, and all matters which are traditional or hypothetical have been left out. The Hindus have an elaborate system of using these lines of Influence, and depend upon them for a large part of their work. Only the lines which run inside the Life line are properly lines of Influence, and I have found that they indicate persons who have strongly influenced the life either for good or ill, and that they generally represent members of one's own family or the closest of friends. If the latter class, and blood relationship is not present, they are those who have grown into the life and have become a part of it. In all cases they have strong influence, hence their name. In some hands few of these lines are seen, in others there are many, and the more there are the greater the number of persons who have exerted strong influence.

The less the number the more self-contained is the subject ; he makes few close friendships, and even blood relations do not greatly influence him. The reason these lines are seen is because the influences have made strong impressions on the mind of the subject, and these mental impressions have shown themselves in the hand. The Lines of Influence, both vertical and horizontal, form what is commonly called the Grille on the Mount of Venus. This generally indicates an increase of Venusian qualities, particularly the sexual appetites. This general reading of a large number of Influence lines on the Mount of Venus is correct, as has been clearly demonstrated in the hands of subjects known to have strong sexual appetites. Every line of the Grille represents an influence which has affected the life, and the more of these there are, the more the Mount will have Currents which excite it, and consequently fire its qualities. The absence of lines on the Mount of Venus shows an absence of electrifying Currents, and this calm Mount expends its energy in a love of beauty, gayety, color, art, and dress, instead of in sexual desires.

No. 277.

No. 278.

No. 279

The line of Mars is a sister to the line of Life, running inside of that line and parallel to it (278). This is really an Influence line, but it is an influence upon the health of the subject, sustaining and strengthening it, and does not relate to the influence of other persons. The line of Mars is comparatively a rare marking, and the greater number of lines seen alongside the Life line are simply Influence lines. The Influence line which runs closest to the line of Life is the closest influence. This may be mother, father, a brother or a sister. I have noted that a line starting near the beginning of the Life line and running close to it is generally the mother (279), as a mother's influence begins earlier in life than that of any one else. Next to this line, counting from the Life line, comes a line representing the father, and the line which represents this parent is usually found to be deeper than the others. Next follow other relatives, grandparents being generally the fourth line. The length of these lines tell the duration of the influences as factors in the life of a subject. In most hands a new Influence line is seen to appear at some age between twenty and thirty (280). This is generally the husband or wife, as it is at about this age that most marriages occur.

This line becomes the dominating influence of the subject from the time of its appearance if the marriage is happy, but it only shows faintly if the marriage has made no more than a passing impression on the subject. In many cases there is a fine line connecting this Influence line with the Life line, showing that the influence has merged into the life of the subject. On the Mount of Venus, then, are congregated the close influences of a subject's life.

No. 280.

No,281.

Many things which happen to the persons who influence the subject are also shown on the lines of Influence, but they are events which have made a considerable impression on his mind. A star on the end of a line of Influence (281) will indicate the ceasing of that influence, whatever it may be; and, while you cannot state definitely who the person is, yet by noting the distance between this Influence line and the line of Life, you can determine whether the line represents one closely connected with the subject or a more distant relative. This is an important indication to master thoroughly, for the death of a relative will often change the course of a life, and if some indication be encountered which cannot be explained in any other way, a line of Influence with a star on it may give the clew. In connection with the lines of Saturn and Apollo it is of constant service. The death of relatives also seriously impairs the health of some subjects, and thus in all directions Influence lines are valuable indications.