Sometimes the line is found deflecting downward (104). The straight Head line marks the medium or nearest normal condition, and, generally speaking, all rising deflections come from an uplifting force, and conversely all downward deflections come from a downward influence. Consequently when the line of Head is seen to deflect downward, we feel that the mental attitude of the subject has been lowered during the period covered by this deflection. As the straight Head line shows the operation of a practical mentality, the downward deflection shows that a departure from the practical lines of thought occurs during the deflection, at what age can be read on the line. The Mount of Moon, the seat of imagination, being set at the base of the hand, is considered as the attracting power which causes the Head line to start downward. I have observed in the hands of many spiritists and of persons strongly impressed with psychic phenomena that the period at which these matters began to greatly interest them could be determined by a downward deflection of the Head line. If the deflection is short, the subject is for a time pulled in that direction, hut the line coming back to the straight course again shows that the ideas have been drawn back into the practical line again.

If the deflection covers the whole line (105), there has been conflict between practical ideas and a desire to indulge in imaginative things, but as the line at the end gets back to the straight position, the inference is that practical ideas have conquered. When the line is deflected downward under a Mount (as in 104) the qualities of that Mount have impelled the subject to such thoughts as are indicated by the downward deflection. The three worlds will tell which side of the type qualities, mental, money-making, or baser, have caused the mental change.

No. 104.

No. 106.

No. 106.

No. 107.

With all deflections note the character of the line before, during, and after a deflection and this will show the outcome. If a line is found deep and well cut before, thin during, and chained after (106), it will show that a vigorous mind (before) became less vigorous (during) and was impaired (after), the ages to be read from the line. If the line is thin at the start, chained during deflection, and ends in a star (107), the subject has a weak mind to start with, which was impaired by whatever caused the deflection, and ends in an explosion, as shown by the star. This will show either insanity or death; look to Life line, nails, color, type, etc., to determine which. These illustrations are only two out of the infinite number of combinations which may be found, and are given simply in order to show the method of reasoning.

The source of the line shows the starting of the mental activity, the course through the hand indicates the changes which have affected it, and the termination shows the ultimate outcome. If the line be short, either the mentality is not great, or the termination of it comes early in life, by death or loss of mind. This matter has been treated under the head of " Length of the Line," and will not be reconsidered here. When the line is very short and turns upward toward Saturn (108) the mental attitude of the subject will be Saturniaa, and a health defect of Saturn will cause early death. As we are considering the Head line, this health defect must apply to something affecting the head, which is manifestly the brain. Paralysis being a prominent defect of the Saturnian will be the cause to which you may ascribe the end. Nails fluted, turning back, or brittle, yellow color, and many chance lines in the hand, a thin Life line, chained, islanded, broken, or otherwise defective, will enable you to confirm the indication. Older palmists gave to this line the reading " sudden death," the reason for this must be apparent. If this line runs up on to the Mount of Saturn (109), the indication is doubly sure.

If it ends in a star, a cross, or a dot (110), the sudden termination of the mentality and the life is assured. If the line ends in a tassel (111), paralysis followed by paresis is indicated, as the tassel shows the gradual dissipation and diffusion of the mental powers and not the sudden shock and catastrophe which the cross, the dot, or the star portend.

No. 108.

No. 109.

No. 110.

The older palmists ascribed grave results to all indications in which Saturn was concerned. This was because of the serious disorders peculiar to the Saturnian. When the line of Head turns up toward Apollo (112) it shows that the subject is strong in Apollonian ideas. The world which rules in each case will determine to which side of the type the ideas lean. In all of these cases where the Head line turns up toward a Mount it is an indication that the mental stamina is not especially strong. If it were, the subject might belong to a type, might be strong in his love of all things peculiar to the type, and yet would not lose self-control, or allow the typical Mount qualities to entirely dominate him, as must be the case when the line of Head is pulled out of its course and toward a Mount. When the line is drawn upward, but is not long enough to reach the Mount, heart or sentiment are stronger than head, and the subject has allowed a mere love of the things peculiar to some particular type to dominate him instead of reason. In other words, his head has been overcome by his feelings. When the Head line rises and is merged in the Heart line (113) it shows that the subject allows his feelings to overcome his judgment. This has been used by some palmists as indicating criminality.

No. 111.

No. 112.

No. 113.