Category: Interviews

Interview with Jennifer Hirsch

Kay Packard Interviews , , , , , ,

Jennifer HirschIt is truly an honor to bring to you, Jennifer Hirsch, the Founder of the Chirology Centre for the Study of Hand Reading in South Africa. She lives in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Jennifer, when and how did you start reading hands?

I began in 1991 when I had a busy massage therapy practice and was growing increasingly aware that I’d not be able to stand the pace of so many massages for too many more years. Besides, I was getting bored and felt thirsty to study.

Since young, wherever I was, people wanted to talk to me, it’s the classic ‘therapist written on the forehead’ scenario. Most of my clients would lie on the plinth and want to talk about their life challenges and I was finding it difficult to insist that they lie quietly to receive the healing. I felt the need to separate the body work from the dialogue. This combined with my teenage dream of being a psychologist had me ‘scanning’ for what to study.

I considered all the “ologies” and nearly chose graphology. But then I had a vision of myself as an elder, sitting in an armchair and holding someone’s hands in mine. It came to me in a flash, and I excitedly booked an appointment with Brian Friend, one of the only 2 palmists in Johannesburg at that time (the other was Chand Singh, both have since passed). My first lessons in classical palmistry were in January 1991 with Brian just before he died.

Are you specializing in any particular area of hand analysis? If so, what is it?

I’d say my areas of specialization are the glyphs, and counseling. I’m especially interested in listening. How to really listen, how to authentically lend my presence, so to speak.

In terms of application, I don’t specialize in anything specifically, but the majority of people who come are looking for their life-purpose. I do a lot of focusing on helping people to craft their lives, so as to align with their joy.

What is most meaningful to you about reading hands?

The sense of awe and humility I experience when holding a person’s hands and looking into their eyes. I feel immensely honored, blessed. The trust invested in me. The intimacy. The sense of transcending space/time, and being ‘on purpose’ during readings. The alchemical results, reflected back in the many testimonials I’ve received over the years, from people who’ve made optimal choices based on the guidance I’ve suggested during their reading.

Please define the term ‘chirology’

The term is from the Greek word kheri, meaning hand, and logos, or knowledge. Knowledge of the hands. Chirology is the rich and diverse study of our hands and their correspondences to our physical, emotional, vocational, intellectual and spiritual selves. It’s an umbrella term, encompasses everything to do with hands. Chirology is an evolved form of Palmistry, and an authentic counseling therapy.

Do you refer to life lesson? If so, has your life lesson ever shown up during a reading?  If so, how and what did you learn from that experience?

With the 5 element system of interpretation which I use, (unlike with Richard’s system) ‘life lesson’ isn’t specifically defined, but many life lessons weave through the readings.

My biggest life lesson is low self-esteem, which visits often. I doubt myself and my worth. I see this not good enough theme in many hands, along with issues of abandonment, abuse, guilt, trust, lack of joie de vivre, abuse, responsibility, and so on.

The extent to which I understand these challenges in myself helps determine how much I can assist others’ understanding of themselves.

Jennifer’s fingerprint patterns:

Loop Loop Loop Loop Loop
Loop Loop Loop Peacock’s eye Loop

Do you have a bad experience you can share to help others avoid a similar situation?

I learned a tough lesson when I’d just begun offering readings many years ago. A client arrived, a 54 year old Jewish woman, very kindly and motherly appearance. As I took her hand in mine, I said “You do everything for your children.” Instantly her body stiffened, she pulled her hands back and said “I don’t have any children.” Needless to say no matter how hard I tried, it proved impossible to gain any rapport with her after this. I’d tapped into her deepest wound, and made a grave error in assessment.

Moral of the story: Your opening lines need to be neutral, no room for error or tactlessness. It’s vital to begin readings with words of kindness, support, anything that establishes rapport.

What advice would you give to students of Hand Analysis?

Allow for silence. This has been challenging for me, i.e. the feeling I have to show up, be on form, and keep talking. Pauses allow for what is most alive in the person to arise. It’s best for them if we readers let them guide us. This guidance from them is accessed through our listening. I also like to ‘go where the pain is’, i.e. pay most attention to what they present as being their biggest challenge.

Don’t be in a hurry. Hand analysis is learned over many years, by osmosis and by incremental bits of application.

Many students get stuck in the all theory no practice paradigm. They struggle to feel they know enough. This is a pitfall. We are ‘qualified’ by virtue of coming from the heart. People need to be heard, not ‘accurately told’ about themselves.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions such as “What brings you?”. Occasionally you’ll have a reply like “Well you tell me!”, but mostly people will open up very readily.

Last not least: Trust your intuition. Often the hardest of all.

What intentions do you have for your Hand Analysis practice during the next six months? 

I’ll be continuing with hosting monthly topic workshops. The next one is “Signs in Hands”, a look at some of the traditionally accurate markers.

I’m writing another book, the concept is a ‘Chirology in 365 days” page-a-day lesson.

I’m also changing my current 9 lesson training course to a one year course, so re-formatting the structure of the lessons.

I’m also working on marketing my home study and Skype consultation services outside of South Africa.

You have written and published God Given Glyphs and I know this was a colossal undertaking. Congratulations! What have you found readers are benefiting from most in your book?

Thanks Kay! I’ve had fantastic feedback. People comment on how valuable and accurate a resource the enlarged fingerprint illustrations are, as well as the interpretations being accurate. They like how I interpret each position of each possible variation of glyph placement individually.

Many have appreciated the chapters on how to effectively and ethically counsel with hand reading.

Also, there’s very little published material on the 5 element system of interpretation, so for anyone interested in the system, this is a good point to start.

What is the URL to purchase your book to download?

http://godgivenglyphs.com/shop/

I believe you have done one or two Vipassanas. Is that correct? Do you see a beneficial correlation between meditation and hand reading? If so what have you found beneficial in meditation for your Chirology practice?

Yes, two Vipassanas so far. Naturally my meditation helps me to center and still myself. But also, the 5 element system of hand analysis evolved from aspects of esoteric Buddhism, where emphasis is placed upon loving kindness and compassion for our fellow man, and on the philosophy of being of service.

To find out more about Jennifer and her teachings visit: http://godgivenglyphs.com/

Interview with Lorraine Anne Costello

Kay Packard Interviews

Lorraine Anne CostelloIt is an honor and a privilege to bring to you this interview with Lorraine Anne Costello. She is an AAHA Certified Hand Analyst and lives in San Diego, California. 

When and how did you start reading hands?

I first learned about gift markings in 2010, through some very clever seminar marketing. I came away from that seminar with a basic concept of fingerprints and an in-depth understanding of gift markings. Eager to test my newfound knowledge, I grabbed my bestie’s hand and only recognized one fingerprint (he has 9 composite whorls). I quickly signed up for a class in fingerprints, then continued formal hand analysis classes in 2011.

Are you specializing in any particular area of hand analysis? If so, what is it?

Whether by intent or just opportunity, I tend to work with entrepreneurs. I find that when a business owner understands their heart lines and life school, they have great insight into their leadership style.

What is most meaningful to you about reading hands?

The palms truly reveal consistent currents of consciousness. I love discovering patterns of being that were previously hidden just out of sight. There is great power in understanding those patterns then consciously choosing to embrace, accept, then incorporate or change. In my personal journey of understanding my own hands, I found that many life events took on a whole other level of meaning by seeing those situations through the wisdom of hand analysis.

Has your life lesson ever shown up during a reading? If so, how and what did you learn from that experience?

My life lesson is about finding the right balance of responsibility. I have an irresistible tendency to take on too much. Knowing this, I set up sessions so that the responsibility is shared. I let clients know that it is not possible to cover the entire hand in one session. I tell the client that this time is theirs and to ask lots of questions which will direct me deeper into the interpretations that are of particular interest to them.

How do you apply your life purpose and your life lesson, in other words, how do you see them work together?

My life purpose is passion. That translates into being an enthusiastic cheerleader for the person that I am reading, for their questions and their understandings. It is tempting to want others to be as passionate about hand analysis as I am, but that would be taking responsibility for their experience and falling hopelessly into my life lesson. Instead, I stay clear of those who are just curious about hand analysis and gravitate to others who have a passion for insight and personal growth.

Do you have a fee set for your readings?

Many readings are tied into another service (branding and small business leadership consulting). If someone just wants to have their hands read, my fee is $125 an hour.

If yes, how did you ‘know’ it was time to set a fee a fee?

Once I was certified and no longer looking for volunteers to practice, I treated the training with the same respect that I have for any other professional license. I was already seeing clients through my spiritual counseling license and chose to keep the rate for my time the same for hand analysis.

Did you experience internal obstacles about charging for a HA session with you? If so, how did you overcome that obstacle?

Yes! I struggled with how to shift existing relationships with people who followed me during the 3+ years of study, people who generously let me look for markings and then shared their unique experience of the marking. I truly felt that I wouldn’t have the depth of understanding without their support. For those whose hands I printed during my studies, I created an audio recording of the interpretation and threading of the most prominent features in their hands. I thanked them for their participation in my education and offered a discount if they wanted to gift their friends or family a session. I am still working my way through all of the prints that were gifted to me. This process helps me feel complete with their generosity and effectively transitions our relationship from being student/volunteer to certified analyst/client.

Lorraine’s fingerprint patterns? 

 

Loop Arch Arch Entwined Loop Loop
Loop/Arch Entwined Radial Loop Arch Loop/Arch/Tented Arch Loop

 

Do you have a ‘bad’ experience you can share to help others avoid a similar situation?

Yes! I made the mistake of reading someone who was just curious. I wanted them to come away with some insight and there was much to be shared in this person’s hand. But when someone who is curious about hand analysis, they want information and insight about the history, accuracy, and errors of hand analysis. They are not necessarily looking for information and insights about themselves. In that moment, I discovered the sweet spot of my target market.

What advice would you give to new students of Hand Analysis?

While learning the database, be mindful of what is most thrilling for you in the process. There are so many aspects and applications of this practice, find the parts you love and begin there. Your enthusiasm will be contagious.

What intentions do you have for your Hand Analysis practice during the next six months?

I am working on a class that correlates spiritual practices with hand analysis insights for deeper understanding and integration.

Thank you, Lorraine Anne Costello!

If you would like to connect with Lorraine click here to email her.

Interview with Michele Rae Lee

Kay Packard Interviews
Michele Rae Lee
Michele Lee, AAHA CHA

Please join me for this insightful interview with Certified and Professional Hand Analyst, Michele Rae Lee!

Michele, thank you for joining us today. I’m certain our audience is in for a huge treat as they hear about your journey into the sacred world of hand analysis.

When and how did you start reading hands?  

I think it was in 2007 when you and I met and you took a look at my fingerprints, which I thought was odd at first, however I went with it and I am glad I did because it changed my life forever.  I didn’t study until I signed up for AAHA, Level One and Two. Because there was just way too much information out there, I wanted to be trained by the highest level of teaching and curriculum.  I completed the Intensive in 2014. Then I completed the AAHA Level Three Certification Program in 2015.

Are you specializing in any particular area of hand analysis? If so, what is it?  

No, not really.  I just use my intuition and go from there.  I ask them what they would like.

What is most meaningful to you about reading hands?  

Watching people step into their life purpose and grow successfully, by exalting their life lesson(s) after I read for them.  There have been so many and this makes what I do all worth it.  Another favorite is when I run into people and they recite what I shared with them, or they will tag me in a post, this makes me beam with pride for them.  Of course, I have never been wrong!!  lol, so far anyway!!

Has your life lesson ever shown up during a reading?  If so, what did you learn from that experience?  

Yes, for each reading because my LL is trust. So, I have to be able to trust myself before I can proceed in decoding what I see in the hands. Also, sometimes I trust in holding back too much information so they have time to absorb the information I have given them.

How do you apply your life purpose and your life lesson, in other words, how do you see them work together?  

Well, I am on the Path of Service and it is a reader’s choice because I have eight whorls and two loops on my Mercury fingers so it is always a challenge to trust self first and then proceed with giving exactly what I am comfortable with. So I am in my happy spot.  We are always on a learning journey and I embrace if I do give too much of myself knowing it was supposed to happen.

Do you have a fee set for your readings?  

Yes, my set fee is $250.00 per hour.  I do not charge for family or friends.  I gift a lot, too.

How did you ‘know’ it was time to set a fee a fee?  

I just threw it out to the universe one day and posted it on my website.

Did you experience internal obstacles about charging for a HA session with you?

No, I did not.  When I started reading as a gift, after about the fifth one, I realized that I was so accurate; I went with my intuition and set my price.

Michele’s fingerprint patterns

 

Whorl Composite Whorl Whorl Whorl  Loop
Whorl Whorl Composite Whorl Composite Whorl Loop

 

Do you have a ‘bad’ experience you can share to help others avoid a similar situation?  

When I read for a guy and at the end he said, “Are you sure you can’t tell me about my future?”  He was very serious.  He had his fortune told to him at the mall as a small child and felt that everything he was told came true.  I explained that it could have been a projection by the reader and then I shared some more with him about what I could see.  I still coach him on Serving and Servitude though. After hundreds of hands, I can’t think of a bad experience.

What advice would you give to new students of Hand Analysis?  

My best advice is to learn from The Masters of this Art And Science. I choose AAHA because like I said, there is a lot of muck out there.  If you want to be successful, you want accurate information to begin with.  Only follow a few Masters.  For example, I only follow five fellow Hand Analysts and only one of them who did not attend IIHA or AAHA.  However, the one does share the same curriculum.  Also, be careful on what books you purchase, again I only purchased books that Kay recommended to me.  It really helps to not get confused. My daughter gave me an awesome book that I glance at now, but did not while I was in school.

What intentions do you have for your Hand Analysis practice during the next six months?  

I just moved back to the city after being very isolated and reading mostly remotly, so I am going to focus on Palm Parties.  In just two weeks of being back, I have been asked by three people to host a party.  One of them asked about doing a child’s party, so this should be interesting!!  This will be lots of fun for me and a good way to exercise my Hermit :).

Click here to visit Michele’s beautiful web site – Rae of Sunshine Hand Analysis. Click here if you’d like to connect with her via email. Michele now lives in Fresno, California.

Interview with Cathie Rodgers

Kay Packard Interviews
Cathie Rodgers
Cathie Rodgers, AAHA CHA

It is an honor to introduce Cathie Rodgers to you. Cathie is a Life Purpose Consultant, New Life Story Transition Coach and Certified Scientific Hand Analyst and lives in the San Francisco Bay area

Cathie, when and how did you start reading hands?

I started reading hands in 2008 after having my hands read at the Professional Business Women’s Conference. I bought Richard Unger’s book Life Prints and started reading it then practiced on my sister. I started taking online classes in 2008 and became a certified hand analyst in 2012.

Are you specializing in any particular area of hand analysis? If so, what area?

I am specializing in using hand analysis as an assessment tool for career coaching. I help corporate baby boomers discover their purpose and explore options of what they can do next in their career and their lives.

What is most meaningful to you about reading hands?

The most meaningful part of hand analysis for me is in helping the hand owner connect, reconnect and rediscover with their life purpose, life lesson and school and how they are wired mentally, emotionally and physically and can get this information and understanding all in one place.

Has your life lesson ever shown up during a reading? If so, how and what did you learn from that experience?

My life lesson is to be more vulnerable and open with others. I am finding that the clients that come to me have many of the same markings as I do. This gives me the opportunity to be vulnerable in sharing my challenges and experiences regarding these markings with them. I have learned that being vulnerable is a strength not a weakness.

How do you apply your life purpose and your life lesson, in other words, how do you see them work together?

I see my life purpose and life lesson work together by using my life lesson of sharing and being vulnerable with others to help us bond which allows me to live my life purpose of the Matriarch, the one who brings and holds a group together.

Do you charge a fee for your readings?

Yes, I do.

If yes, how did you ‘know’ it was time to start charging a fee?

When I was going for my certification I was working a day job and I thought to myself that the fastest way to read 100 hands was to do complimentary readings. After I became certified, I found that I no longer wanted to spend time doing complimentary readings. I wanted to be compensated for my time and gifts. That is when I knew it was time to start charging for readings.

Did you experience internal obstacles about charging for a HA session with you? If so, how did you overcome that obstacle?

Yes, I did at first. I was used to making a salary and speaking about fees and asking for an investment for the reading was challenging for me. Without realizing it, I just stopped doing readings for a while. Once I realized I was not reading hands because I didn’t want to read hands for free and I was challenged in asking for an investment, I decided to acknowledge the challenge and work through it in a way that worked for me. Since I am a linear thinker, I started asking for a low investment. I received this amount until I became comfortable with it then I was ready to slowly increate the amount, again and again until the amount felt right to stop at and I was comfortable with. I am sure as I continue to grow the amount will grow as well.

What are your fingerprint patterns? 

Loop Whorl Loop Loop Loop
Whorl Whorl Loop Peacock Loop

Do you have a bad experience you can share to help others avoid a similar situation?

Yes, in the first workshop I gave as a certified hand analyst there was a woman sitting in the audience with her arms crossed and a painful look on her face. I wondered what she was thinking, so, I moved to Q&A sooner than planned to see if she would open up. She did. She asked: Can you still do a reading if one has had carpal tunnel surgery on their hand? I thought to myself…so that is what is on her mind. I walked slowly over to her and asked…did you have such a surgery? She said yes, so I asked if I could see her hand. As I looked at her hand I asked my higher self for guidance as to what to say. What I said next I don’t remember but when I stopped talking she seemed happy with what was said and I was relieved. She had a full hand reading a couple of weeks later.

What advice would you give to new students of Hand Analysis?

I would advise to continue reading hands and studying the material. This field of work is never ending which is what I love about it. There is always more to learn and as you grow so will your breath of knowledge and understanding in this work grow.

What intentions do you have for your Hand Analysis practice during the next six months?

I am focusing on the finger zones and combining them with other markers in the hand to use this information in helping corporate boomers to understand what they would enjoy, and be good at, in their next chapter of life…keeping in mind that even if we retire we still need to work on our life lessons and share our life purpose with the world.

Is it okay for colleagues to contact you? If so, how do you prefer to be contacted? 

Yes, I would love to hear from the colleagues by email: LiveALifeOnPurpose@gmail.com

Interview with Caroline Douglas

Kay Packard Interviews , , , , , , ,
Caroline Douglas
Caroline Douglas, AAHA CHA

With great pleasure, I introduce you to Artist and Hand Analyst, Caroline Douglas.

When and how did you start reading hands?

After I had mine read by Baeth Davis in 2008, I thought what a profound healing tool. So I began studying it and taking classes, eventually being Certified with you Kay.

Are you specializing in any particular area of hand analysis? If so, what is it?

I am not focusing on any one thing, but I do seem to attract really creative people. I also see a lot of gift markings…. maybe since I have so many too :o)

What is most meaningful to you about reading hands?

I love how validating it is for people, how they often feel seen for the first time in a real way. Also, it is a great way for me to use my gifts of insight and healing and it is a great connector in a profound way.

Has your life lesson ever shown up during a reading?  If so, how and what did you learn from that experience?

Well yes, my life lessons… I have several, but the one that trumps them all is left Saturn- guilt and unworthiness. So especially in the beginning of reading hands, I would doubt myself and what I was seeing. But after expressing what I saw, it got easier and I had more certainty when people were so touched by it.

How do you apply your life purpose and your life lesson, in other words, how do you see them work together?

Good question! My life purpose of Public Impact in the Healing Arts is always pushing me to be sharing my story of how I healed myself after a head injury through art and to be creative in the spotlight. My lessons are incompletion, powerlessness and unworthiness. They contribute to me holding back and preferring to hide through self-doubt. Two books come to mind… Art and Fear (which describes in detail all the resistances we can come up with to avoid creating) and Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway, which is the story of my life!

Caroline’s fingerprint patterns

Loop Loop Loop Whorl Peacock
Loop Loop Loop Peacock Peacock

Do you have a bad experience you can share to help others avoid a similar situation?

I did a couple reading where one had a Simian. I fell into confusion while trying to validate both people. I felt frustrated that the reading was not more help for them. Basically I couldn’t heal their relationship. It was only later that I realized that I was doing the best I could and that I need to be clear about boundaries and setting an intention.  I did another couple’s reading right after that so I could get over that fear. And that one was great! And who’s to say the first one was not great, too, just that it stirred things up. Sometimes that is what is needed for healing to happen.

What advice would you give to new students of Hand Analysis?

Trust yourself and practice a lot! It will be very healing for you, too.

What intentions do you have for your Hand Analysis practice during the next six months?

I want to get caught up with all the readings I need to do!

Feel free to email Caroline at caroline_douglas@comcast.net She lives in Boulder, Colorado.

Visit: www.carolindouglas.com and sign up for her newsletters. She only sends a few a year.

 

Interview with Beth Ronsick

Kay Packard Interviews , , ,
Beth Ronsick
Beth Ronsick, IIHA CHA

It is a pleasure to introduce you to Beth Ronsick. Beth completed her interview with me just after attending her third Vipassana meditation retreat. Beth is a Certified Hand Analyst, Transition Coach, Trainer and Facilitator.  She helps senior executives and leadership teams take their leadership skills and career satisfaction to the next level. Beth lives in Denver, Colorado.

When and how did you start reading hands?

I had my hands read in NYC in 2000 by Baeth Davis and was impressed by the depth and resonance of the info that was shared. I went on with my life, but every so often, would listen to the recording and loved that I would hear something different each time. They were still the same archetypes, but as I changed, my insight into the archetypes kept unfolding on ever more subtle levels. In 2005, I decided to take her weekend workshop on the basics of fingerprint identification. I did it out of curiosity, and didn’t really think much about making it a business. I just kept wanting to learn more until one day I was certified! I also did coaching certification in that same year and started to see how helpful hand analysis could be as a tool to coaching clients. Over the years, it has become one of the three favorite tools in my coach’s toolbox.

Are you specializing in any particular area of hand analysis? If so, what is it?

I work with senior executives who are trying to figure out the next chapter of career—what they want, and how to reinvent for success. I also work with leadership teams who want to know their group Purpose and Lesson and to do team building based on this knowledge.

What is most meaningful to you about reading hands?

Because the fingerprint chart is innate, there’s a deep level of self-acceptance available to a client through a reading. You already ARE your Purpose. It’s not about being something else, it’s about accepting what flows through you when you get out of your way. And because Purpose and Lesson are intertwined, when your Lesson arises, it’s exactly what is supposed to be happening. I find that clients walk away with a genuine level of self-validation, and a clearer capacity to make choices for themselves. This to me is an extraordinary gift. (And so humbling.)

Has your life lesson ever shown up during a reading?  If so, how and what did you learn from that experience?

More generally speaking, I had to learn to find a way to market hand analysis that lovingly worked with my Lesson. Upon certification, I was encouraged to do as many free mini-readings as possible, and yet, these rarely generated business.  After each party, event, etc. that I did, I felt physically depleted and emotionally down on myself for not getting business.  I realized that my Lesson (trusting my value in relationship) was there front and center: When I give it away for free, I attract people who only want what’s free. And being in the School of Service, it started to feel like service to the point of sacrifice.  When I hold the monetary value of what I offer (the inverse of my Lesson) and invoke my Purpose by finding innovative ways to mentor, I easily attract clients who are willing to pay for private consultations. For me, that has meant speaking engagements and 1-hour public workshops where I can teach a simple aspect of the hands and then make an offer. This allows me to still serve in a creative way, but not at the expense of my livelihood or self-esteem.

How do you apply your life purpose and your life lesson, in other words, how do you see them work together?

So much of my Lesson is about asking for what I want and need in regard to the Saturnian aspects of life: To ask for a fair fee for my services. To trust that what I offer is of value. To make time and space for inner work and for nurturing my self and my spiritual life. If I neglect these things, the results I get are diminished, and my creative focus gets scattered. My Purpose is like a river of continuously flowing creativity and mentorship. And my Lesson is like the army corps of engineers coming in to build the structure that allows me to channel my Purpose constructively.

What are your fingerprint patterns?

Whorl Composite Whorl Loop Whorl Loop
Whorl Composite Whorl Composite Whorl Whorl Loop

 Do you have a bad experience you can share to help others avoid a similar situation?

I once had a client with a Lesson of “violation” who got so angry when we started the session, I had to ask her to leave. Her Lesson got triggered within the first five minutes, while I was sharing what we would cover in the reading. She got agitated and started to make aggressive demands about what my role should be in the session and what information I should give her because she was desperate to change. While I gently suggested that the behavior she was demonstrating in the moment was what was blocking her—and that this was exactly what we could start unlocking—her reactivity was so high, she could not focus, and she started to become verbally abusive. It was fascinating. And gut-wrenching to see her suffer. And of course, it was rattling to be on the receiving end of her rage. What I learned and would pass on is that it’s important to let go of whether or not the reading plays out the way you envision it, and that you are not responsible for how someone responds to the information in their hands. Trust that you can still be a part of that person’s healing journey by being compassionate with them, while remaining true to yourself. (In this case, that meant being clear with her about my own boundaries for what I will and won’t tolerate from a client, which demonstrated the opposite of her Lesson of “violation”).

What advice would you give to new students of Hand Analysis?

Read as many hands as you can! And don’t be afraid to dialogue with your clients. Ask to hear their stories of how their Purpose, Lesson and School show up in their lives. I continue to learn so much by hearing how these innate patterns and archetypes play out in the day-to-day flow of a client’s life—it gives insight into another’s experience; it enables compassion for another’s struggles; and it builds a body of knowledge to draw upon, as you’ll start to see patterns emerge when you read for people whose hands are similar.

What intentions do you have for your Hand Analysis practice during the next six months?

I hope to spend some time thinking through how to make a more cohesive business offering for the corporate world. I have had some great experiences with corporate team workshops and am ready to pull that experience together into a more packaged, benefit-led program.

Email Beth at beth@bethronsick.com  and visit www.bethronsick.com

Interview with Lindsay Morlock

Kay Packard Interviews , , ,
Lindsay Morlock
Lindsay Morlock, AAHA CHA

Please join me in reading from AAHA Certified Hand Analyst, Lindsay Morlock. Lindsay lives in New Jersey, 20 miles west of New York City, NY.

When and how did you start reading hands?

My best childhood friend was actually the one to introduce me to Hand Analysis about 5 years ago.  After attending a workshop on Hand Analysis with Hand Analyst, Peggie Arvidson, she called me immediately and told me that she knew this would be “right up my alley.”  Within two weeks I made the trek down to Virginia to have my hands read and was amazed at the accuracy of the reading.  Perhaps even more profound, however, was the empowerment I felt around the idea of “choice” in life.  Two years later I hosted Peggie in my home to conduct readings for two of my friends.  At one point she said something to my friend about being a ‘healer,” to which I responded “I wish I were a healer!’  Imagine my surprised when she said, “but you ARE!”  That’s all the validation I needed.  I called Peggie a week later to find out how one becomes a Hand Analyst.  I found my way to Kay and the rest is history.  Although I’ve only been certified for nearly a year, it has been the most profound and fulfilling journey of my life to date.

Are you specializing in any particular area of hand analysis? If so, what is it? 

I’m still trying to find my niche, but thus far I have been conducting readings with a number of college students trying to choose majors and navigate their way through as well as children. 

What is most meaningful to you about reading hands?

Kay always says that when you are in alignment with your Life’s Purpose, while you are putting forth effort, it will feel effortless.  This truly captures how I feel when I read hands and helps me to know that I am doing my right work.  For me, there is something incredibly empowering about being able to cut through the stories we tell ourselves about why we show up in the world in certain ways and help people to understand that they are simply hard-wired in particular ways.  Knowledge is power and once we can own our power, we can embrace the role of choice in our lives. 

Has your life lesson ever shown up during a reading?  If so, how and what did you learn from that experience?

As someone who is newer to Hand Analysis, my life lesson is constantly triggered.  I always find myself wondering if people are resonating with the information I am telling them and whether or not I am good enough to do this.  While I have yet to receive negative feedback about a reading’s accuracy, I’m constantly questioning my worth.  My lesson is also triggered when it comes to getting paid for my services.  To help validate my worth, in the beginning, I would send surveys out to my clients to get anonymous feedback about the reading.  I found the feedback to be immensely helpful in validating the value I was providing, despite my lesson trying to convince me otherwise.  The more confidence I build and the more I trust myself, the less issues I have around getting paid for my right work.

How do you apply your life purpose and your life lesson, in other words, how do you see them work together? 

I’m still trying to fully align with my life’s purpose, but what I have come to understand is that really feeling and understand my lesson is required for my purpose to be fully expressed.  The more I trust myself and honor myself and my worth, the easier it becomes to feel confident in my abilities to align with my purpose.  I don’t think you can fully express your purpose without the lesson.

What are your fingerprint patterns? (replace contents below with yours in the fingerprint chart) (I think…)

Whorl Composite Whorl Whorl Whorl Loop
Composite Whorl Whorl Loop Composite Whorl Loop

 

Do you have a bad experience you can share to help others avoid a similar situation? 

I’ve been fortunate enough to have not had a truly “bad” experience yet, but I have encountered more skeptics than I can count.  Initially I used to feel that I had to prove why Hand Analysis wasn’t a crock .  Since I have developed an unwavering faith in the power of hand analysis, I no longer feel the need to defend our art, and instead, hold the space for them to be right where they are on their own journey. 

What advice would you give to new students of Hand Analysis?

When I was starting out, I was so excited to share this art that I gave a number of readings away for free.  I found over time that people were happy to take advantage of me in this way and I began to grow resentful.  So, I would recommend getting paid what you are worth from the start and only offering your services pro bono if you are truly serving for the pure joy of it.  So, don’t be afraid to get paid what you are worth from the get go.  I also would add that it’s important to be a long-term optimist.  In the beginning I would get frustrated that I was trying to build a business, but nobody was coming.  Persistence is important even though the process can be frustrating at times.  Find a mentor who can help you to really understand the realities of starting your own business to help you avoid pitfalls and keep you motivated.

What intentions do you have for your Hand Analysis practice during the next six months?

I’m still in the process of marketing myself and building a client base.  Over the course of the next year, I’m looking to conduct workshops in the local area, conduct palmistry parties and individual readings, and begin to figure out how to convert clients to coaching!

Contact Lindsay via e-mail: lindsay@handscripts.com

Learn more about Lindsay at www.handscripts.com

 

Interview with Markus Thorndike

Kay Packard Interviews , , ,

 I’m honored to bring to you my interview with Markus Thorndike, Master Hand Analyst and Life Purpose Consultant.

Markus Thorndike, Master Hand Analyst
Markus Thorndike, Master Hand Analyst

When and how did you start reading hands?

At the end of 1996, my mother paid for a reading for me as a Christmas gift. It was with one of the founders of modern-day hand analysis, Richard Unger. I thought she had been sold down the river, and argued with her to get a refund. After several conversations about this she relented and agreed. But just as she did ~ there at the last minute ~ something deep in me said to trust her. So I did. Five months later I participated in my first Hand Analysis Intensive. So when someone comes to me, skeptical about hand analysis, I can easily relate.

Are you specializing in any particular area of hand analysis? If so, what is it? 

Telling the stories of the Key in the Hand, offered in the most loving, challenging and playfully real way I can. I try to get to that key with every single reading I give, whether it is for three minutes or three hours, whether it is their first reading or their twentieth coaching session. We are a single great being with far, far more aspects and dichotomies than we can ever know. But we come from that centered place, and from there we stand on the head of our life’s spiritual pin and, from there, try to dance the story of our lives. The more time I have, the more elements and pieces I weave in to the telling of their story. But I’m really here to offer my heart and my partnership and my compassion as together we face the dichotomous, paradoxical nature of the key to their life. The rest ~ no matter how useful, how helpful, how interesting ~ is really just window dressing. But I get to the key in the hand but cannot express it from a heartfelt, loving place, again, I haven’t done my job. Truth without compassion is a weapon.

What is most meaningful to you about reading hands? 

The moment a client recognizes that they are deeply seen. It doesn’t happen every time. If a client refuses to be seen, well, we can’t go there. For me, hand reading isn’t really about reading hands. It is a phenomenal, powerful and useful way for us to meet each other, to see and Know our selves, with a capital K, in the other. And it must be a two way street: I will point out, directly, any resistance I experience in my client ~ in a loving, playful way of course. I encourage my client ~ if they aren’t there naturally ~ to lower their resistances and to instead try to hold me as a loving friend. Further, I seek to see myself, deeply, inside them: If I am not being vulnerable myself, telling one on myself, showing my own humanity, I feel I am not really doing my job, no matter how great my information. From there, we can both be seen and witnessed. Flash! There is the magic!

Has your life lesson ever shown up during a reading?  If so, how and what did you learn from that experience? 

These days I try to sit with my own life lesson in every reading, reminding myself of it, as if I do not it can get in the way. It most often arises when I have a resistant or difficult client, usually one who has received their reading as a gift, usually from their wife or girlfriend. I suddenly feel less than, awkward, guilty that I have accepted their payment and now suddenly have no idea what to say. I have thoughts in my head wondering how I can possibly help this person, questioning my skill, questioning the art of hand analysis itself. The client has become my parents: welcome to Mr. Not Enough in the Family! What works from there, in that stuck place, is my authenticity: speaking about and feeling into my experience in that moment, and then weaving it into the reading. Once the energy is recognized and honored, it all starts to flow again.

How do you apply your life purpose and your life lesson, in other words, how do you see them work together? 

Today I seek to exalt my life lesson and expand my life purpose with it, as one integrated whole. I have Mr. Not Enough in the Family + Intimacy combined with what I call Innovative World Service/Teacher (whorls on Left Apollo plus all five on Right). So I see that I am here to teach both myself and the world an innovative message, through innovatively successful, creative and enterprising leadership. That core message is crafted from my life lesson: that we are all one big family, one big human tribe (Left Thumb), that we are all meant to be loving brothers and sisters (intimacy) of one another, that we are all enough for that family, that we are all sufficient in that family (left Jupiter + Saturn). And that together, we can do anything. Specifically, that we can transform this world into one where no one need ever feel insufficient or less than, or feel that something inside them is broken, or that we are separate or disconnected from one another.

What are your fingerprint patterns? 

Whorl Whorl Whorl Whorl Whorl
Loop Loop Loop Whorl Super Entwined Loop

 Do you have a bad experience you can share to help others avoid a similar situation? 

I used to work the holistic show circuit in Northern California. Sometimes I would wake up the day after a show with a deep depression, anger, sadness or frustration. It felt like I had Picasso face ~ with my nose and ear and mouth out of place. Like I was not myself.  And I was not! It can affect me for several days. Sometimes our clients come to us with ~ usually highly unconscious ~ egoic agendas. By this I mean their ego has a predatory nature, akin to a vampire or scorpion. This does not make the client themselves “bad” ~ this is but their karma. However, their energy is NOT ours. There are ways to protect yourself in the first place, but if you ever feel this in you: Take a bath, then shower and wash yourself off with a mix of Epsom salts and honey. The bathwater and Epsom salts will clear your aura of the negativity, and the honey will ground it all away from you.

What advice would you give to new students of Hand Analysis?

Hand Analysis is a powerful tool offering a window or door into our soul. It is not a religion, and though it is a powerful synergist and catalyst for healing, it is not and should not be held as “The Answer” to life. It is a powerful tool and language designed to assist us into seeing ourselves more authentically, nothing more. Every tool can be a crutch. Indeed, initially you will likely need your hand analysis database as that crutch, as you learn to work with clients. But remember, your hand analysis knowledge ~ while powerful, useful and even potentially life altering ~ is not truly the gift you are for your clients. The gift you are for them is your authentic self: your loving, caring Presence. Remember, each client is here to teach you about yourself, too! Be humble but not timid, rise to the challenge, stay in the mystery from a place of loving trust. And dance playfully with your mistakes. And you can’t go wrong.

What intentions do you have for your Hand Analysis practice during the next six months? 

I’d like to say I’m going to do more readings for sure, that I will be scheduling an Intensive for new students. I love reading hands, and I love teaching! But the next six months are a bit of a mystery to me (remember, stay in the mystery!). This is because I am nearly ready to send my new book to the editor, and it is a book not about hands, but instead entitled “LEAP: The Global Campaign for Life, Love and the Achievement of Happiness.” A book about the future of our world, a book about us all coming together for a rEvolution of peace on this planet. I see myself focused more upon this “larger” mission specifically, in the next six months. Reading hands and teaching the reading of hands will then find an integrated place within that, in the months and years ahead.

What is the best way for colleagues to contact you?   (415) 259-4087 markus@MarkusThorndike.Us

Visit Markus at  http://www.MarkusThorndike.Us

Markus lives in Alameda, CA, just across the bay from San Francisco.

Interview with Kelly Goto

Kay Packard Interviews , , , ,
Kelly Goto, IIHA CHA
Kelly Goto, IIHA CHA

Please join me in hearing about Kelly Goto’s journey into hand analysis over the last twenty-plus years. Kelly is a Mom, Design Ethnographer, Hand Analyst …

When and how did you start reading hands?

I started reading hands in elementary school. I liked to tell people how many children they might have, and look at the length and placement of the key lines. In the 90’s while living in Los Angeles, I met Spencer Grendahl who wrote Romance on Your Hands . And I started reading books and hands voraciously.

In 2003 I found the IIHA Institute with Alana and Richard Unger. It was life changing. I spent one Saturday out of each month in Tiburon and embraced the yearlong class with a combination of energy and exhaustion. I was at a pivotal time in my life, burning the candle at both ends — I realized I needed to make a serious change. I made a decision to shift my life, downsize the company, have two children and move to the coast — away from the city.

Flash forward 10 years and I magically found Kay and am excited to pursue hands with a new sense of purpose and hopefully some maturity to add to the mix!

Are you specializing in any particular area of hand analysis? If so, what is it?

The research side in me is always curious, and also a bit skeptical of the data, and my own expertise. So, I place myself in the shoes of the person I am reading and wonder if the elements I am talking about are accurate. The more I learn, the more I realize I do not know. I feel this is a lifelong pursuit of knowledge, and although I am not new to this field, I often feel like a novice.

I ask myself every time I read hands, I think, “does this ring true?” I like that hands fit within a category that is less “woo woo” and more analytical, with patterns and training that is understandable, explainable, teachable and repeatable over time. There is obviously an aspect of spirituality to any kind of palmistry or hand reading. I prefer the term, ‘hand analysis’ because it helps me explain what I am looking at and tell others how they can view their own hands, and understand themselves and others in a way that is not dependent on psychic prowess. It doesn’t hurt to have a lot of intuition and basic human understanding to help deliver the messages the hand provides.

What is most meaningful to you about reading hands?

I’m a visual person so I love creating art from people’s hands. It is a special imprint unique to each person. I am a calligrapher and enjoy flourishing printed hands with purpose — it pulls all the elements I have crafted over a lifetime into meaningful expression. I really enjoy the rational side of the analysis and using the methods I have learned to help people understand themselves, and their life purpose in a relatable, visual artifact. The discussion and insights gathered through this process is the most valuable to the individual and to me as a reader. I am always learning through every hand that passes my way.

Has your life lesson ever shown up during a reading?  If so, how and what did you learn from that experience?

I rarely see hands that are more flexible or more depleted than mine. When I print a hand that is a water hand, that is super flexible and has the sign of exhaustion (non printing in the center of the hand) I see the depletion and understand more than anyone how this person got to this point in their life where they are doing everything but taking care of themselves. I see myself in the Via Lasciva and a clear bohemian spread of others. I know these marks are two-sided, and with the tendency to dive into imagination, crave stimulation and excitement and throw caution into the wind, comes a more mature side where balance becomes the goal.

How do you apply your life purpose and your life lesson, in other words, how do you see them work together?

I am still learning how to put it all together. As the daughter of a 10-whorled dad, constant working and doing was revered in our family. Being a hard worker, true to your word, and a self-starter (entrepreneur) was my path. There was a moment where I learned the difference between doing and being. So my adult path is to stop, take a moment and allow myself to be without trying to do do do all the time. Doing for others is great until you are physically incapable. Then you need to step back and realize the way to help others is to take care of yourself.

What are your fingerprint patterns? 

Whorl Whorl Whorl Whorl Whorl
Loop Whorl Whorl Whorl Whorl

 

Do you have a bad experience you can share to help others avoid a similar situation?

I don’t really have a bad experience to share, however I have a thought about concerns we may have as hand analysts in the future.  I used to take hundreds and hundreds of fingerprints wherever I traveled.  Now I realize with privacy and the condition of the world, people may be less inclined to let me ‘fingerprint’ them or record their hands. There is a new awareness of privacy concerns with fingerprint scanning on the iPhone and TSA screenings at the airport. So we may need to have separate release forms moving forward to gather and keep a database of our own, letting people know if we are sharing the information and with whom.  I’m not sure when this will be an issue, but I believe it will limit our ability to be as ‘free’ with the information as we have in the past.

What advice would you give to new students of Hand Analysis?

Start looking at as many hands as possible, as often as possible. You will start to notice and remember things from your classes or from books that you can apply.  When out with friends, start by asking people to hold their hands up in front of them as if they were pressing against glass, and comment on the finger spread, the thumb spread and anything you see — without needing to actually touch hands. When someone is interested, then take the cue and start to look at flexibility and maybe individual lines or fingers. Only when you have a captive interest, along with time and space, move to print and do a full reading. You can do a lot to get yourself, friends and even strangers warmed up to the reading!

What intentions do you have for your Hand Analysis practice during the next six months?

Right now I am looking 20 years out, instead of 2 years out.

I am focused on balancing time with my family, my work and in life, with health, exercise and in my interactions with others. So in the next six months, I intend on continuing to learn, grown and continue my exploration of learning whenever the opportunity arises, and on my own time. It is a time of dedication and commitment to the things I feel are important, with hands being one of them. I am re-dedicated to understanding the life purpose and life lesson and have Richard’s book out as a constant reference. I would love to continue to study with you Kay as well!

You can find Kelly at her company site: www.gotomedia.com where you can also contact her via the link provided.

Kelly lives in Half Moon Bay, about 45 minutes South of San Francisco, just along the coast with her husband and two daughters.

 

Kay Packard interviews Vernon Mahabal (2006)

Kay Packard Interviews , , , , ,

Following is an interview I did with world famous Palmist and author, Vernon Mahabal just over seven years ago. We just re-reviewed his sage wisdom, and are delighted to share it with you.

Kay and Vernon
Kay and Vernon

After Vernon Mahabal read my hands in Los Angeles on Nov. 6, 2006, I asked to interview him for our (IIHA) newsletter. He gladly accepted. Vernon spoke at the IIHA Conference in 2006 in Tiburon. He is the founder and director of the Palmistry Institute. In 1979 he began formal training in Vedic (Eastern) cosmology, which took him to India many times. He combines Western astrological palmistry with Chinese elemental hand analysis. He also continues new research, particularly within the field of fingerprints. Vernon has read thousands of hands, given hundreds of lectures and trained hundreds of students to read hands. For more info visit www.palmistryinstitute.com

Vernon, please tell me again how you started reading hands in New York

In 1985 or 86 I saw a reader on street. His name was Patrick Geoffrois. He looked like a magician. I was on a spiritual path and I stayed with him for 5 years on St. Marks.

There is so much information in the hands – I came at it as a skeptic, but was so intrigued with the mystical arts. Patrick taught the entire western system of the Astrological palmistry system. I read peoples hands on the subway while sitting in one spot. People are easy to meet in NY. They tend to be more philosophical and open. 

I was inclined toward palmistry and Patrick was my catalyst. I didn’t pick it. Palmistry picked me. As a career, it fell into my lap. People encouraged me to make this my career

What is most meaningful to you about reading hands?

Being about to tell people what their life purpose is… their talents and abilities. Yes, this is what I am, aside from how society wants me to be.  Life purpose is clearly written onto a person’s hands. They know it instinctually, but are misaligned by society, leaders.. things that have taken a person away from their life path. They have an ah-ha factor.  Our society is based on economical development and sense gratification, which takes them away from who they really are.  In my work, I’ve had a number of people who are sophisticated in a number of ways, and when I give them a reading I like to focus on a specific areas. What’s in the hand is an intrinsic part of their subconscious. My job is to tell people the steps to get ‘there’ (to their life purpose). Put their train on the correct path. Difficulties are easier to deal with when living on purpose. Rarely, if ever, does someone not get it. The hand is an astrological road map that clearly delineates the between the last and this lifetime.

What advice can you give hand-analysts-in-training? 

Become your own researcher. Its necessary/imperative to take a teacher, to be at the feet of a legitimate palmist, and by way of serving them, hearing from them, being in their presence you’ll learn from them. Investigate your science thoroughly. Know why the teacher is doing it. It takes about 7 years to get a handle on what palmistry is all about and feel confident in it. It’s important to learn western and ancient palmistry. Western is very good at letting a person know about psychology, character, and talents. Eastern palmistry (sidereal) is excellent for letting people know talents, potentials as well, but is excellent for predictions. Vedic palmistry is unsurpassed for its ability for predictions. Predictions could include career changes, relationships beginnings/endings, and changes in geography. Good to study both systems.

Be a researcher of the hand. Take experiences in life and combine them with palmistry skills and skills should reflect their life. Palmists should be familiar with what went on before, other important palmists and who contributed what and when. Don’t be satisfied with one answer. Question everything!

Put yourself into your work. Put your whole being into the work… whole soul and self.  Palmistry is a science and an art.  It becomes your art.

Do you have a bad experience you can share to help others avoid the same mistake? 

When I first started I was amazed when I went to physic fairs where palmists didn’t know their science. A lot of palmists claimed to be palmists but were really just a parrot telling people what a book or other palmists have said, not from their own research.  I’ve met palmists who said they were physic but they had not database to support them. Psychic Intuition is a big part of palmistry, but imperative to have a well stocked astrological background.  Otherwise, there are no checks and balances to support their reading.  I’ve modeled myself after sophisticated astrologers who monitor each other and are professional. They are way ahead of the game because they formed associations and meet as groups. They have magazines. They’ve made their art genuine. We haven’t done much to have conferences and police ourselves. Astrologers present themselves with credibility.  There is no real credibility with Sea-side palmists. The public is becoming more discriminate.  The public will mirror our becoming more credible and professional.

We need to form our own organizations, coach each other, and meet over coffee as an association/community of palmist’s.  The public takes astrology more seriously. 

What is your favorite part of reading hands? 

This is the most fascinating thing I do in a day.  I am deciphering a Rosetta stone – seeing the symbols and configurations is fascinating to put together and then to get to the heart of the person.  This is a personalization of the spiritual being.  It’s like mixing a cake to get to the core and what they are here for.  Need a conscious entity to add and subtract from the reading.  Most intriguing thing in a day is reading hands… and the hieroglyphics. 

Goal is to elevate consciousness of that person in this life and their next.  When they come to a higher mode they’ll be happen.

What are your fingerprint patterns?

R   loop  whorl  loop  whorl  whorl

L   loop  whorl  loop  peacock  whorl

LP Leader in the spotlight with a inspirational message to deliver to the mass public

LL Successful Teacher/coach

How did you come to the Life Purpose and Life Lesson teaching? 

I had been working on it 1992 “Body Signs” (Hillion) which had info about palmistry. Didn’t agree with things in palmistry section.  Look at fingerprints as a group, not as individually.  I had thought that for 2 or 3 years.  Now I had pages and pages of research.   In 1994 I started writing notes.  I met Richard’s students, Eric, and we’d meet in New York and hold palmistry circles with other palmists.  Eric read my fingerprints.  Your life purpose and life lesson is ‘this’.  How long have you been doing this?  About a year – said Eric.  Eric told me about Richard.  I called Richard the next day.  We contacted each other by phone a lot.  I then moved to the San Francisco East bay in 1996/97 then would see Richard and go his grads classes.  We have many similarities – 95%, but have some differences.  See the tented arch differently.  He was ahead of me in the psychological area.  He’s helped me fill in some of my blank spots.  I hope I’ve helped him fill in some of his.

Noel Joaquin (1940s) referenced fingerprints but I didn’t necessarily agree. Richard’s and my systems don’t accept Joaquin but Joaquin should be recognized.  My system is more career oriented and Richard is more about the physiological aspects but very similar.  I value his friendship, his expertise. He’s contributed MUCH to hand analysis. Seasoned, professional. Looking for the day there will be hundreds of people like Richard, teaching.  The way we get our info is different than each other. Info was in the ether. I’m just an instrument. 

Where do you see yourself in 5 & 10 years reading hands?

I want to make reading hands more accessible without commercializing it. It is truth and will come out. Present it in a way to take this science more seriously. The ancient’s adored it and held it in reverence. Doing more lectures, reading, make more people aware of it.

Do you have anything else to share? 

Continue to build up the reputation of Palmistry for the public.  Hold up regard for palmistry like astrology.

We should create our own foundations, federations, establishing sisterhood/brother hoods.  You become like those who you associate with. Associate with others who are serious about this path, and that will inspire others.  If you go to India, Astrologers look at the hands before making a prediction and vice versa. Astrology and Palmistry are like a brother and sister. By the way, Mountain News has a poor view of Palmistry because of the practitioners who haven’t taken this science seriously.

Vernon is available for private readings, workshops, lectures and consultation. For more information visit http://www.palmistryinstitute.com