It 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/
