The Via Lascivia – Pathways of Exploration, Excitement and Escapism
by Kay Packard
When the Mercury Line falls toward the outer edge of the hand (see blue arrows in Fig. 1 and 2 below), creating an arc into the Moon zone, you’ll find that curiosity, wonderment and exploration for stimulation are an essential component in the owner’s life. This configuration is called the Via Lascivia.
About forty-percent of the hands I see have this pattern in one or both hands. Famous hand analyst William Benham, author of The Laws of Scientific Hand-Reading printed in 1900 and revised in 1946 said it [Via Lascivia] was seldom seen. Life styles have certainly changed in the past 100 years therefore, this is why I believe it is more frequently visible.
The look of the line can show up in a several different variations. Two examples are shown below.
According to Benham, the configuration seen more commonly was a vertical (not arcing) short sister line beside the Mercury Line, ending closer to the top of the Moon zone. Owners were found to have a “superabundance of vitality and good health, and would work off a good part of it in lascivious practices.” In other words the owners were witnessed to having healthy outlets for their lewd and erotic impulses.
The Standard Via Lascivia is the Mercury sister line that arcs around to the edge of the palm (see blue arrows in Fig. 1 and 2) and indicates curiosity that ‘falls’ into the lower world of the palm, specifically into the zone of imagination, dreams and core identity.
I wonder what the criteria were 116 years ago for defining lewd and erotic behaviors. I would imagine a typical Hollywood movie, a series on HBO or certain TV commercials would fall into this category, these days. Can you imagine how unacceptable it would be by society then to witness what we see today – at a touch of the screen?
Needless to say, the Via Lascivia is more commonly found in the palm today, because of the cultural acceptance of seeking wider and more interesting thoughts, activities and sensations. The basis of the configuration is still quite relevant with updated narratives.
I’ve seen the Via Lascivia in hands ranging from ages 7 to 70-years. As with all the markings in the hands, there are positive and negative possibilities. This applies to the Via Lascivia, too.
A 7-year old with a Via Lascivia, as an example, may be curious about new and unusual insects. He or she may collect spiders, dead or alive, and study them. The spiders symbolize a form of wonderment, excitement and escapism. The young one escapes into the unknown and unusual with a positive force for growth.
A 17-year old with the same line formation will most likely be found exploring his or her new life in unusual ways. Teens typically seek new pathways; some healthy and some unhealthy. He or she may dissect the frog in science class and continue the project at home with fish, rats or rabbits – all in the name of deep examination into the unfamiliar. When adding the need to belong to a group, the teen might find him or herself exploring pills, kissing and sex. Finding healthy outlets for the stimulated system is crucial to prevent allure turning into addiction and ending up on the wrong side of the law.
A 57-year old with a Via Lascivia would be wise to seek out the interesting by investigating new and thrilling things to do after retirement, otherwise she may fall prey to the rush of the unlawful like Thelma when she robbed the store while Louise waited in the car. (Watch Thelma rob the store in this short video clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JDyXQvCsOM).
Hanging with Hades in the underworld can become attractive. This place includes gangs (darker groups) and drugs. The underworld is a place where some people, at different phases in life, can become attached to these forms of escape. Isolation and invisibility can imprison the owner thus leading to loneliness and depression.
The marking in itself does not indicate addiction or depression. Like a flower, it must be appropriately watered to prevent it from wilting. So too, an individual must develop and maintain techniques to nurture his or herself to stay on the positive side.
Below are examples showing how the behaviors can show up in either the positive or negative form.
Deeper personal characteristics are revealed when markings are blended together. For example a well-marked Via Lascivia on a hand with a full Venus Mount will belong to someone who is pleasure loving, with a highly charged libido, in pursuit of physical stimulation and perhaps regardless of the cost. An eye-catching Via Lascivia on a Air shaped hand, with a shoebox-effect, is likely to be found restless, obsessed and dedicated to collecting, dissecting and distributing information. I wouldn’t be surprised to find this combination in the hand of a scientist or philosopher.
Via Lascivia Key Words: Exploration, wonderment, curiosity, stimulation, excitement, thrill seeking, idealism, appetites, over-indulgence, temptations, escapism
Via Lascivia Positive: My stimulated imagination has freedom to explore and I consider the consequences in how far I soar.
Via Lascivia Negative: I refuse my Inner Voice and hear the call of my craving as I voyage into darker shadows of the underworld.
If you find this configuration in either of your hands use the Contact Us form to email Kay and let her know how you identify with the descriptions in this article. You may be invited to send her a photograph of your hand to confirm having the Via Lascivia in your hand.
About the Author: Kay Packard is a master teacher of hand analysis and the author of Your Life Is In Your Hands; Practical Palm Reading for Purposeful Living. This article about the Via Lascivia is a draft excerpt from her next book. Feel free to share the article to promote deeper self understanding and personal empowerment. Please keep the article intact and include the name of the author and www.AcademyofHandAnalysis.org.
