Children’s Hands
“The Hand is the Instrument of the Mind.” Maria Montessori
Our children’s lives are initially in our hands, but ultimately their life path lies in the forms and markings of theirs. While this might sound like palmistic superstition, the truth is that when subjected to chirological interpretation, the features of our hands are our personal life map and compass.
Chirology (from Gr: kheri – hand and logos – knowledge) identifies and codifies the hands’ shapes, textures and markings, so as to determine sensitivities, needs, coping strategies, skills, talents and vocational aptitudes. Part science, part art, chirology is a dialogue therapy, comprising a blend of scientific research, eastern and western palmistry, counselling, coaching, therapeutic touch, and intuition. While the hand readers’ intuitive senses are profoundly engaged when analysing hands, chirology is an enlightening tool for self-understanding, and not a predictive or divinatory craft.
In chirology, we examine seven main features in a set of hands – shape, skin texture, mounts, thumbs, fingers, lines, and of utmost significance in modern-day hand analysis, the glyphs. Glyphs are the fingerprints and dermatoglyphic skin ridge patterns that are inscribed in our palms, which are not only an irrefutable mark of our identity, but also describe individual psychological profiles, each with their own unique signature traits. Our glyphs are pre-ordained, fixed and unchangeable cosmic imprints, which receive and emit their own unique resonance. They are energy portals, thresholds through which we can better understand and express our authentic responses.
Whereas our lines show basic stamina, mental aptitudes and love language, or how we give and receive love, our glyphs reveal something of our life purpose. As the one hand feature that will never change, glyphs are understood to provide our ‘psychological backdrop’. Whorls on a set of hands, for example, aspect the issue of discipline, so vital a component of securing children and making them feel cared for. Whereas children with loops are adaptable and will respond well to externally imposed discipline, children with whorls are fiercely independent, and when their individuality is encouraged and trusted will prove to be singularly self-disciplined.
Children and teenagers respond with spontaneous enthusiasm and curiosity to having their hands analysed. They are always delighted to hear about what line and what fingerprint pattern means what. Engaging with children about their hands is an alchemical experience for them. They realise that the forms and markings of their hands are uniquely their own and the quality time, focus and private, personal dialogue brings children home to themselves.
No child is too young to be printed. Printing the hands (with water soluble ink) is necessary so as to identify the finer details of lines and glyph patterns. Babies under 18 months can be tricky to print, but it is do-able. For kids under eight or nine, once we’ve taken the inked prints, I use chirology’s system of interpretation, called ‘the language of the elements’, to create a visual ‘hand chart’. Chirology draws on the scientifically proven principles of the elements earth, water, fire, air and chi to facilitate the decoding the hands’ features. An element is ascribed to every hand feature, so as to specifically evolve an understanding of our physical, emotional, vocational, intellectual and spiritual realms.
This visual representation can be enjoyed in years to come but initially provides an outline for the conversation with the child’s parent(s). We discuss what their child’s hands reveal about their social and communicative skills, their organisational abilities and how they best learn. We identify their special aptitudes, potential talents, strengths or weaknesses, such as in sport, creativity, math and literacy.
After nine years old, I spend more alone and fun time with the child. Together we delve into their hands, empathically, kindly, cooperatively. We work with colour pencils, drawing in the lines and patterns on their hands and on the prints, explaining each as we go along. Children need to have their emotions taken care of, but are often unable to verbalise their feelings, and this therapy facilitates for the child a safe enough space to explore, feel into and articulate what is most alive in them.
The lines on children’s hands change as their personality develops. From age fourteen, together we assume a more motivational stance and focus is on aligning with an optimal educational plan.
The extent of children’s sensitivity reveals in their hands, which assists parents to deal especially with Indigo and Crystal children as well as with children labelled ADHD who are physically, emotionally, intuitively and spiritually so acutely fine-tuned.
A chirology analysis provides insight into how they view the world and to where they are ultimately going, as well as into what challenges they might be facing. As parents, we hope to optimally nurture, encourage and guide our children, to provide them with safety, security and love enough to ensure that they grow into happy, confident adults who follow their own unique paths, build fulfilling lives and who contribute positively to the world. Chirology can help you to relate to, support and guide your child on a deeper, more patient and accepting level, in ways that meet the needs of their temperament, character and persona.