the line of heart as indicating the affectionate and emotional nature
the line of heart is that line which runs across the hand under the fingers and generally rises under the base of the first, and runs off the side of the hand under the base of the fourth or little finger (1-1, plate xvi.).
the line of heart relates purely to the affectionate disposition, in fact, to the mental side of the love nature of the subject. it should be borne in mind that, by lying as it does on that part of the hand above the line of head, it is consequently on the portion of the hand that relates to mental characteristics and not to the physical.
the line of heart should be deep, clear, and well coloured. it may arise from the extreme outside of the mount of jupiter (2, plate xvi.), from the centre of this mount, from the space between the first and second fingers (3, plate xvi.), from the face of the mount of saturn (4, plate xvi.), or from directly under this mount (5, plate xvi.).
from the outside of the mount of jupiter, it denotes the blind enthusiast in affection, a man or woman who places his or her ideal of love so high that neither fault nor failing is seen in the being worshipped. with[pg 68] these people their pride in the object of their affection is beyond all reason, and all such extremists as a rule suffer terribly through their affections.
plate xvi. the line of heart and its variations. plate xvi. the line of heart and its variations.
from the centre of the mount of jupiter, the heart line gives more moderation, but also great ideality, and is one of the best of the variations of this line that we are about to consider.
people with such a heart line are firm and reliable in their affections, they have an unusually high code[pg 69] of honour and morality. they are ambitious that the person they live with be great, noble, and successful. they seldom marry beneath their station in life, and they have fewer love affairs than any other class.
if they once really love, they love for ever. they do not believe in second marriages, and the divorce courts are seldom troubled with their presence.
the heart line rising from between the first and second fingers, gives a calmer but a very deep nature in all matters of the affections (3, plate xvi.).
these people seem to strike the happy medium between the ideality and pride given by jupiter, and the more selfish love nature given when the line rises from saturn.
they are not very demonstrative when in love, but they are capable of the very greatest sacrifices for those they care for. they do not expect the person on whom they bestow their affection to be a god or a goddess.
when the line of heart rises on the mount of saturn the subject will be rather selfish in all questions of affection (4, plate xvi.). these people are not self-sacrificing, like the previous type. they are inclined to be cynical, reserved, undemonstrative but very insistent in trying to gain the person they want. they will let nothing stand in their way, but once they have obtained their object they show little tenderness or devotion.
they are very unforgiving if they discover any lapses on the part of their partner, but as they are "a law unto themselves," they close their eyes to their own shortcomings.
the line of heart that rises from under the base of the mount of saturn (5, plate xvi.), exhibits all[pg 70] the foregoing characteristics, but in a much more intensified form. such persons live for themselves, and care little whether those around them are happy or not.
the shorter the line of heart is on the hand, the less the higher sentiments of the affection make themselves manifest.
when the line of heart is found in excess, namely, extremely long—it denotes a terrible tendency toward jealousy (2, plate xvi.), and this is alarmingly increased if the line of head on the same hand is very sloping towards the mount of the moon (6, plate xvi.). in such a case the imagination will run away with itself where jealousy is concerned.
when the line of heart is found curving downward at the base of the mount of jupiter (7, plate xvi.), it tells of a strange fatality in that person, of meeting with great disappointment in love, and even with those they trust in friendship. he seems to lack perception, in knowing whom to love. his affections are nearly always misplaced or never returned.
these people have, however, as a rule, wonderfully kind, affectionate dispositions. they have little pride about whom they love and they generally marry beneath their station in life.
a line of heart made up like a chain, or by a crowd of little lines running into it, denotes flirtations and inconstancy in the love nature, and seldom has any lasting affection.
a line of heart from saturn in holes or links like a chain, especially when it is broad, denotes an absolute contempt for the subject's opposite sex. it is one of the signs of mental degeneration as far as love is concerned.[pg 71]
when this line is pale and broad, without any depth, it denotes a nature blasé and indifferent with no depth of affection.
when very low down on the hand, almost touching the line of head, the heart will always interfere with the affairs of the head.
when it lies very high on the hand and the space is narrowed only by the head line being abnormally high and out of its place, it indicates the reverse of the above, and that the affairs of the heart are ruled by the head. such persons are extremely calculating in all matters of love.
when only one deep, straight line is found across the hand from side to side, the two lines both head and heart appear to blend together. this denotes an intensely self-concentrated nature. if such a subject loves, he unites with it all the forces of his mind, and if he put his mind on any subject, he throws his whole heart and soul into whatever it may be (plate vi.).
these people are also terribly head-strong and self-willed in all they do. they do not seem to know what fear means in any sense—they are dangerous lovers and husbands to trifle with, for they will stop at nothing if their blood is once roused.
they are also dangerous to themselves. they rush blindly into danger, and they usually meet with terrible accidents and injuries, and very often suffer a violent death (see also page 29).
when the line of heart commences with a fork, one branch on jupiter and the other between the first and second fingers, it is an excellent sign of a well-balanced, happy, affectionate disposition, and a good promise of great happiness in all matters of affection.[pg 72]
when the line of heart is very thin and with no branches, it denotes coldness and want of heart.
when there is no line of heart whatever, it is a sign of a cold-blooded, unemotional nature. such people can, however, be brutally sensual and especially so if the mount of venus is high (see mounts, page 140).
a broken heart line is a certain sign that some terrible tragedy in the affections will at some time or other overwhelm the subject.
it may not often be found nowadays, but i have seen it in some few cases, and these persons never recovered the loss of the loved one or ever had love in their lives again.
