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by Dylan Warren-Davis
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MICHAEL JACKSON
Sometimes hands contain lines that are unique to the person. A good example is the doubled Mercury or
head line found in Michael Jackson's hand. Most hands only have a single Mercury line. This doubled
Mercury line is most readily expressed in Michael's life as two separate modes of communication.
The upper Mercury line is the strongest and clearest of the two implying this is his most powerful level of communication. It starts from a branch line forking down from the Jupiter line, showing his ability to infuse words and ideas with emotional intensity.
This is the public image of Michael, the charismatic performer. In contrast the lower Mercury line is much weaker and marred by a number of features.It starts fused to the Venus line where its flow is disrupted at this point by a number of bar lines. This highlights insecurity and tension experienced during his childhood.
The lower line also has a prominent island located before it crosses the Saturn line, after which it markedly bends. This line reflects the private secretive side of Michael. The island starts at 32 and resolves at 36, where it is crossed by a stress line from mount of Mars. The island indicates conflict, most likely his trying to resolve the traumas of childhood with the phenomenal success of his career.
Doubtless the island would also reflect the increasing media interest in his personal life at this time, while the stress line reflects the intensity of pressure that he had to face forcing him to break off his world tour amid allegations of sexual abuse.
STING
The most distinguishing feature of Sting's hand is the double Saturn line, showing he has a powerful
determination to make his mark.The strength of the first line starting low down at the base of the palm
suggests he knew at an early age what he wanted to do.
The displaced start to this line from the depths of the lunar mount suggests his work evolving quite separately from the family pattern.
Definitely not following in his father's footsteps. The line is strong from the mid 20's corresponding to the successful launch of The Police. An island in the Saturn line between the ages of 28 and 35 suggests that despite the success of The Police this was a deeply unhappy time for him. Having two Saturn lines on the palm often makes a person extremely serious, prone to depression and withdrawn from relationships.
This phase between 28 and 35 would have compounded this trait, contributing to the demise of the band. Past 35 the Saturn line is strong and unified again reflecting the renewed success of his solo career. This line ends abruptly at 49 with a bar line from his heart line suggesting quitting public life for emotional reasons.
The second Saturn line in carrying on beyond 49 suggests Sting becoming increasingly reclusive in his later years. Sting's Mercury line is notable for its straight, arrow-like course reflecting an intense, penetrating mind and passionate views that doubtless also contributed to the stage name Sting.
The strength of his convictions is likely to give him an arrogant, cocky air which he would need to balance with considerable tact lest he invoke enmity from others around him. The strength of this line however will make him a powerful communicator.
By contrast his Sun line is not so distinct and possesses a meandering course suggesting his popularity waxes and wanes in public favour. The stronger Saturn line in relation to his Sun line suggests an attitude of bashing on regardless of what people think of him.
The delicate Sun line suggests the need to be reclusive in order to develop his creative ideas. Sting's Uranus line lacks consistency of flow along its length showing though he is commercially aware, he is negligent in his financial affairs. The line would also reflect his lyrical skills when composing songs are likely to be fickle.
ERIC CLAPTON
Eric Clapton's Saturn line is well formed reflecting a strong degree of discipline, application and
determination to succeed. The Mercury line too is also clearly defined after the age of 30 indicating a good
ability to communicate.
But before 30 the line is notably marred by chains and bar lines indicating difficulty in expressing ideas. This trait is likely to have made him a loner in his youth. The Jupiter line is far less clear. The first part is not well formed indicating an unhappy childhood.
In the teenage years the line is doubled showing a difficulty in making relationships. While a definite island can be seen between the ages of 18 to 25 reflecting an intense phase of emotional conflict.After 25 the Jupiter line starts to flow properly for the first time, indicating greater ease of emotional expression.
Subsequently the line displays eight influence lines separating from underneath the line, indicating many close relationships in his life, though the latter phase of the Jupiter line is also marred by a profusion of bar lines. The bar lines on this section of the line show emotional frustration and disappointments in relationships. It is precisely this disappointment and subsequent sadness that provides such bite to Eric's playing of the blues.
JOHNNY ROTTEN
By contrast to the general clarity of Eric Clapton's hand, the lines in Johnny Rotten's palm have a spiky
frazzled appearance which reflects an intense frenetic energy flowing through him. Furthermore many of the
principal palmar lines are covered with bar lines which show blockage of energy flow and indicate frustration,
tension and anger. This energy is often chaotic and disruptive to those around them, well suited to the
anarchic energy of the Sex Pistols.
PAUL SIMON
The length of a line is important. Paul Simon's hand displays a good example of very long, well-defined
Mercury line. The Mercury line reflects his considerable ability to communicate ideas. The line delves deep
into the mount of Moon indicating a strong imagination, which is found, expressed in the lyrics and melodies
of his music.
JASON DONOVAN
By contrast if a line is short then it shows that the energy flowing through it comes to an abrupt end. For
example the Sun line in Jason Donovan's hand is short and stops as it crosses the Mercury line.
If the start of the line reflects the start of his fame as a teenager in Neighbours' then the abrupt stopping of the line at the Mercury line suggests his fame coming to a sudden end when he is 35.
PHIL COLLINS
In Phil Collins' hand a single well-defined Saturn line is found, indicating that it has been relatively easy for
him to get his act together.
The line notably broadens in his late teens when his career was launched by joining Genesis. The line broadens at 25 when he takes over as lead vocalist of the band. The line carries on broadening through his thirties reflecting additional success when he pursued a solo career in conjunction with his involvement with Genesis.
The Saturn line narrows again at 40 reflecting a reduction in the intensity of his career. Reduplication is found in his Saturn line as it crosses the Jupiter line at 45, which suggests a reappraisal of his music career at this time.
Most likely it reflects his recent decision to leave Genesis and concentrate on his solo work. However the reduced width of the line, as shown in this hand print, suggests that focusing on his solo work will not be as successful as when he worked with Genesis. The Saturn line is the clearest on his hand, especially when contrasted to the criss-crossed appearance of his Jupiter line.
This shows that it is easy for him to engage himself in his work rather than deal with relationships. Phil is likely to be continually criticised for being a workaholic by those involved with him in emotional relationships.
His Sun line by contrast to the Saturn line is somewhat lacking in its course.
The weakness of this line suggests that he might not have achieved such prominence in his career had he not stepped into the
shoes of his predecessor in fronting Genesis.
The Mercury line is relatively clear indicating his good communication. The line notably has a slight curve in the line making communication much less intense and more jocular than Sting's straight Mercury line.Phil has a very clear Uranus line conferring a strong commercial sense, evidenced by his personal wealth.
Doubtless this contributed to the much more commercial transatlantic sound adopted by Genesis when he became lead vocalist.
MARK KNOPFLER
The Saturn line in Mark Knopfler's hand has quite a complex structure. Amongst several lines found running
longitudinally towards the middle finger, there are two distinct Saturn lines visible.
In the first there is an island between 22 and 28 showing his heart not in his work at this time. Most likely it shows his conflict between work as a journalist for the Yorkshire Evening Post and being a pub rock musician.
The unification of the line after the island at 28 shows the resolution of this conflict coinciding with the launch of Dire Straits.
After the island the line becomes dead straight showing a successful blending of journalist and guitarist in composing the lyrics and music for the band. Islands in the Saturn line often depict times of financial difficulty and appropriately it was their desperate financial situation that led to the name Dire Straits.
The width of the Saturn line is generally thinner and far less intense when compared to the lines in both Sting's and Phil Collins' palms.
This by comparison reflects the laid back style characteristic of Dire Straits.The Saturn line notably broadens between the years 36 to 38 coinciding with the success following the Brothers in Arms album.
However at 38 a strong bar line cuts through the Saturn line causing a severe weakening to its flow indicating a collapse of the successful momentum of the band and its subsequent decline in popularity.
By 42 the flow of the line is restored again coinciding with release of the On Every Street album. However the weak point in the first Saturn line between 38 and 42 is compensated for by a second Saturn line.
In contrast to the first line the second line has a much more private character. It is noteworthy that Mark took a more backseat role in his career at this time, playing guitar on and producing other people's albums rather than his own.
The displaced beginning of the second Saturn line is often linked to people exploring and healing their emotional background.
It was for Mark a time of exploring the cultural influences to his music culminating in his current solo album Golden Heart. It is noteworthy that at 46 both these Saturn lines flow very closely together, however they do not quite join up.
This is reflected in the divided character to the songs on this album are very similar to Dire Straits contrasted against others which are more personal with a strong Celtic influence.
By 48 this second line peters out while the first line carries on, suggesting that Mark returns to the more popular, raunchy Dire Straits style.
The Sun line evolves out of the island present in the Saturn line. This suggests that it was by trusting his creativity that Mark resolved the conflict of his early 20's.
The straightness of the line reflects a marked ability to express himself creatively through his guitar playing.
The sheer brilliance of his guitar playing doubtless contributed to the meteoric rise to fame and subsequent success of Dire Straits as a band.
The same bar line that cuts through the Saturn line at 38 indicating a break in the fortunes of Dire Straits, also cuts through the Sun line indicating that Mark experienced frustration of his creative expression as well.
The Mercury line on Marks palm is not clearly defined. The length, thinness of width, chained beginning and flow interrupted by many bars lines all indicate a sensitive, perceptive mind however the frustration of expression caused by the many bar lines would make him reserved in communicating his ideas and mistrustful of publicity.
Its clear forked ending on the mount of Moon suggests delight in focusing his ideas in his songs rather than freely articulating his ideas.
In contrast to the clearly defined line found in Phil Collins hand, the Uranus line is very thin and has an island as it crosses his Mercury line. The weakness of flow to the line suggests naivety in his financial dealings while the island may even indicate a degree of embarrassment concerning his personal wealth.
Acknowledgements:
I should like to thank The Rock Circus at The Trocadero, Piccadilly, whose hand print collection formed the basis of
the illustrations in these articles. An especial thanks also to all the featured rock artists for bequeathing their hand
prints to humanity.
