CONTENTS

Part I.
ASTROLOGY
CHAPTER PAGE
I.Astrology[4]
II.The Alphabet of Astrology[12]
III.Concerning the Signs of the Zodiac[17]
IV.Of the Natures of the Seven Planets and of theirEssential and Accidental Dignities[23]
V.Of the Influences of the Seven Planets[34]
VI.Concerning the Twelve Houses of Heaven and theirPowers[50]
VII.An Explanation of Various Terms used in Astrology[54]
VIII.Of the Figure of the Heavens[59]
IX.Of the Influences of the Fixed Stars[65]
X.Of the Effect of each Planet in each of theTwelve Houses[70]
XI.On Forming a General Judgment on a Nativity[76]
XII.Concerning Directions and Horary Questions[92]
XIII.Solar Horoscopes[103]
XIV.Aphorisms culled from the Works of Ptolemy and otherAncient Astrologers[120]
PART II.
CHIROMANCY
XV.Chiromancy and its Origin[125]
XVI.Concerning the Principal Lines in the Handand the Mounts[129]
XVII.The Line of Life[137]
XVIII.The Line of Heart and Line of Head[143]
XIX.The Saturnian Line[150]
XX.The Line of the Sun and Line of Health[155]
XXI.On the Ring of Venus, the Wrist Lines and the LetterM to be seen in most Hands[160]
XXII.Concerning Chance Lines; that is, Lines which aresometimes—but only rarely—seen on any Hand[166]
XXIII.Concerning the Fingers and Thumb and Nails[169]
XXIV.Of the Various Marks to be seen on the Hand[177]
XXV.The Triangle, the Quadrangle and the Happy Hand[182]
Part III.
PHYSIOGNOMY
XXVI.Physiognomy[185]
XXVII.The Forehead and Eyebrows[194]
XXVIII.The Eyes and Eyelashes[201]
XXIX.The Nose[211]
XXX.The Mouth, Teeth, Jaw and Chin[221]
XXXI.The Hair and Ears[231]
XXXII.The Signatures of the Planets[237]
XXXIII.The Moles on the Face[246]
XXXIV.Moles having no Corresponding Moles on the Face[254]
XXXV.The Zodiacal Marks[258]
XXXVI.Concerning Alfridaries[263]
XXXVII.Concerning the Wheel of Pythagoras and the Methodof Working It[267]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Wheel of Pythagoras [Frontispiece and Cover]
The EarthTo face Chapter[VI.]
Natus. 9th January, 1889""[VIII.]
Facsimile of a Map of a Horary Question from Lilly's"Astrology"""[XII.]
Principal Lines on the Palm of the Hand""[XVI.]
The Line of Life""[XVII.]
Chance Lines on the Hand""[XXII.]
Various Marks on the Hand""[XXIV.]
The Happy Hand""[XXV.]
The Planets' Places on the Face""[XXVII.]
Alfridary Table""[XXXVI.]

FOREWORD

Of all subjects that have at any time engaged the attention of the world, there is none more ancient than astrology. In the East—where it first arose at a period of very remote antiquity—it still holds sway and in every part of the world (especially among the learned) it reigned supreme until the middle of the seventeenth century. That it not only ruled the daily actions of individuals but swayed the councils of princes, is shown by the records of every nation that has a history (and by none more fully than by that of England); yet the present generation seems never, until quite lately, to have cared to inquire on what basis this belief could have been for so many ages supported. During the past ten years, however—possibly from a reaction growing out of the realism by which we have been so long oppressed—a new interest in these old-world beliefs has sprung up and it is to satisfy that interest that this book (containing the results of many years' study) was written.

Chiromancy and Physiognomy are both based on astrology and are, therefore, quite in place as the second and third parts of a work treating of the influence of the stars. Many of the modern writers on Chiromancy seem disposed to deny its affinity to astrology, with which it is, however, inseparably connected. Dr. Saunders, in the preface to his exhaustive work on Chiromancy and Physiognomy, published in 1671, and dedicated to his friend Lilly, the great astrologer, says: "For our more orderly proceeding with the body of this work, it is in the first place necessary to be observed that there are seven planets, named Stellæ Errantes—wandering stars—which have each of them its separate character as they are used in astrologie; the which stars have great power over inferior bodies and do, each of them, govern some part or other of man's body and they especially have their material existence in the hand and without astrology Chiromancy could not subsist and be subservient to true wisdom."

Now, why, in the face of this and many other equally forcible words among the old-world authorities, do the modern writers try to force their own crude theories upon us? To drag the time-honoured study of Chiromancy into the turmoil of nineteenth-century existence and—by robbing it of its mysticism—to strain it into unison with the realism of modern thought, strikes the earnest student with the same sense of incongruity as would the hanging of a carnival mask over the mystically calm features of an antique statue.

Rosa Baughan.