The Mount of Venus, which is formed by the root of the thumb, indicates, when fairly developed, love of the beautiful, melody in music, the desire of pleasing and sensuous tenderness; in excess it gives love of material pleasures, coquetry, inconstancy and (when other signs, afterwards to be explained, are also seen in the hand) extreme sensuality.
Each planet has a special influence over certain parts of the body. Jupiter governs the head and lungs; Saturn, the spleen and ears; the Sun, heart, eyes and arms; Mercury, the liver and legs; Mars, the head and throat; the Moon and Venus, the lower parts of the body. Any excess in the length or size of the fingers or mounts argues a tendency to disease in the organs represented by that finger or mount. When a mount is—instead of being high—broad and full, it gives the same indications as if it were high; if much covered with lines it shows an overabundance of the quality of the mount, and is equal to an excess of height. One deep perpendicular line upon a mount is a fortunate sign; two show danger of too great force of the quality; and three give misfortune arising from excess of the qualities of the mount. Crossway lines on the mount always denote obstacles. Some old Italian writers affirm that fine cross lines on a mount signify wounds to that part of the body over which the mount on which they are seen has influence.
The mounts are often irregularly placed. If one should lean towards the other, it absorbs some of the qualities of the mount which it invades.
To face Chapter XVII.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE LINE OF LIFE
The ancient Chiromancists divided the Line of Life into ten compartments (see plate), each representing ten years of life, and thus they were enabled to prognosticate at what date in the life the illnesses or dangers indicated by the form or colour of the line would be likely to happen. This plate is copied from one in the Sieur de Peruchio's interesting work, La Chiromance, published in Paris in 1657.
It will be noticed that the mounts are here indicated by the astrological symbols of the various planets they represent, Mars being placed on the Plain of Mars, and again on the Mount of Mars, which, as we have already seen, lies immediately below the Mount of Mercury, It will also be seen that the signs of the zodiac are also represented on the hand: Aries (March), which begins the astrological year, is placed at the base of the hand, close to the Mount of Venus; Taurus (April) is on the Mount of Venus; Gemini (May) is at the base of the Mount of Jupiter. These represent the spring-tide of the year, and also of life: therefore they are placed on and near Venus, which planet represents happiness and enjoyment. The signs Cancer (June), Leo (July) and Virgo (August) represent the second age, which is given to the accumulation of riches and honours: so these signs appear on the finger of Jupiter. In the third age a person is supposed to enter upon the enjoyment of dignities, therefore Libra (September), Scorpio (October) and Sagittarius (November) are on the third finger, that of the Sun, which is supposed to accord position and reputation. The last months of the astrological year are thus placed: Capricornus (December) is beneath the Mount of the Sun; Aquarius (January) is on the upper part of the Mount of the Moon; and Pisces (February) will be seen at the base of the Mount.
When the Line of Life is long, well-formed, slightly coloured and goes all round the thumb, it indicates a long life and free from serious illness; but when the line is wide and pale in colour, it indicates bad health; when it is short, it means early death.