The Wisdom of the Face and Palm: Maps To The Soul

Contrary to popular belief, face and palm readings are not tools to look into someone’s future and tell them their fortune. Rather, Kabbalah, which coins the terms Chochmat haPanim (wisdom of the face) and Chochmat Kaf haYad (wisdom of the hand), says that such practices are used as maps to truly see and understand our souls. By analyzing even the smallest of wrinkles and the faintest of beauty marks, a reader can gain insights into our qualities, characteristics, and essence. These findings allow us to begin the process of actualizing the potential that is inherent in every one of us. 

There are entire chapters of ancient Kabbalah texts that are dedicated to the analysis of character traits in relation to facial features and palms. The thesis of this article is to introduce you to the fascinating and complex characteristics that can be discovered from face and palm readings. Again, it must be noted that the purpose of such practices is not for fortune telling, and certainly not to judge yourself or others, rather it is to understand the mental, and sometimes even physical, state of the person being read, and hopefully help them transform into the best version of him or herself. 

Reading Our Characteristics: 

The teachings of Kabbalah explain that there is a close connection between the physical part of the face and a spiritual layer that hides beneath it. Characteristics that can be found on the face are divided into the following categories: spiritual, emotional, and instinctive. Their physical counterparts can be found on the forehead, eyebrows, eyes, nose, upper lip, lower lip, and chin. It’s important to acknowledge that the number seven is associated with creation, and therefore it makes sense that our characteristics (hidden in the spiritual layer) are expressed on the outside in seven features as our faces create an atmosphere (if someone shows excitement on their face, you will become excited. Just as if someone is visibly upset, they could make you upset). 

Below are features of the face and palm and characteristics that can be discovered through their analysis. It is imperative to remember that every seeming disadvantage has an advantage, and vice versa. For example, a person who works quickly may accomplish more, but he or she may not do a thorough job. Alternatively, a slow worker may seem less productive, but he or she might do a more thorough job. 

The Forehead: The forehead represents our cognitive and intellectual ability. It also tells us about how much self-confidence we have and about our thoughts, reflections, and worries. The forehead is related to the neshama, the higher spiritual part of our face. 

The Eyes: The eyes are a window into the human soul and teach us about our stability, endurance, criticality, and passion. The eyes reflect the truth, in contrast to the mouth, which can deceive. The eyes show our complex emotions such as desire and fear. Most people have symmetrical eyes. However, eyes that are more far apart represent farsightedness and the possibility of speaking with the dead. Additionally, eyes that are closer together indicate a judgmental and meticulous character.

The Nose: The nose can express a person’s relationship with materialism and money, as well as a person’s emotions when it comes to deceitfulness—where did you think Carlo Collodi, the creator of Pinocchio, got the idea from?! 

The Chin: The chin represents strength or weakness. A prominent chin indicates a strong person, while a receding chin indicates a person who is not gifted with leadership abilities.

The Ears: The ears can be used to understand the balance of a person. When the ears are not balanced, it can indicate an imbalance or problem with kidney function.

The Hair: Someone’s hair can indicate a person’s personality. For example, curly hair represents a more energetic person as compared to straight hair. 

The Palm: A long thumb represents an intellectual inclination. Meanwhile, long fingers indicate a tendency to think philosophically, while short fingers usually indicate more practical thinking. Also, a flexible thumb represents a flexible person who may take more risks, while a person whose thumb is not flexible may be more serious and calculated.

The Nails: Human nails can indicate a person’s health, so it is customary to examine the nails to diagnose possible diseases. 

Face and palm readings are just some of the complex tools that Kabbalists, such as the great Arizal and Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, use to unearth the hidden layers of our souls. There is much more to learn so please be on the lookout for more of my articles; in which I hope to dive into more topics on how to use Kabbalistic tools to better understand yourself, others, the Creator, and your relationships with these entities.