Database or Compendium of Hand Patterns

Hi Everyone: My mildly obsessive nature has resulted in collecting about 30 palmistry books, most of them in the last few months. As usual, I approach my research very methodically. What I will probably do is synthesize the information in a huge database, divided by particular categories going from general to specific (line - heart line - long heart line, manifestation according to author1, author2.). I know it might seem a bit silly to some, but that will be a way for me to get grounded in information. Of course, it is all meant to be applied to the field.

I would be very happy to share it with anyone interested. I feel knowledge should be shared. This should take me a year or longer given my busy lifestyle.

Anyway, has anyone ever attempted to do such a thing? If so, do they have the information available in digital format? I would love to compare my information with those of others.

Thanks,

-Charles

Hi Charles,
This made me smile, it's exactly what my friend & I did when we first learnt palmistry. We went through some books systematically and compared all the hand features to what we'd learnt in class. Digital format wasn't commonplace then, we had to carve it on clay tablets. Of course I'm joking (it was quill & ink ) but it was laborious work. We gave up after about 2 years, once we'd filled 2 lever-arch files with notes and diagrams from about 5 books, and discovered that many interpretations were confusingly different. Luckily that's when I heard about 5-element hand reading which took it all back to basic priniciples, then I understood how the various interpretations all fitted together.

I also once started a project on hand features in various 'syndromes' found in people with learning difficulties, on my first computer with its 1GB hard drive and dial-up connection. Soon abandoned that, but Martijn has done a much better job of it.

Good luck with this huge project!

Hi Lynn: Thanks for the feedback. I fully expect that there will be contradictions! This is something I will have to sort out through practical readings.

How do I find out more about 5-element hand reading? It sounds like you found it to be quite enriching and I respect your opinion.

Thanks,

-Charles

cshahar wrote:How do I find out more about 5-element hand reading?
-Charles

Not many people still teaching it, since the Cheirological Society folded about 10 years ago. me & Johnny Fincham in UK, Jennifer Hirsch & Kevin Leak in S Africa. Sorry, not sure who else.

Hi Lynn,
I also found that 5-element approach is more appropriate for me. At this stage my main goal is to understanding basic principles and found more connections between palm lines.

Two years ago I also wanted to sort out all learned information by sections or meaning, but found that everything is so interconnected, so most of my research ended up tungled up even more confusing.

Martijn: Thanks for the advice regarding keeping everything in perspective and starting modestly. I like your idea of collaborating on some level. And I would be very happy to contribute the results. Why don't I let you know when I have something more substantial to show. I expect Campbell's book to come through the mail any day now.

Hmm, I live in Canada. Is there a publication you recommend related to this 5-element system I can look at? It is not as good as a live teaching, but it is better than no teaching at all.

-Charles

Hi Charles,
The Cheirological Society course book for 5 element hand analysis was "Chinese Hand Analysis" by Terry Dukes (alias Shifu Nagaboshi Tomio) but, for numerous reasons that I won't go into here, I DON'T recommend it!

I recommend Jen Hirsch's books http://cheiro.co.za/
and although Johnny Fincham changed the nomenclature, his books are based on what we learnt combined with his years of experience.

I'll let you know when I've got my online course together, but don't hold your breath!

Some info about 5 elemental levels on Christopher Jones (my tutor's) website - he also has the best History of Handreading info http://www.cheirology.net/

and there are a few discussions on this forum (along with a review of Jen's recent book)
https://www.modernhandreadingforum.com/iiib-elemental-chirology-f3/

Thank you to you both! I have a lot of reading to do!

-Charles

cshahar wrote:Thank you to you both! I have a lot of reading to do!

-Charles

Charles, your enthusiasm & particular areas of interest in hands remind me so much of me when I first started learning (with regard to checking out all the books) and maybe 10 years ago with regard to mental health etc. Not sure of the timing, maybe Martijn can remember when I decided to compile a database on hand features of people with various 'mental handicap' syndromes, but gave up all too soon. Maybe my headline is too short.

Martijn gives good advice - my "project became too ambitious, to end in a desert of words." I hope you don't repeat my mistakes and end up with a lot of half-finished projects! Take it steady, one thing at a time! I really look forward to anything you come up with!

I like this idea from Martijn -

Martijn (admin) wrote:
But I do like your idea... and maybe I can provide you some assistence when your project is running! Maybe we could even design a forum section where we can collect 'quotes' from the books.

I really appreciate the encouragement from you both! I already know that the task is very daunting. In my "conventional work" I do research for a living, and I am very good at organizing information. So we shall test my metal on this project! Frankly, I think it will be a challenge to organize my time more than the information.

cshahar wrote:I really appreciate the encouragement from you both!

I think I speak for both Martijn & myself when I say "You're welcome"

Personally, I am good at research but not good at organising information. Martijn is good at both. Like you, I am not good at organising my time, personally I am a master of distraction techniques!
Go for it Charles ! We look forward to hearing any insights you discover.