f a c e - r e a d i n g CHINESE FACE READING ---- WANT TO KNOW WHAT OBSTACLES AWAIT YOU IN THE FUTURE? YOUR FUTURE COULD BE WRITTEN ALL OVER YOUR FACE, ACCORDING TO THE ANCIENT CHINESE ART OF FACE READING. We have all heard about palm reading and tarot and gazing into a crystal ball, but according to the Chinese, the great events and general characteristics of your life can also be read in your face. Chinese face reading intuits the future according to color, shape, disfigurements and birthmarks on specific areas of the face. As if that was not tantalising enough, it is also possible, according to Chinese wisdom, to read the state of your body through the condition of your face. For example, "redness, puffiness and breakouts around the nostrils and lower cheek" are said to "indicate too many dairy products which produce mucus and congestion in the lungs." (Dhyansanjivani.org) Furthermore, large, thick eyebrows are said to denote forceful, possible aggressive personalities. Again from Dhyansanjivani: "The elements present in a face indicate the strengths and weaknesses that the person has to deal with in this life; the shape of features set the pattern and timing of events in a life. The zones show current and potential health patterns. So, when reading a face it is important to take each feature within the context of the whole." It is a fascinating area worthy of exploration, so in the lines which follow here, let me begin my worthy exploration! HISTORY OF FACE READING ---- ACCORDING TO THE EXCELLENT ASIAN THERAPY AND MEDICINES SITE Dhyansanjivani, "Face reading first appeared in China during the 6th century BC, possibly as the speciality of "magic men" not affiliated to any religion. It is thought that they were probably Taoist shamans from rural areas such as Szechwan who specialised in non-traditional divinational arts. By 220 BC, the art of face reading was established in Chinese life and classic treatises, such as the... Bamboo Chronicles were written at this time." Prominent face reading authority Charles Yarborough wrote in his article Chinese Face Reading for the Single Woman: "Chinese Face Reading is a tradition that reaches back thousands of years. It is based on the theory that the face broadcasts your core energetic profile as well as aspects of character and personality. Time lines can also be deciphered. How do we read all this? By observing the shape and size of features, along with tonicity of muscles, shape of bone and any wrinkles or lines that may be etched in the face. The first step to reading a face--your own, for instance--is to determine which of the five energetic "elements" you represent..." Chi of Earth writes: "In China, the father of face reading is often credited to the philosopher Gui-Gu Tze, who lived during the Warring State Period (481-221 BC). His book Xiang Bian Wei Mang is still in print to this very day and is studied by serious students of physiognomy. "The Chinese art of face reading is a very involved system that classifies facial features individually by judging the color, shape and disfigurements of specific areas of the face. Basically, the face is partitioned into 108 areas. Each area is a specific age & life situation and by observing the Five Elements of the productive/destructive cycle and the Taoist theories of yang & yin, it may be possible to predict events, diagnosis illnesses or to understand a personfs personality. "To become proficient in face reading it is important to memorize the bagua and to understand what each trigram represents..." 5 : t y p e s : o f : f a c eAccording to Ancient Chinese wisdom there are five distinct kinds of faces, relating to the five elements of traditional Chinese thought: wood, fire, earth, metal, & water. Naturally, in a mixed up world such as the one we live in, pure faces are rare, and most people's faces show mixed elements. This mixture introduces the possibility of harmony or conflict between different elements, and thus explains all the frictions and enjoyments which make life so interesting! The Chinese also say that the eyes rule the face and that a steady glow or "glitter" in the eyes shows a strong heart-spirit or lack of inner stress which can mitigate against times when the energy will be low. This certain glow of energy indicates that the heart is straight and will enhance good features and modify imbalances. Confucius himself said: "Look into a person's pupils -- he cannot hide himself." Would you believe that the humble forehead can say so much about personality -- it can be read like a book if we only knew the right way. t h e : h u m b l e : f o r e h e a dYes, the forehead speaks, just as eloquently as body language! According to this Australian website I recently stumbled upon: "A wide forehead expresses your cleverness and practicality - being someone capable of executing duty diligently. This gives you high idealism and a wealth of ideas. A high rounded and deep forehead depicts your idealism, but with a focus on strong friendship. A narrow forehead is considered an obstacle to fulfilment,especially in social situations. Constraints in family life. Need to think things through." Meanwhile, a shallow forehead with a low hairline may cause career obstacles between the ages of 15 to 30, a flat forehead denotes a pragmatic nature and a receding or "flying" forehead betrays an impatient and spontaneous manner. Possessing an "indented forehead" is said to be bad luck for employment and business, and people with indented foreheads plus powerful eyebrow ridges are "quick tempered, impulsive and ambitious". For an exhaustive description of how each part of the face indicates inner personality, go to the aforementioned The Face site. f o r e h e a d : c r e a s e sWhat do the creases on an individual's forehead tell us, apart from the fact they are old or they worry too much? As one web source has pointed out: "The FOREHEAD represents the soul. If you see high vertical creases, you can expect that there are problems in personal relationships, problems in career experiences, and problems in the physical body. If you see a vertical crease in the mid section of the forehead, this means that a conflict is standing in the way of achievement. Markings on the upper right quarter of the forehead means that a person will resent hardships of all kinds. It means that they spend too much energy, and have been having difficulties in life. Marking on the upper left quarter of the forehead means that the person resists learning and changing. This person thinks that others need to change, yet doesn't see change is necessary for himself." t h e : w o o d : f a c eThe Wood Type has a long face and long nose, a broad and high forehead and narrow cheeks. The eyes should have a kindly look, and the hair and eyebrows should not be thick or wiry. The forehead should be high and wide in wood as mental direction is important for this elemental type. Wood has the energy of growth, seeing the overall picture and a vision of the future, planning and seeing through projects. Wood types with balanced faces are leaders, administrators and organisers with strong ideals. They need to grow and achieve, as this is the way they learn about themselves and their path in life. One of the challenges of the wood element is to be able to "see the wood for the trees" and not get enmeshed in structures. The Chinese say that a balanced wood face is a pre-requisite for Government. The emotion that relates to wood is anger which is also the energy used for growth, development and reaching maturity. It is the desire to assert who we are and to fulfil our vision. When this desire is frustrated and blocked it can become explosive anger (the yang aspect) or implode into depression (yin aspect). If the wood type cannot put out "new twigs" every year the "tree" gets very stunted and this can translate into irritability, frustration and indecisiveness instead of good judgement, self motivation, precision and sound planning. Blockages in the free and easy flow of wood energy makes the liver and gall bladder susceptible to disease as well as causing headaches, PMT, digestive problems, gallstones, and ulcers. For photos of a typical wood face, click here. t h e : f i r e :f a c eThe fire type also has a long face with narrow, prominent cheekbones, pointed chin and a more pointed forehead than the wood type. They may have freckles, red, curly or wiry hair, rapid speech and quick body movements. The fire element brings warmth and enthusiasm to the personality with a capacity to inspire and get people fired up. They are active and outdoorsy, goal centred, fast paced and adventurous. They can sometimes take crazy risks, and constantly seek stimulation and excitement. If the fire goes out, the fire type becomes a rather withdrawn and timid character, lacking in joy and motivation. The challenges of the fire element are to find that warmth and positive joy inside. Excess fire can make you prone to heart problems, anxiety and insomnia or skin rashes. Fire types need to include some bitter foods into their diet from time to time such as chicory, dandelion, and burdock. Blood nourishing foods and herbs are an important consideration for them. Some do very well on ginseng. For photos of a typical fire face in reallife action, click here. t h e : e a r t h : f a c eEarth personalities are characterised by short square faces with distinct jawlines, sallow complexions, thickset bodies and deep voices. The features can be large, especially the mouth which relates to the stomach and intestines. Earth has the ability to be still and to build a solid base in life. Earth types are practical, persevering, reliable, stoical and careful with money and make good treasurers. They are not so dreamy or idealistic as wood types and not as swayed by emotion as water types. They tend towards the traditional ways of doing things and can have problems with worry, food issues, stomach and spleen disorders, and assimilating food (and life) and transforming these into Qi energy. The stomach channel runs along the jaw line and a weak earth can mean no jaw line. Conversely, too much earth can signify a tendency to stubbornness, selfishness and a reluctance to change. The emotion of sympathy is associated with the earth element -- this can manifest as over-caring and nurturing, or a lack of sympathy and inability to nurture oneself. Nutritional advice, supplementation and digestive enzymes are often suitable for earth types. A diet which avoids sugar and dairy is suitable as these foods tend to "blow out" the digestion and create what the Chinese call "damp" -- a form of internal mucus which gets trapped in the connective tissue and causes symptoms such as heavy legs, bloating, excess catarrh, muzzy heads and lethargy. The challenges for earth personalities are to be in the material world and to experience fruition, harvest, nurturing of self and others, rhythms, stillness and a sense of being centred and grounded. For photos of a typical earth face, click here. t h e : m e t a l : f a c eThe metal face is oval with widely set, chevron cheekbones and a pale complexion. Usually good looking, they have clear, shining eyes with a lot of energy coming out of them. The eyebrows are pale, the speech is clipped and the hair is usually straight. They are good advisers, lawyers and counsellors. Metal is the element of the mind and so they are strong willed and solve their own problems. A good sense of humour, lively outlook and hardworking attitudes are all facets of metal at its best. At its worst, it can become toxic with negative thoughts, cut off and caustic, with a "why is this happening to me?" mentality. Metal types also make good teachers and healers. When depressed, they suffer with diseases of the respiratory system and lower intestines. It is important for them to breathe deeply to let in the heavenly Qi and to make sure that they eat good quality food with lots of minerals, and stay away from junk food which can be difficult for them to eliminate. They tend to respond well to psychotherapy, homoeopathy, Bach flower remedies and treatment protocols which are rational and well thought out. To feel happy, they need to express their creativity or the bright shining metal gets dull and rusty. For photos of a typical fire face, click here. t h e : w a t e r : f a c eWater personalities can be recognised by their round, chubby, soft faces and sometimes, rotund bodies. Large soft eyes are a water feature as is dark hair and colouring. Water people are quiet and gentle, much ruled by sensation and susceptible to any appeal to the emotions. They are good communicators and storytellers and are sensitive, and aware of trends either at work or society. They can be psychic and make good listeners, carers and counsellors. There is an aliveness and vitality about clear water which can attract what it needs like a magnet, unlike wood types, for example, who decide what they want and then make a plan about how to get it. If the water is clear, they have strong reserves and the ability to flow freely in any situation. If it gets stagnant through unexpressed emotions, the skin can develop a blue tinge with dark rings under the eyes. Like pure fire faces, the classic water face is quite rare. Most people are mixtures, and some have a lot of water in their face, although the basic shape may be wood, earth or metal. Excess soft tissue means held in anxieties and deep emotions which may be affecting the kidney energy. Although the water type is often very ambitious, too much yin can mean that they get bogged down and lethargic. The water element rules the kidneys which hold the essence of life and are the foundation of yin and yang. Long term stress, particularly mental stress and overwork, deplete kidney yin which can no longer cool the body, giving rise to inflammatory conditions and inner heat. For photos of a typical water face, click here. As well as indicating the basic personality, Chinese face reading can also be used to yield further information about the owner of the particular specimen being studied. For example, parts of the face correspond directly to different parts of the body (internal organs), as shown in this face map. Colors shown in the face can also be read and interpreted -- subtle shades of blue, yellow and green tell a lot about what is going on, especially mineral deficiencies. And lines on your face aren't necessarily an indicator of your age but what the problems are in your body. For instance, the dark blue under the eyes relates to overwork and imbalance in the kidneys and adrenals. This could be caused by simply not drinking enough water or feeling very stressed. If there is a yellow tinge to the skin, you have a weak digestive system and redness can mean poor circulation or too much hot, spicy food. A lined, puffy or red forehead could mean you are eating too much rich, oily food such as meat, take-aways, fried food, cream and butter which affect the gallbladder. A puffy face is what the Chinese say results from damp. It relates to allergic reactions to food, which affect the stomach and spleen and lead to the body being unable to digest food efficiently. Finally, we move to the possibility that, like the lines on your hand, the face can be read as your entire life story. That is right, the events of your life are written all over your face, including events that have yet to occur. For example, the ears and the top part of your face are said to represent the early part of your life when you are in your pre-teens, teens and early twenties. As you live through your life, you progress down your face towards your eyebrows, nose, cheeks, lips and finally, your chin. The diagram here shows in more detail where your current age falls within your face. Marks, discolorations, spots, creases and indentations indicate problems. And where they are found on your face gives you an idea at what age you will be facing such problems. The bigger and the darker the mark on you face, the more serious the problem you will face. Contact the author Rob Sullivan at coderot@gmail.com. Anticopyright May 2009.