To a greater or lesser degree, most people experience physiological reactions to emotions.

Our hands turn cold and clammy before a visit to the dentist, we blush when praised or embarrassed, our throat tightens when we hear that a loved one has been stricken with calamity, and laughter releases tension. There is an observable link between the mind and body. The mind may function consciously or subliminally. In the East, this observed link between mind and body extends to the hand. The rishis say that, as an individual evolves through life, the lines and patterns of the hands change; and consistently, modifications appear in particular lines reflecting positive or negative changes in specific areas of human life. Over centuries, the science of palmistry developed into a method for developing self-awareness. Just as our dread of the dentists chair makes our heart palpitate in sympathy, so our thought patterns and mental preoccupations form the details of lines seen in our hands. The quality of these lines and signs is in direct proportion to our level of consciousness. In other words, we ourselves program the details seen in our hands whether we are conscious of this or not. Self-Awareness Through Palmistry The goal of palmistry is to assist our personal evolution by establishing an equilibrium in all areas of life through greater self-awareness. This equilibrium can be cultivated at the conscious, subconscious and superconscious levels. A better understanding of the three levels of awareness will help us gain insight into our own reactions to everyday life situations, including our relationships. Much of the fun in studying palmistry comes from seeing how we can exercise our free will in more informed and effective ways. Each time we take a new direction in our lives, we are able to see corresponding changes in the lines and signs on our hands. No two palm readings will, therefore, be identical. As professional palmists, we can best assist our clients by pointing out precisely how our past and present thoughts and actions have set us on a certain course. With guidance, effort and patience, we can improve in attitude and behaviour. As our thinking changes, and new behaviour patterns become familiar, the lines and signs and even the mounts, (the underlying tissue of the hand) will undergo detectable changes. Our hands will reflect personality changes. Even lines indicating future trends can change. Broken lines can be mended; lines showing interferences and obstacles can fade and disappear; lines showing positive associations and relationships can appear and so on. Admittedly, deeply ingrained major lines indicating entrenched tendencies

in our subconscious are slower and more resistant to change. Nevertheless, these too can respond with patient effort. Seven Steps to Managing your Destiny No matter what tendencies we have, we need not be affected by them throughout our whole life. We have the free will to change. What concrete steps can we take to bring about positive changes? We must be patient and diligent. It takes time before a conscious mode of behavior filters through into our subconscious and becomes automatic. By understanding the implications of the following sequences of steps, we can teach ourselves to exercise our free will constructively.

First Step: Breath It is our breathing that gives birth to our thoughts. We need our breath, which sustains our lives, to transform an idea into living reality. When we learn to control the quality and depth of our breathing, we channel our life force or pranaa subtle form of breath responsible for giving us strength and energy. Second Step: Thought

Deep, balanced breathingwhere our cycle of inhalation and exhalation is effortless creates a state of inner calm where clear, objective thinking can occur. We become more focused on the present moment without losing sight of the greater context. Third Step: Action Once we are able to think clearly about a situation or problem, we will know how to act. We will be able to discriminate between what we want and what we need. We will be able to determine what is really good for us and what is not. Fourth Step: Habit When we practice positive patterns of behavior, we create a habit. While these new actions may require conscious effort at first, over time they become second-nature. Fifth Step: Character Habits provide the foundation of our character. Once a series of repeated actions becomes unconscious habit, we realize that we have begun to change our past tendencies. Sixth Step: Behavior Our behavior reflects the changes in our inner natureour character. Others perceive us as wiser and more loving. Seventh Step: Circumstances With a more positive attitude and behavior, we find that the circumstances of our lives will improve. We find greater harmony in our work, in our personal relationships and in our spiritual life. By learning to understand the significance of the lines and signs on our hands as indicators of predispositions, we can decipher trends in our behavior. An experienced analyst can suggest the likelihood of future behavior and occurrences. Armed with this information, we have the freedom both to confirm and nurture our strengths and potentials and to decide what changes we wish to make in our lives.