Thursday Thirteen

Today, I bring you 13 ways to tell your fortune, based on bodily indications.* Everybody get a mirror!

1. Weakness of body is distinguished by a small, ill-proportioned head, narrow shoulders, soft skin, and melancholy complexion.

2. Signs of long life are strong teeth, a sanguine temperament, middle size, large deep and ruddy lines in the hand, large muscles, stooping shoulders, full chest, firm flesh, clear complexion, slow growth, , wide ears, and large eyelids. (I wonder if you have to have all of that, or just some?)

3. A short life is inferred from a thick tongue, the appearance of grinders before puberty, thin, straggling, and uneven teeth, confused lines in the hand, of a quick but small growth.

4. A good Genius may be expected from a thin skin, middle stature, blue bright eyes, fair complexion, straight and pretty strong hair, an affable aspect, the eyebrows joined, moderate in mirth, a cheerful countenance, and the temples a little concave.

5. A dunce may be known by a swollen neck, plump arms, sides, and loins, a round head, concave behind, a large fleshy forehead, pale eyes, a dull heavy look, small joints, snuffing nostrils, proneness to laughter, little hands, an ill proportioned head, either too big or too little, blubber lips, short fingers, and thick legs.

6. A good memory is commonly attached to those persons who are smaller, yet better formed in the upper than the lower parts, not fat, but fleshy, of a fair delicate skin, with the poll of the head uncovered, crooked nose, teeth thick set, large ears, with plenty of cartilage.

7. A bad memory is observable in persons who are larger in their superior than inferior parts, fleshy, though dry and bald. This is contrary to the opinion of Aristotle, who says, that the superior parts being larger than the inferior, signify good memory, and vice versa.

8. A good imagination and thoughtful disposition is distinguished by a large prominent forehead, a fixed and attentive look, slow respiration, and an inclination of the head.

9. Irascibility is accompanied by erect posture, clear skin, solemn voice, open nostrils, moist temples, displaying superficial veins, thick neck, equal use of both hands, quick pace, blood-shot eyes, large, unequal, ill-ranged teeth, and choleric disposition.

10. Melancholy is denoted by a wrinkled countenance, dejected eyes, meeting eyebrows, slow pace, fixed look, and deliberate respiration.

11. Gaiety attends a serene open forehead, rosy agreeable countenance, a sweet musical tone of voice, an agile body, and soft flesh.

12. Envy appears with a wrinkled forehead, frowning, dejected and squinting look, a pale melancholy countenance, and a dry rough skin.

13. Bashfulness by moist eyes, never wide open, eyebrows frequently lowered, blushing cheeks, moderate pace, slow and submissive speech, bent body, and glowing ears of a purple hue.

*All of this information was taken from A Handbook of Dreams and Fortune-Telling, by Zadkiel and Sibly, originally published in 1888. A 2005 reprint is available on Amazon.

When I was nine years old, I purchased for 35 cents a little Dell Purse Book called The Book of Dreams: a guide to the mystic meaning of your dreams. I've used the thing for all of these years (I am quite a vivid dreamer). A while back I noticed that it said it was abridged from Zadkiel's Book of Dreams & Fortune Telling so I looked up the book. I was surprised to find the book above available and ordered it. The fortune-telling part has been most interesting.



Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 239th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.