Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.

Aristotle

In part 1 of the Self Discovery series we learned that a true understanding of who we are is critical to living an authentic, holistic life.  Without this knowledge, we tend to fall into a robotic daily routine and end up living according to the will of society and the people around us.  This way of life leaves us empty and unfulfilled.  We also discovered that finding out who we are is not a straightforward process.  Most of the knowledge we seek resides in our subconscious, which is not directly accessible.  Part 2 is where we began the journey of self-discovery.  We participated in two exercises that began to stimulate our thinking with regard to our knowledge of who we are. Those exercises laid the groundwork for the next step we are about to take in our journey of self-discovery.

Before we begin though, I want to high five you for making it this far.  Self-discovery is not an easy process and requires a lot of thought, honesty and discipline on your part.  It is always easy to observe the qualities that make us good and noble, but it is not as much fun when we look at our darker side.  Yet, that side is equally a part of our fabric and viewing ourselves honestly enables us to see and understand our motivations and why we do the things we do.  Truly knowing who we are enables us to make better choices, improve our interactions with others, and begin living authentically!

I promised that part 3 of this series would be novel and unique and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.  Let me begin by asking how many of you have ever heard of face reading?  If your answer was, “not me,” then you are in the same boat I was a few years ago.  I was on the same journey as you (and I still am since it never ends) and was searching everywhere for answers when a friend told me about face reading and recommended a book on the subject.  That book was an epiphany for my own self-discovery!!

I’ll have more on the book shortly, but first let me introduce you to the concept of face reading.  Face reading was developed and refined thousands of years ago in China.  Even if you are only marginally aware of the contributions of the Chinese to health and medicine, you have probably heard of acupuncture, feng shui, and other forms of energy work.  Yes, I said energy.  It turns out that the entire universe, including ourselves is based on energy.  The belief is that energy imbalances are responsible for the maladies that afflict us, and Chinese medicine makes use of the manipulation and redirection of that energy to make us well again.  The Chinese also believed that a simple examination of our bodies could be used to diagnose and treat disease.  Our bodies tell our story!  This is the principle on which the Chinese art of face reading is based.

Over the course of thousands of years, the ancients observed nature in action.  What they saw was that all life moves through a cyclic pattern that repeats itself over time.  This pattern can be observed in many ways such as the changing of the seasons or the human life cycle from birth through death.  The ancients observed that this “circle of life” flows through phases and that each phase has a unique type of energy, each different and distinct from the others.  The Chinese gave each phase a descriptive name: Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal.  Over time, these names came to be called the Five Elements.  Now, don’t confuse the five elements with medieval alchemy.  These are not the fundamental elements thought to make up all matter, but rather are simply terms that are descriptive of each phase’s energetic nature.

So, you might ask what the five elements have to do with face reading; or how they may help you in your personal self-discovery.  It turns out that we all have some of each of the five elements in our personalities (remember, we are talking about energy), with a couple of them being more dominant than the others typically.  Each of the elements represent personality characteristics.  And these elements are reflected in the features of our face!  By carefully observing those features, we can learn which elements are dominant within us.  This will help us to learn not only where our emotional strengths lie, but also where we are challenged.  By reading the characteristics embodied in our faces, we can gain insight into who we are and what our life purpose is!

Please bear in mind that I am giving you the “Cliff’s Notes” version of Chinese face reading.  There is so much more to it that you could spend your entire lifetime studying this fascinating topic.  That level of depth is well beyond what I can provide here.  Also, keep in mind that I am a rank amateur when it comes to face reading.  I have read books and searched literature on the internet, applying it to myself, friends, and colleagues.  Hopefully, this brief introduction will whet your appetite to explore further as well.

Before we begin, let me lay out the three part approach I will be taking.  First, I will provide you with some definitions and characteristics of each of the elements.  I will also provide the facial characteristics that indicate the presence of a particular trait, keeping in mind that we often have multiple elements in our makeup to varying degrees.  Next, I will link you to a YouTube video that shows a professional face reader reading someone’s face.  It is only a few minutes long and is the first of a three part series.  You can easily find the other two parts if you wish to view more of the reading, which I recommend.  Finally, I will provide images of a guinea pig (oops, I meant subject) and walk through conducting a simple, very basic face reading on that subject.  There is a side effect to face reading worth noting.  We’ve talked about face reading in the context of gaining self-understanding.  That is our primary purpose here.  However, you should keep in mind that if you can read your own face, then you can read the faces of others as well.  By seeing the personality characteristics of others, you will be better able to understand them and their underlying motivations.  This can lead to better relationships with our partners, friends, and colleagues.

Earlier, I mentioned a book on face reading that dramatically changed how I perceived myself.  That book is called “The Wisdom of your Face” by Jean Haner.  It is very well written and easy to read.  It covers the subject thoroughly and provides plenty of example photos showing the features being discussed.  Although I have explored other sources of information on face reading, this is my “go to” source!  Much of the information I present in this post is from the book.  For more information on the book, please check out my review of "The Wisdom of Your Face" on Codex Vita.

 

Let’s look at the characteristics of each of the elements before we watch the video or engage in a reading.  The brief synopsis provided here will begin to alert you to the facial features and their associated elements and personality characteristics.

Water – The energy of water is deep and powerful and reflects the mysteries of life and death.  It is the energy of Winter.  Water’s power is often deep and hidden from view.  Water is not about doing, it is about being and just as actual water is a flowing dynamic force able to find its way around obstacles, so too is the water energy within us.  A water person has inner courage, tenacity, and determination.  Of all the elements, water’s willpower is the strongest.  Water people have the ability to observe the meaning of life at a very deep level.  Their depth of feeling is powerful and not easily accessed by others.  Water strength and determination enable them to explore life in an adventurous way.  The inner courage of water, coupled with their other characteristics is what makes water people successful.  The greatest weakness of a water person is fear.  Water represents an unknowable beginning and ending and this unknown leads to fear, which can freeze a water person into a static state.  This may cause a water person to withdraw and be unable to resolve a problem.  Water people also maintain a level of secrecy, withholding the expression of their thoughts and feelings, especially when hurt.  Water people feel more deeply and are affected by emotion more than other people.  There is an incredible depth of feeling that is both a strength and a weakness.  While it enriches the experience of life, it also provides an intensity that can become unbearable at times.  Water people shed tears easily based upon their deeply rooted emotions and are easily recognized by this characteristic.  Water people are often dreamy, creative personalities.  They love their freedom and find it difficult to be confined by the normal aspects of life.  Water people often travel and explore, just as actual water flows and never stands still.  Water people need time to complete their work and make decisions.  They often take a circuitous path, especially in conversations, which may annoy the other elements.

The major features of water are:

• A broad or high domed forehead
• Distinct shadowing above and/or below the eyes
• Dreamy, mysterious eyes
• A well-defined philtrum
• A strong, pronounced chin
• Large ears and/or earlobes
• Large hips and/or slight plumpness or softness to the face and body
• Thick wrists and ankles
• Thick or wavy lustrous hair
• Black undertone to complexion
• Tearing up during emotional moments

Wood – The energy of wood is forceful and dynamic.  Wood is a transformational energy that takes water energy and turns it into growth.  Wood represents enthusiasm and interest in everything around them.  Although firmly rooted, wood energy is flexible and able to adapt and adjust.  Wood is about establishing individuality and defining who you are.  Wood is focused and is skilled at planning.  Wood people like creating structure and putting ideas in action.  Wood is optimistic and enthusiastic.  There is a desire to go out into the world and change things for the better.  Wood people become depressed if they are not sufficiently active, which often results in anger toward themselves or others.  Wood is competitive and seeks challenges, especially lively discussions.  Wood is also practical and sensible, loving to organize things.  Wood people are minimalists.  They are excellent at conceiving and initiating actions, but bad at following through.  Wood is resilient and not overly sensitive, not getting bogged down in feelings.  Wood must remain active or they become depressed and angry towards themselves and others.  Wood people may become so frustrated that it results in an outburst or rash decision.

The major features of wood are:

• Thick, strong eyebrows
• Protruding Brow Bone
• Indented Temples
• Prominent, or well defined Jaw
• Tall and lanky body type – or short and compact
• Greenish brown undertone to complexion

Fire – The energy of fire is the excitement of being alive; the passion of living life to its fullest.  It is Summer in full force.  Fire lives in the moment, consuming and being consumed.  The heart is the home of a fire person, the center of love.  Fire is life at the peak of its life force.  It represents Noon or flowers at the peak of their bloom.  You find fun in everything you do and excite others that cross your path.  Fire is passionate and loves change as well as new experiences.  The challenge is becoming overexcited, which can lead to confused, erratic behavior.  Fire personalities can also be hyperactive and prone to panic attacks.  When panicked, you may act rashly; doing things you will regret later.  Fire people don’t stick with anything for very long and may distance themselves from others when they are upset.  They have an emotional vulnerability, and when hurt become deeply sad and find it hard to get back to normal.  They distance themselves from others when they are upset, but that only deepens the sadness.  Fire people are obvious because of their laughing and joking, as well as the fact that they talk a mile a minute.  Fire people love to flirt with both men and women!  Fire is always on the move and when life feels settled they become dissatisfied and look elsewhere for new excitement.  Fire loves the infatuation stage and wishes it would last forever.  These characteristics make fire appear fickle socially, having many friends, but no deep lifelong bonds.  During a fiery mood, they may create a lot of drama, leading to emotional scenes.  Fire people love to be in the spotlight and conversations will always come back to them.

The major features of fire are:

• Sparkling eyes
• Red and/or curly hair
• Easy smile and laugh
• Quick movements and speech
• Slim hips
• Pink flush to complexion, possibly freckles
• Dimples
• Pointed tips of mouth, nose, ears, eyes, and/or eyebrows
• Flirtatious behavior, with both men and women

Earth – The energy of Earth is nurturing.  This energy has to do with early autumn and harvest time, when fruit is ripe and plentiful enough for feasting.  Earth energy is stable and about community, family, and friends coming together.  It’s often associated with the energy of a mother, having a caring and giving nature with great strength.  The first thought of an Earth person is, “How can I help you?”  Earth people embrace the importance of connection, grounding, and receptiveness.  Earth is about nurturing and taking care of others.  They want to feed guests immediately when they enter their home.  Relationships are very important.  Earth people are thoughtful and careful in their work.  Although they are modest regarding their talents, they can make the difference between success and failure in a venture. Earth people are faithful, sympathetic, and sentimental in relationships and need people that are emotionally open and available.  A full connection in a relationship is the only one that will satisfy them.  Earth is a worrier with their mind full of thoughts on how they are going to fill the needs of others, especially those that depend on them.  This may cause so much distress from all of the worry that it becomes difficult to think clearly.  Rather than process thoughts and move on, an earth person may review them over and over.  Over time, they may become needy and resentful, obsessing and nagging over details.  Ending relationships is usually not your choice and you have a difficult time letting go.  Clutter may be an issue because you love being surrounded by your favorite things – especially if you love garage sales and antique shops.  Earth people may also have cluttered thoughts that can lead to inefficient work.  Earth people have a tendency to be overly concerned with the feelings of others or how they have handled a situation.  The clarity needed to break through to conclusions may be obstructed by the clutter and worry.  Earth people do not like change.

The major features of Earth are:

• A round face
• Roundness to the body, especially the stomach
• Generous mouth in comparison to the rest of the features
• Full lips
• Full and/or softly rounded lower cheeks
• Large breasts in women; large muscles in men
• Thick calves
• Yellow hued complexion

Metal – The energy of Metal seeks to refine.  It is associated with late autumn, when the harvest is complete and the leaves fall from the trees.  It is the energy of late afternoon as you clear your desk preparing to end the day or old age, when you refine the last details as you approach the end of your life.  The power in metal is in the breath – taking it in and letting it go.  New energy cannot enter your life if you are not in the rhythm of holding and releasing.  Metal energy seeks to refine our vision and bring clarity to our life.  Metal people hone their goals to those which are most meaningful and valuable.  Metal energy brings sensitivity and awareness to the fine and subtle nuances of life.  Metal people constantly seek perfection in all aspects of their life.  They are highly aware.  They are visionaries and leaders.  They can see both the big picture and the fine details simultaneously.  Metal is the energy of the father, the authority figure that can assume the mantle of power and lead others.  The high sensitivity of metal people can lead to challenges because metal people are affected by the energy of their environment as well as that of the people around them.  This is true whether they are conscious of it or not.  It is as though metal people are a psychic sponge that soaks up all of the vibrations around you.  When they are near someone that is stressed, they may begin to feel anxious or unwell.  This is true of their environment as well, which may contain vibrations left by the stress of others.  Because they may not be aware that this is happening to them, they blame themselves for the stress that they are feeling.  Metal people are commonly branded as too sensitive, yet this is their nature and as everyone walks through the sea of energy around us, metal people are naturally more affected.  People of other elements won’t understand this.  Because they are so sensitive, little things can bother them.  This can manifest as needing alone time or having their environment arranged in a specific way.  Metal people can be picture straighteners, or someone that wipes smudges off of windows.  They often manifest obsessive-compulsive behavior to varying degrees depending upon how much metal that they have.  Because of this, others will see you as picky or controlling.  They will think you are trying to exert your power over them.  Metal is probably the most difficult element to live with.  Your reaction to imbalances around you may make you appear to be hypersensitive, perfectionistic, critical, and controlling.  Your sensitivity can also be used to advantage, allowing you to read other peoples vibrations and adjust to their needs, making you appear charming and compassionate.  You are so attuned to what is happening on so many levels that you can often anticipate problems and discern better solutions than most others.  Superficial relationships don’t interest you.  You have a need to establish a meaningful life, one with an authentic connection to the sacred.  You have high standards and are not comfortable with those that don’t share your strong sense of ethics.  Metal is also precise and analytical, paying attention to detail.  Metal values fairness and following the rules, although that can be a detriment if they are too rigid in this regard.

The major features of Metal are:

• A large nose
• Prominent upper cheeks
• Concave or lined lower cheeks
• Wide spaces between features
• Fine bone structure, small wrists and ankles
• Graceful, regal bearing
• Hypermetabolism, tend to be slim
• Pale complexion for racial heritage

Those are the five elements in a nutshell.  Next, let's watch a video of Jean Haner (author of "The Wisdom of Your Face") performing an actual reading.  This is part 1 of a 3 part series over which she does the full reading.

 

Watching Jean Haner perform a reading is pretty amazing and she makes it look so easy.  You might be thinking, “She has been giving face readings for years, how can I do it with no experience?”  Well, funny you should ask because now I'm going to show you how!  Keep in mind that I am a rank amateur face reader.  The fact that I can do it should convince you that the process is not difficult, it simply involves paying attention to details.  To perform the reading I needed a willing test subject, but when I checked the budget, the only subject I could afford was one that would do it for free.  And so, with ample apologies for what you now have to look at, I will perform the analysis on myself.

I’ve posted two photos, cleverly labeled figure 1 and figure 2.  Figure 1 is a frontal image while the other is a profile image.  It's important to have both views available when you perform a reading because some traits are better observed from one perspective than the other.  I took the liberty of labeling some of my facial features with numbers.  The numbers correspond to the features that strike me as most prominent (this is a relatively subjective judgment) and are in order of importance as I see it.  Here is the process I will use to do the reading:

1. Look at the face and select the features that dominate
2. Determine what personality characteristics each of the specific features identified contributes
3. Identify which element is associated with each feature and assess how strong the element is in the subject
4. Apply the general elemental characteristics, enhanced by the specific characteristics of the features
5. Create the final composite analysis

Grit your teeth and make sure you're sitting - here are the images:

So let’s get to it!  Here are the features that I believe dominate the subject and a description of the personality traits they represent:

1. The nose is a Metal feature and is large when compared proportionally to the face. Notice that it has large nostrils and is symmetrically proportioned.  A large nose indicates ambition and independence.  The fact that it sticks out farther than one inch (approx. 1 3/8 inches) is indicative of a trailblazer.  A well-formed nose shows a person that is an idealist and places much importance on their vision and desire to lead a meaningful life.  The large nostrils are indicative of a belief that there will always be a steady flow of abundance (money, energy, time).
2. The forehead/hairline is a Water feature. The flat forehead is another indication of a trailblazer.  The hairline that goes back in the corners (look at Figure 2 for a better view of this) is called the “Expansive Mind” feature.  It indicates a person with an open mind overall.  They are not limited by rules or linear thinking and can extrapolate easily.  This person combines both analysis and intuition to reach a solution.
3. The chin is another Water feature. A strong chin equates to a strong will.  This person is determined and tenacious, but may also be stubborn.  A large chin indicates that they are highly intuitive and have intense willpower.  Also, the chin is squared and this indicates practicality and common sense.  They have the ability to approach situations in a logical way.
4. Prominent cheeks are a Metal feature. They indicate the ability to hold authority.  They say what they need and communicate what is required.  The roundness of the cheeks adds Earthy warmth – people feel the caring behind this person’s words.  The prominence of the cheeks may also indicate a tendency to be bossy.
5. Eyes that are bright and sparkling are an indication of the Fire element. Holding the eyes narrow (no white above or below the iris) indicates that there is a limit to how much information they will accept without evaluation.  In other words, they are not gullible.  The narrowness also indicates that this person is excellent at thinking matters out logically and is very perceptive.  They limit how much they share of themselves.  Finally, they take a long time to fall in love, but when they do it is deep and complete.

Deep set eyes indicate someone that is more reserved than most and does not share thoughts and feelings easily.

Note that the upper eyelid covers part of the iris.  This indicates a person that tends to be fair and objective.  Someone that will consider other points of view.  It may also indicate that they are very private.

6. Easy smile and pointed tips of features are also Fire characteristics. Pointed tips appearing at the corners of the mouth indicate that extra fire may appear in relationships.  The sharp tips at the inner eye reveal that this person is very precise in exchanges with others.  They may also have a sharp tongue.
7. The ears are another Water characteristic. Notice how the ears in our subject lie flat against the side of the head.  This indicates that they are a good listener.  Also, looking at figure 2, the ears are relatively wide indicating a person that is comfortable taking chances.  Finally, the fact that the tops of the ears are below the eyebrows shows that this person is a late bloomer, with success coming later in life.

These seven characteristics are what I believe are the most prominent when you take my face in at a glance.  The order I have listed them is not critical.  What matters is identifying that they are prominent and the element associated with them.  There are many more features that I have not touched on that are not quite as prominent, yet contribute to my personality.  For simplicity, I've omitted them for this exercise, but I think you will begin to appreciate the depth of analysis with only the seven I have provided here.

Of the seven features identified, there are three elements represented: Water, Metal, and Fire.  When you tally them up you get: three prominent water features, two prominent metal features, and two fire features.  Of these features, water and metal are most prominent and fire comes in just behind them.  Their ranking as well as how many features belong to each element gives a sense of how much each element will contribute to the overall personality.  My assessment is that water and metal are almost equal, while fire lags just behind.  I give metal equivalence to water because it includes the most dominant feature.  Although there are Earth and Wood elements in my nature as well, they are not represented as prominently as the others and play a smaller role in my personality.

So let’s now try to stitch my personality together from the face reading.  Granted, there is some level of interpretation here, but I never promised that this would be an exact science.  We have established that I am a Water/Metal/Fire person with water and metal pretty equivalent in dominance.  With that in mind, I will start with an element and begin listing the characteristics of the prominent features.  When I have covered all of that element's features listed in the seven above, I will identify some of the general characteristics of that element that I believe are relevant.  Once I finish with an element, I move on to the next one.  Here's my analysis:

The first feature I noticed was my nose.  This is a Metal feature and its large size and length shows ambition and independence and a tendency to be a trailblazer.  I can be a visionary and/or a leader, assuming the mantle of authority and leading others.  My nose is symmetrical and well-formed, another Metal characteristic that tells me I am an idealist and place much importance on my vision and desire to lead a meaningful life, one with an authentic connection to the sacred.  I have the Metal ability to see both the big picture and the fine details simultaneously.  I'm very attuned to what is happening on so many levels that I often anticipate problems and discern better solutions than most others.  The large nostrils are indicative of more Metal and my belief that there will always be a steady flow of abundance (money, energy, time).

Staying with Metal, my prominent cheeks are another feature that stand out.  They indicate my ability to hold authority and communicate what is required to others.  Interestingly, the roundness of the cheeks adds some Earthy warmth.  This warmth leaves people with the feeling that there is caring behind my words.  The prominence of the cheeks may also indicate a tendency to be bossy.  This can manifest because of my high standards.  I'm not comfortable with those that don’t share my strong sense of ethics.  Metal leads me to value fairness and to follow the rules, although that can be a detriment if I become too rigid in this regard.

The strength of Metal in my features makes it almost certain that some of Metal’s general characteristics will manifest in my personality.  For example, Metal energy brings sensitivity and awareness to the fine and subtle nuances of life.  This is enhanced by my precise and analytical nature, as well as the attention I pay to detail.  I constantly seek perfection in all aspects of my life.

This sensitivity makes me highly aware.  I am affected by the energy of the environment as well as that of the people around me.  Simply being around someone that is stressed or exhibiting negative emotion can affect me to the point where I begin to feel anxious.  Also, being around large groups can be uncomfortable as I'm bombarded with the incoherent energy of the group.  These situations can trigger a flight response, allowing me to escape to a “clear” space.  My reaction to the imbalances around me may make me appear to be hypersensitive, critical, and controlling.  Other elements don't understand this and I'm branded as too sensitive!  This sensitivity to my environment can sometimes be manifested as obsessive-compulsive behavior as I try to control my environment.

Moving on to the Water features, my forehead/hairline is very prominent.  Interestingly, my flat forehead is another indication of being a trailblazer!  The same characteristic appearing in the two strongest elemental features shows just how strong this characteristic is.  The hairline that goes back in the corners means that I approach situations with an open mind overall.  I don’t limit myself by rules or linear thinking and I can extrapolate easily.  It is also an indication that I combine both analysis and intuition to reach a solution.

My chin is another prominent Water feature.  A strong chin equates to a strong will.  I approach life with determination and tenacity, but there may also be a stubborn streak (Those that know me will find that hard to believe - ha!).  My large chin is an indicator that I’m highly intuitive and have an intense level of willpower.  Note that my chin is squared.  This indicates practicality and common sense and that I approach situations in a logical way.

More Water shows up in the ears.  They are quite important, but because of the way they are formed on me, they don’t catch attention.  Notice how close set my ears are to my head .  This indicates that I’m a good listener.  Another aspect of the ears is that they are relatively wide, saying that I’m comfortable taking chances.  This correlates well with the trailblazer trait.  One final ear observation worth noting is that the tops of the ears are below the eyebrows.  This tells me that I’m a late bloomer, with success coming later in life.

With Water being another strong element in my personality, it is important to consider some of the general Water characteristics.  Water’s power is often deep and hidden from view.  Water people shed tears easily based upon their deeply rooted emotions and are easily recognized by this characteristic.  Typical of Water people, I am very deep emotionally – at a level most people do not see.  I become teary eyed over even the smallest things that evoke emotion, such as the playing of the national anthem (yes, it’s true!).

Water people have the ability to observe the meaning of life at a very deep level.  Their depth of feeling is powerful and not easily accessed by others.  Water people feel more deeply and are affected by emotion more than other people.  In many ways this is complimentary to the sensitivity of my Metal energy.

Water people love their freedom and find it difficult to be confined by the normal aspects of life. Their strength and determination leads them to explore life in an adventurous way and may create a desire to travel and explore, just as actual water flows and never stands still.

Water people need time to complete their work and make decisions.  This can often be at odds with today's fast paced world.  They frequently take a circuitous path, especially in conversations, which may annoy the other elements.

The greatest weakness of a water person is fear.  Whether it is of the past or the future, fear can freeze a water person into a static state.  This may cause them to withdraw and be unable to resolve a problem.  They maintain a level of secrecy, withholding the expression of their thoughts and feelings, especially when hurt.

The third element that I see dominant in my face is Fire.  My Fire eyes are bright and sparkling, indicating an abundance of the Fire element.  Notice that I hold my eyes narrow (no white above or below the iris).  This indicates that I am not gullible and limit how much information I will accept from someone without evaluation.  The narrowness also indicates that I am excellent at thinking matters out logically and am very perceptive.  Both of these traits are confirmed by my Metal characteristics, giving them deeper strength.

The deep set of my eyes indicates that I’m more reserved than most and don’t share my thoughts and feelings easily.

Also, note that the upper eyelid covers part of the iris.  This shows that I am fair and objective.  I'm the type of person that will consider other points of view.  It may also indicate that I prefer to remain very private.

I think the Fire giveaway for me though, is my easy smile and laugh.  Fire people are obvious because of their laughing and joking, as well as the fact that they talk a mile a minute.  They love to flirt with both men and women!

Pointed tips of features are interesting Fire characteristics.  The sharp tips appearing at the corners of the mouth indicate that extra fire may appear in relationships.  The sharp tips at the inner eye reveal that I tend to be very precise in exchanges with others (like hopefully this post?).  The downside is that it also indicates that I may have a sharp tongue.

Fire is always on the move and when life feels settled they become dissatisfied and look elsewhere for new excitement.

During a fiery mood, they may create a lot of drama, leading to emotional scenes.

Well, there you have it!  As I review this analysis, I'm struck by just how accurate it is.  It was also a learning experience for me because I knew intuitively that I had some of these characteristics, but could never find the words to describe them.  I limited this analysis to just seven features and look at the wealth of information.  Just imagine how much more would we get if we applied the analysis to additional features!  The point is, when you perform an analysis on yourself, or others, you will want to go deeper and identify as many of those less dominant characteristics as you can since they bring additional nuances to your personality.

Having completed the face reading portion of our self-discovery, we now have three sets of information that we can link together.  I'm going to cheat a bit and skip the free thinking analysis since that process is very personalized and can take so many different forms.  I don't think you will have any difficulty merging those results with the face reading on your own.  On the other hand, the standard test results have a compact format that make analysis rather straightforward.  If you recall, I was found to be an INFJ personality when I took the Briggs-Myers test.  Let's see how well that fits with the face reading results.

The (I)ntrovert part fits neatly with the Water trait of feeling deep emotions and not communicating hurts to others.  My Metal sensitivity to the energy around me also helps to explain why I might be somewhat introverted.  Finally, the deep set Fire eyes also confirm this tendency.

The i(N)tuitive assessment certainly fits the face reading as well since I often use intuition in conjunction with analysis to solve problems.  Both Water and Metal features identify me as highly intuitive.

The (F)eeling aspect is also confirmed by the face reading.  Again, both Water and Metal indicate a sensitivity that involves deep emotion.  It can also drive how I approach the world.

Finally, the (J)udging aspect also meshes with the face reading.  My precise, analytical Metal is always planning ahead and looking out for potential problems.

So, in my case, the standard test validates the face reading results.  When you compare both tests though, the face reading provides a much richer analysis of our personality.  If you don't see congruence between the three methods when you complete your analysis, you may wish to go back and re-analyze some aspects. It could be an indication that you mis-read some aspect of your personality or that you may not be as objective about yourself as you need to be in performing these tests.

You can find many face reading resources on the internet simply by Googling face reading.  Again, I also highly recommend Jean Haner’s book.  I relied heavily on the book in performing my analysis.  There is so much more to face reading than I have provided here, but I don’t have the space to show it all. What I most wanted to convey is that there is an easy, readily available method to discover a wealth of information about your personality.

I sincerely hope that you have found this Self Discovery series helpful.  Now, it is your turn to perform a face reading – on yourself!  I wish you great success and don't forget to have fun along the way.

Namaste