Maybe you can’t judge a book by its cover.
But when it comes to your face, Laura Rose is going to nail you.
By simply gazing at your countenance, Rose says she can discern your degree of friendliness, level of energy, sense of humor, appreciation of music, sensitivity to criticism, subjectivity to mood swings and a whole lot more.
I believe her, because she read my face — and she told me a lot about myself no mere stranger should be able to unearth on a first meeting.
Like how I’ve got a soft spot for the underdog. Can’t stop a project until it’s finished. Easily irritated by judgmental people. And some other stuff that, frankly, I’m not too comfortable putting into print.
I’m not the only one impressed by Rose, a New Mexico resident who spent last week working with patrons of Nature’s Spiritual Connections, a cozy storefront on Grand Rapids’ Northeast Side.
“We just think it’s important to know how other people live,” says Falan, who has a degree in business management, “and we’d like to help educate the public, bring them together so there are fewer misconceptions — more joy in life.”
To that end, they invited Rose to town for the better part of a week. To cap it off, she taught a one-night course in face-reading Thursday.
Patti Weaver of Kentwood was among those attending. Particularly significant to Rose was the area between Weaver’s eye and the bridge of her nose. Rose told Weaver she obviously had been working to become more tolerant, patient and accepting of others.
Weaver, 75, was impressed.
“I have been working on those three aspects of my life,” she said, “especially in becoming less judgmental.”
Pam Patrick also attended the Thursday-night session.
“I was blown out of the water,” said the registered nurse at Spectrum Health’s Butterworth campus.
Patrick wishes she had been instructed reading faces long ago for informal use as another tool in assessing patients the past 21 years. As the mother of a son in law enforcement, she also wondered whether face-reading might help police.
Face-reading was first practiced by the ancient Greeks and Chinese. More recently, it has become known as physiognomy — the study of outward characteristics (sometimes called “personology”) — and used to determine personality traits.
For Rose, the road to face-reading began while she was peddling water softeners door-to-door in remote Idaho. While pitching her wares, a customer stopped her and said, “If you had known how to read my face, you would have approached me entirely differently.”
Rose was speechless, then intrigued, and eventually hooked, especially when the woman “told me things I didn’t think anyone would know about me.”
She went home to tell her husband, “I just met a woman, and what she knows is going to change our lives.”
Rose studied under the customer and her sister and became so practiced at face-reading she has been hired by companies trying to better know their employees and lawyers who want an edge picking juries.
Her work focuses on the appearance and relative position of the eyes, eyebrows, forehead, nose, lips, chin — even one’s hair.
Folks with fine hair are generally more sensitive than those with coarse. A full upper lip signals a chatty-Kathy. A bulbous nose means you’re inquisitive. Tight skin? You’re a fuss-budget.
Sure, there are exceptions, but Rose points to anecdotal information and statistical evidence compiled by those who have gone before her, data you and I can find as easily as Googling “physiognomy.”
My session with Rose lasted perhaps 30 minutes — she typically charges about $40 for a reading — and like I said, I was surprised at her ability to characterize me.
The most unusual, and true, thing she said was this: “You’re reading less than you want.”
It’s true, perhaps now more than ever.
“How do you know that?” I nearly shouted.
“I’m reading your face, Tom.”
Traits in a face
In a book recommended by Laura Rose, “You Can Read a Face Like a Book,” author Naomi Tickle links facial characteristics with famous people:
In a book recommended by Laura Rose, “You Can Read a Face Like a Book,” author Naomi Tickle links facial characteristics with famous people:
- Narrow space between the eyes: Likely not too tolerant. Examples: John McEnroe, Cher, Monica Seles, Barbra Streisand.
- Eyelids covered with a fold of skin: You’re analytical. Examples: Tom Hanks, James Coburn, Margaret Thatcher.
- An upturned nose: You’re trusting. Just like Elton John, Jennifer Aniston and Dolly Parton.
- A full lower lip: You’re generous with money. Examples: Jimmy Carter, Al Gore, Richard Branson.
- A long philtrum: (Hint: It’s the space between your upper lip and nose.) Means you have a dry sense of humor. Think: David Letterman, George W. Bush, Colin Powell.
- Head wider at back than at front: You’re highly competitive, like William Hague, Vladimir Putin, Condoleeza Rice.
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