As humans we are all face readers and most of us have an instinctual reaction to facial features. For example, round shapes on faces are seen by even small babies as nurturers. For intelligence we look at foreheads. When I show a picture of two men and ask which one is the science and math teacher, the majority of people pick the one with the largest forehead as the brainy one. But that is not enough information to draw a conclusion about the person's degree of mental development. Luckily our faces are their own self diagnostic. Mental development shows up in a variety of places.

Horizontal lines on the forehead show the degree that the person has worked to stretch their mental abilities. Three long parallel lines stretching across the forehead indicate an intense mental effort, perhaps the equivalent of earning a graduate degree. A single deep line as shown above, corresponds to an intense focus in a particular area of interest. They have one area of highly developed expertise 

Eyebrows that have the same amount of hair all the way across are called even eyebrows. They indicate the person's ability to connect the dots and see all related aspects quickly and easily from "A" to "Z". High ears and low eyebrows indicate the ability to quickly grasp the information and then to quickly evaluate and respond. While low ears process slower and prefer wisdom over speed. Once again, intelligence comes in many forms.

Some types of intelligence can't be found in books but rather come from our intense life experiences. What comes to mind is the age old adage that "whatever doesn't kill us, makes us stronger." The woman pictured here has practically every line that I mention in my book. Most notable are the compassion and survivor lines and the courage lines on her cheeks. This woman is a sensitive soul who has been hit with circumstances that could have killed a weaker person.

Her face is marked by her personal hardships and reveals that she has faced untold fear. However, she does not appear to be embittered and hardened by life's challenges, but rather gentle and accepting. Her face reflects a depth of character and inner wisdom. Her life experiences have resulted in a strengthening of her spirit that can allow her to be empathic with others who endure similar challenges.

Several years ago there was much discussion about Emotional Intelligence or EQ. Without even referring to those writings, there is no doubt in my mind, that this woman and people like her, get high marks in this kind of intelligence.

This is a true story.One evening I was reading faces for a company party being held at the home of the owner. When everyone was in the backyard eating I did not have a face to read so I  was just waiting for someone to finish their dinner and come back into the house.  All of a sudden their 8 year old daughter crept down the stairs, made sure the coast was clear, then took the seat beside me.

She said, "You're the face reader." I confirmed her statement.  I thought she was going to ask me to read her face when suddenly she announced she was going to read my face. I got over the surprise in time to suggest she begin with the lines as they are the easiest to read, Instead, she grabbed the face reading book on the table and opened to the first feature, which is the forehead.

She proceeded to look at the 3 pictures on the forehead page and then looked at my forehead.  She then pointed to the straight forehead, which is the one like mine, and began to read what was in the book. Since she could not read all the words, she adapted the reading to explain what my forehead meant in her own words.  She got it completely correct.  When she turned to the next page and saw the picture of the brow ridge, she declared "you do not have one of those" and continued on to find other features that are on my face.

I often run into people who after having their face read tell me, "That was amazing but I could never learn how to do that." So then I ask them, "Are you smarter than a second grader?"