Einstein, What Was He Thinking?

The Hands Do Tell

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Patti

Albert Einstein, What Was He Thinking?

When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the

conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than any talent for
abstract, positive thinking. ~ Albert Einstein
In the Spring of 1955, when Albert Einstein passed away, he was in his mid
seventies. Eventually, it was discovered that the pathologist who performed the autopsy
snuck away with Einsteins brain in a jar. Everyone wanted to know what went on in the
mind of this phenomenal and idiosyncratic genius, and someone was apparently willing
to risk his career and reputation to find out. Within a few years, slices and slivers of this
famous brain were in the secret possession of an unknown number of, most likely
salivating, curious brain researchers. In 1978 a research journalist located the pickled
brain and what remained of it was handed over in a Tupperware container to the
University Medical Center at Princeton and the research continued.

What they had previously found was

that his brain was basically normal. It had the same amount of neurons as most

brains they claimed. What was notable then was that the two hemispheres were thought
to be symmetrical, which can relate to being ambidextrous. Although Einstein wrote
with his right hand, there are arguments for the possibility he was switched from being
left handed to right as a child. This was a trend at the time. In the hands, there are a few
markers to look for when trying to decide if someone is left or right hand dominant.
Recent research has resulted in new and interesting findings. An article at
Huffington Post says: Recent studies have shown that certain regions of Einsteins
brain are unusually convoluted. In addition, the parietal lobes are extraordinarily
asymmetrical and the somatosensory and motor cortices are greatly expanded in the
left hemisphere, Florida State University evolutionary anthropologist Dean Falk told
The Huffington Post.
Results of these more recent studies with photos of Einsteins brain can be
viewed as a pdf file here.

Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to

all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire
world, and all there ever will be to know and understand. ~ Albert Einstein
When I look at a brain I think immediately how similar the intricate rows of
sulci and gyri are to the ridges and furrows on the palms and soles. Since the early days
of the computer, hand analysts have been claiming the hand is a print-out of the brains

computer. In another article I have written about how the nervous system is an
important and influential aspect in the initial development of the ridges.
Although scientists have taken his brain apart and studied it with the latest
technology, unless you can interpret the scientific jargon in the report and are able to
relate the different sections of the brain to behavior and cognizance, along with knowing
what normal and abnormal relate to, you probably still wonder what is behind the
genius of Einstein. An interesting find was that rather than having more neurons, there
were instead a greater amount of glial cells. This is the material the neurons are packed
in. What researchers discovered was the communication between these cells and their
control over the neurons. It appears the glial cells were listening to the communications
among the neurons and made associations at another level. Einstein apparently had
more of the cells that give us the ah ha moments.

The prints below are from the book Hand und Persnlichkeit by Marianne
Raschig (1931). Unfortunately, they appear to be a little distorted. They have been
clean-cut outlined which results in an inaccurate outer shape. The fingers look shorter
and thinner than they do in photos.

Albert Einsteins Right Hand

Albert Einsteins Left hand

If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what,

then, is an empty desk a sign? ~ Albert Einstein
Fine lines criss cross the palms in all directions forming large and small grids.
This shows a very busy, detailed and analytical mind. The chaotic nature of the fine
creases is reflected in the apparent disorder on his desk.

The book A Perfect Mess, by Eric Abrahamson and David H. Freedman,

describes the method behind the madness. Mess isnt necessarily the absence of order.
A messy desk can be a highly effective prioritizing and accessing system. In general,
on a messy desk, the more important, urgent work tends to stay close by and near the
top of the clutter, while the safely ignorable stuff tends to get buried to the bottom or
near the back, which makes perfect sense. The various piles on a messy desk can
represent a surprisingly sophisticated informal filing system that offer far more
efficiency and flexibility than a filing cabinet could possibly provide.

Of course, Im quite proud to say I have

some things in common with Einstein, too for instance his filing system. Click on
the photo for a closer look at the details of his desk, as it was left at the Institute for

Advanced Study, when he passed away. There are bundles and packets of papers tied
with string and calculations on a chalkboard. What is most remarkable to me is that
there are few books on the shelves or his desk. Mostly papers, files, and folders filled
with his vast collection of information. Frozen there in the photos of a cluttered desk
might be found a piece of the mind of Albert Einstein. I had to wonder if he knew of his
impending death and everything on the desk was in intended order.

The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful
servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten
the gift. ~ Albert Einstein

Albert Einsteins Right Hand Secrets of

Hand Reading Noel Jaquin (1934)

The main lines in the hands are formed by tracing the radiants or one of the
three ridges that flow from the triradii under the fingers. The ridges are not sharp in
these prints, but enough of the flow of ridges is visible to be able to identify the general
direction they move and the location they leave the palm. I have traced them in a
general way, leaving out the ridges that were not clearly visible.
Typically the main line from under the index finger, known as Main Line A,
ends on average right about where Einsteins ends. Usually the non-dominant hands
main line moves farther down into the palm than in the dominant. It appears that both
main lines end at about the same location. This is fairly common on people who claim
to be ambidextrous.

In this close-up of the left interdigital

areabetween the ring and little fingers there is the appearance of a vestigial loop. This
is formed by a convergence of ridges in a portion of the interdigital IV zone. A complete
loop here, when found, is considered to relate to a persons ability to grasp things. They
tend to have a witty mind and their own special kind of humor. A vestige is a formation
that is incomplete or a unique disturbance in the flow of the rows of parallel ridges.
People with an unusually formed pattern in this area tend to relate to the experience of
having themselves find humor in places not noticed by others. Laughing out loud alone
in the theater might be a common trait.

On the hypothenar, or moon area of

Einsteins right palm, there is a configuration that very closely resembles the column or
comb vestige. This is a formation where rows of horizontal ridges meet vertical ridges
surrounding the thenar, or Venus, mount. People with this arrangement of ridges in this
area of the palm tend to have particularly organized minds. They are very good at linear
thought or being able to scan through their brains for the information they seek, like its
filed on a shelf in their brain.

Einstein was Jewish. From the many bar and

bat mitzvahs Ive read hands at, I can attest to the fact that the raja loop, or interdigital
loop between the index and middle fingers, is more commonly found on those with
Jewish ethnicity. So is finding patterns between all the four fingers. An aura of charisma
and charm often surrounds the owners of these raja loops. This loop forms on the same
mount (the Mount of Jupiter) that the Ring of Solomon and Empathy lines appear.
Einstein has a trace of these lines.

How strange is the lot of us mortals! Each of us is here for a brief sojourn;
for what purpose we know not, though sometimes sense it. But we know
from daily life that we exist for other people first of all for whose smiles and
well-being our own happiness depends. ~ Albert Einstein

Isnt it strange that I who have written only unpopular books should be such
a popular fellow? ~ Albert Einstein
A noticeable feature in Einsteins hands are the many fine and deep
creases.The photos show full based palms and thick, sausage-like fingers. He was a
man of very deep emotional feelings. He experienced life strongly through emotions
and sensations of empathy. People with thick middle sections to their fingers have good
listening skills. They tend also to be magnets of people looking for a listening ear.

He who joyfully marches in rank and file has already earned my contempt.
He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord
would suffice. ~ Albert Einstein
In each hand, the head line starts out clearly separated from the life
line. This feature represents independent thinking. Here is a person who is not
naturally of the herd mentality, but rather someone who follows their own path in life.
There are no strong vertical lines under the index finger, so leading others isnt an
interest either. Hes going his own way, following his own star, and if you wish to follow
down the path, you may. The right head line starts out clear and stays that way until
past the middle finger. This shows alert clear thinking from the start. He may appear
absent minded and lost in thought, but he hasnt lost the initial thread of the topic of the
moment. Starting out straight shows an initial effort toward clear, practical, and
meaningful thought. As the crease bends downward under the ring finger it becomes
illustrative of an abstract, dreaming, and creative mind.

I think and think for months and years, ninety-nine times, the conclusion is
false. The hundredth time I am right. ~ Albert Einstein
Long middle sections to his fingers show a love of detail and spending time
planning, organizing and thinking things through. Combine these with the long head
lines with their forks and branches and you have the ingredients for a person who has a
patient mind and doesnt like to be rushed to conclusions.

I hate crowds and making speeches. I hate facing cameras and having to
answer to a crossfire of questions. Why popular fancy should seize upon me,

a scientist, dealing in abstract things and happy if left alone, is a

manifestation of mass psychology that is beyond me. ~ Albert Einstein

Pink arrows on the right hand point to a crease that floats

at the end of the head line, running parallel to the downward branch. Since its
disconnected, it shows the ability to disconnect from the world once he is deep thought.
This line is often on people who either daydream or meditate frequently, or both. Youll
find it, also, on the hands of those who can get lost for hours in video games. Its a good
ability to have when you need to concentrate in a place with a lot of activity and
movement going on around you.
The purple arrows point to a fragmented Sun Line, also called a Line of Apollo.
This is a crease that runs down into the palm from under the ring finger. It would show
that Einstein put effort into developing his natural skills and gifts. It is made up of dual
creases running side by side. At the head line it changes direction aiming to the outer
corner of the palm. This is the area of the subconscious and abstract thinking. His work
was as much a hobby as it was his profession. He was gifted in a number of ways. The
blue arrow at the top of the Sun Lines points to a spraying of creases aiming upward
toward the finger. This shows a pleasure in giving and presenting. He gave of himself
because it gave him pleasure, not with expectations in return from those to whom he
gave, nor because of their expectations.

I am neither especially clever nor especially gifted. I am only very, very

curious. ~ Albert Einstein
The narrow space between the head and heart lines, under the middle finger,
shows that he didnt like to compromise when it came to his principles and values. He
also didnt like to find himself in situations where other peoples efforts, that may not be
to his standards, would reflect back on him. This works in combination with the
independent head lines.

The ideals that have lighted my way and time after time have given me new
courage to face life cheerfully, have been Kindness, Beauty and Truth. ~
Albert Einstein

The
healers
marks (yellow
arrow) are vertical lines under the little finger. These are on people who are sensitive to
their environment and the energy of the people who occupy that space. They relate to a
form of empathy. These lines in Einsteins palm connect to his own Mercury or health
lines (pointed to in orange) which continues in an almost straight fashion down the
palm. This combines several energies. These health lines illustrate a mind-body
connection. Strong gut feelings. The healers markings connecting with them would
show a very physical source of intuition. Along with the previously mentioned raja loop,
this would show a strong ability to read people and the environment in a very physical
and mentally intuitive way. He would feel compelled to fix or correct things. If he were
in the medical profession, it would be healing related, but for him it was understanding
the universe by fully comprehending it.

The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is

comprehensible. ~ Albert Einstein
The heart line bends down at its end and touches the life line. This is often on
people who have gone through an experience early in life where they have had their
bubble burst. In the right hand, the heart line has faint branches that want to aim up to
the index finger. This would show a natural ability to trust and perhaps to be idealistic.

When this crease bends down strongly, it shows its owner has learned early that they
must rely more on trusting themselves and not on others.
In books about hand anatomy, it is stated that the coming together of the
heart, head, and life lines, indicate a stronger hand grip, particularly in males. This can
also be symbolic of being forced to get a strong grip on life and reality.

The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful
servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten
the gift. ~ Albert Einstein
The yellow and green color can be seen to form a fanning out of the creases
while they aim to the bottom outer corner of the palm. The fate (green) and head line
endings all fan in a parallel fashion. This shows both a reaching down into the depths of
the soul as far as one can go, and at the same time the ability to bring back to the
conscious world the results of both productive activity and insight. Like roots.

Creases that arc from near the wriston

the thumb half of the hand, and rise in a big curve over to the percussion, I call the Star
Trek Line. These creases form on people that enjoy thrills and desire to go where no one
has gone before. Its beyond just a pioneer spirit as this energy is more about
fearlessness and thrills. People in power tend to have these markings, along with those
who enjoy x-sports. In older palmistry books, this formation (red arrows) has been
referred to as the via lascivia regarding a passion for gratifying physical desires.

When his wife asked him to change clothes to meet the German Ambassador:
they want to see me, here I am. If they want to see my clothes, open my
closet and show them my suits. Albert Einstein

The lines that radiate out from the thumb show a

sensitivity to picking up on what other people project at them. The more these creases
cross the life line the more a person cares what some one else thinks. This energy also
increases with these lines rising toward the fingers, especially in the direction of the
little finger. Once they begin to aim downwards, the person has shifted toward having
people around them that care more about what he thinks than he cares about what they
think.
The vertical creases that make up the grid effect across the entire thenar mount
represent blocks to the free flow of the radiating lines mentioned above. Like inner
walls. This grid of lines appears on people who like to challenge and debate things. The
combination of the grid pattern here and whorls on both thumbs would increase the
enjoyment of playing devils advocate and debating for the fun of it.

The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason
for existing. ~ Albert Einstein

Einstein had seven of his finger prints as whorls. People

with many whorls tend to love research and studying. They are very curious and tend to
delve deeply into whatever they are involved in. Another quality of those with these
concentric or spiral circle finger prints is the ability to easily make associations and
connect the dots. I wonder if most people with these whorl patterns have more glial
eavesdropping on the neurons in their brain tissue
His right middle finger had a loop pattern. This would stand out in the midst of
the whorls as different and therefore stand out in his personality. The loop here would
allow a flexibility in seeing that other people had different backgrounds and perspectives
than his own.
His thumbs are thick and a bit stubby, although not particularly short. There
appears to be a balance between being willful and rational. The thicker lower section
would show a bluntness in his speech, saying what he thought without worrying too
much about diplomacy.
As much expected, the features in Albert Einsteins hands very closely
matchhis ideals shared in quotes collected over his lifetime. Its beyond the scope of
this blog post to do a complete hand reading, which is also limited by the poor quality of
prints available. However, I do hope this bit of analysis arouses curiosity into the world
of reading hands.
What was Einstein thinking? From reading his palms, I think he was a free spirited
person with the great ability to use his imagination and sensibilities to their fullest. He
never stopped exploring the outer reaches of his mind or the inner reaches of his soul. A

book on philosophy lay on his desk at the end of his life, at the top of the stack and close
at hand.

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.
~Albert Einstein

As always, your comments are welcome below.

in joy and peace,
Patti Lightflower

Post Blog Post: Coincidentally, as I finished writing this I discovered a Facebook

friend had just shared a wall post saying that the huge hand print collection of Marianne
Raschig, including Albert Einsteins, will go on auction at Sothebys in London on June 5
and 6!! How cool is that!? The prints below are a much truer representation of Einsteins
hand shape than those that have been floating around the internet scanned from the
book. Especially interesting to note will be the size of his fingers here as compared to
the other images available. I cant wait to see what kind of bids will be offered and who
will be the chirology connoisseur that has the winning bid! Click on the photo for a link
to the article.

Looking at these prints side by side, you can see the right head line is much
cleaner and sharper than the one on the left all the way to the end. The heart line has
more feathering in the left hand showing emotional and personal aspects of his
personality. These are just a couple of things that support that Einstein favored using his
right hand and I would read him as right hand dominant.

Chirology may be one of the vital sciences of the future. ~ Albert Einstein
(Seeing into the Future ~ Harvey Day)