How to Assess a Person's Fortune by Analyzing Facial Features
I find myself quite fascinating, and I don't fully understand why. During my college years, I would read palmistry for others, even though I had never studied it; I was just bluffing, yet surprisingly, I was often right. When it came to facial features, I lacked formal training as well. Once, a girl asked me if she had good fortune. How could I respond? When someone asks you a question like that, can you really admit you don't know? Even if I didn't understand, I had to pretend. So, I concocted some nonsense. The girl was skeptical. Later, she brought me photos of her friends and classmates to test me. I had to maintain the charade, so I continued to improvise. I didn't know any of her friends or classmates, but after some guesswork, I asked her for confirmation, and surprisingly, I was mostly accurate.
Chen Xiaoxu had an unfavorable facial appearance, suggesting a challenging life. So, whether one possesses good fortune is unrelated to beauty or wealth. Even after leaving her family, she still bore a look of hardship. Over time, I formulated some insights and tested them, discovering that certain patterns exist.
1. Look at the Earlobes
People with large earlobes are said to be fortunate. This is common knowledge and widely acknowledged. It's not just superstition; there is some validity to it. Why are those with large earlobes considered fortunate? The ears are connected to the kidneys, which are the foundation of our essential life force. The kidneys store our vital energy. Large earlobes suggest abundant vital energy, which translates to higher efficiency in work and greater intelligence. Naturally, intelligent people tend to excel in various ways compared to others. In short, large earlobes signify good fortune, or as Buddhists say, great blessings. Notice that Buddha statues always have large ears; there's a reason for that.
A few additional points about ears: having large ears doesn't necessarily mean one is fortunate, just as having small ears doesn't mean one is unfortunate. There are two important considerations: the ears are linked to the kidneys, the source of our essential life force. So when we say that those with large earlobes have great blessings, where do those blessings come from? They are accumulated from past lives and are innate. Some people may have large earlobes and great blessings, but if they don't accumulate good fortune in this life and only deplete it, their situation will decline in later years. Conversely, some with small ears and little fortune can change their destiny by accumulating blessings and doing good deeds in this life. For example, the former is like the story in "Dream of the Red Chamber," which starts well but gradually declines, while the latter is like Li Ka-shing, who began with little but thrived later. Thus, while some aspects of our fate are predetermined, a significant portion is within our control.
2. Look at the Complexion
Fortunate individuals have a rosy complexion and healthy skin, often described as "fair with a hint of red." Even among the elderly, we describe healthy, fortunate seniors as having a "youthful glow," meaning that although their hair is white, their complexion resembles that of a child. What does a child's face look like? It is smooth and delicate. We often talk about "vitality," which is stored in the kidneys and expressed outwardly. This outward expression is what we call energy or luster. Most people don't pay much attention to this, and it might take some effort to observe. However, with a little attention and comparison, you will notice it, and once you can see it, the differences become apparent. At a glance, you can tell how a person's complexion is and whether they are fortunate.
3. Look at the Skin
Observing complexion focuses on the intangible, while looking at the skin examines the tangible. One aspect is whether the skin is clear. For example, does the face have any blemishes, such as dark moles? These aren't good signs. Occasionally having one in the right place is fine, but if there are many and they are in unfavorable spots, that indicates a problem, reflecting a lack of blessings. Therefore, removing dark moles can also be a way to change one's fortune, at least showing that you have a desire for improvement. Another issue is acne, which is also a sign of misfortune. Acne is a skin problem, and skin corresponds to the earth element, the spleen, and stomach in the five elements, and the emotion of resentment. So, how does acne develop? It stems from heavy resentment. Imagine someone filled with resentment; how could they be fortunate?
4. Look at the Relaxation
This aspect is a bit challenging to describe and not easy to observe. When the girl asked me how I could tell, I didn't reveal my method because it's hard to explain. Honestly, the previous points aren't the main focus; this one is. A person's facial expression reflects their heart. A relaxed heart leads to a relaxed face, while a troubled heart results in a troubled face. All phenomena arise from the mind; a generous heart will manifest in a generous appearance, a compassionate heart will show a compassionate face, and a resentful heart will reflect a resentful expression. This is absolutely true. However, I must admit that this requires practice. By observing the faces of those who are fortunate, you'll notice a sense of familiarity; simply put, you find their faces pleasant to look at. In contrast, faces that reflect misfortune can make you feel inexplicably uncomfortable. Celebrities, successful individuals, especially those who are spiritually inclined, tend to have very good facial features, which indicates good fortune.
However, this is not always the case. To be honest, after observing many faces and gaining experience, I can often tell a practitioner's level of cultivation just by looking at them. Not all practitioners are fortunate; some are worse off than ordinary people. This is something that can be discerned.
Additionally, while facial features relate to beauty, they aren't entirely dependent on it. Fortunate people often tend to be good-looking, but not all good-looking individuals have good fortune. As mentioned earlier, having large earlobes doesn't guarantee good fortune. There's a distinction between innate and acquired traits. How do we differentiate this? We can observe it through relaxation. Earlobes, complexion, and skin are accumulated over time, while relaxation is immediately evident. A person harboring hatred won't immediately affect their earlobes, complexion, or skin, but it will be instantly reflected in their facial relaxation. As Buddhism states, "Anger is the fire in the heart that can burn down the forest of merit." A person who is originally fortunate may lose all their blessings if they harbor resentment. This resentment is something that can be seen immediately on their face.
It is said that Zeng Guofan was a master of physiognomy. I plan to take some time to study his techniques in detail. Learning to read faces has three benefits: first, it's a fun way to engage with girls; second, it allows for self-reflection, helping you assess your own facial features to understand your mental state; third, it aids in recognizing others. As the saying goes, "Those who are close to gold become gold, and those who are close to jade become jade." Being near a palace of gold will lead to the growth of spiritual herbs, while being near a stinky toilet will lead to the growth of weeds. By learning to read faces, you can get closer to those who are fortunate and share in their blessings, while it's best to distance yourself from those who bear a look of hardship and misfortune.