There are lots of different hypotheses about what fingerprints could mean. And lots of different interpretations of these different theories too.
Some medical researchers relate the differences in pattern to chemical conditions in the womb. However, identical twins, with identical DNA, who experienced identical womb chemistry, surprisingly do NOT have identical fingerprints.
Prior to Richard Unger, nearly all palmistry interpretations of fingerprints based their work on Noel Jaquin’s work which correlates types of fingerprints with personality characteristics. The exception is Richard Unger’s LifePrints system which proposes a pattern linked to who we are beyond personality, in other words, our soul psychology.
In this article it is not my intention to compare different systems. It is an attempt to end misconceptions about what LifePrints is exploring and why so many people find it useful on so many different levels.
Fingerprints start forming once the volar pads that contain them are formed, 13 weeks after conception. They are completely formed by 21 weeks.
How can they inform us?
It helps to think of fingerprints as patterns in nature. Just wind leaves patterns in sand, and we can study the sand patterns to determine, for example, which direction the wind blew from and how hard, so too our fingerprints are evidence of an energetic force beyond and preceding our body, personality and life experiences.
On the left there’s a chart from early fingerprint researchers attempting to classify fingerprints according to pattern intensity. This chart is useful because it helps us get a quick glimpse of what we are trying to measure – variations in pattern intensity. At the bottom of the chart, is the arch fingerprint pattern. This fingerprint pattern has the lowest pattern intensity. At the top, is the whorl, with maximum pattern intensity.
In the LifePrints system, rather than focusing on exact finger print type we are looking instead for differences in pattern intensity across the 10 fingerprints (and also in the palm). More importantly, we are looking for which finger/s have the lowest pattern intensity, and which fingers have the highest intensity. Therefore questions such as, “is that a whorl or is that a peacock?” are not really the issue. We are looking more for differences and we are trying to identify the location of the highs and the lows. Therefore, a more appropriate question to ask is “How does one fingerprint look compared to the other prints?” Are they all the same or is there a variation? Which are more complex and which are less? And, if so, where are these prints located? Pattern perfection is another factor. If all 10 prints are the same then the question becomes, is one more perfect or less so than the others? Again, where is this print located.
Why is location important? Instead of exploring personality characteristics, the LifePrints system explores our soul psychology: what issues or life themes are we exploring? What are the various extremes or polarities that drive us?
Greek and Roman mythology has explored these themes over the millennia, and, more importantly, these mythological archetypes are represented on the hand. For example, the index finger refers to Jupiter/Zeus themes, the middle finger Saturn/Cronus themes, the
ring finger Apollo themes and the little relates to finger Mercury/Hermes themes.
Roughly translated, here is an overview of the major life themes we are exploring according to the pattern intensity of our fingerprints:
and more specifically
This article is just a very rough and brief guideline by me to help people understand that the LifePrints system is looking at life themes and core issues that we seek to explore rather than personality. For personality characteristics, hand shape is an extremely reliable indicator.
For a fuller understanding of this system, read Richard Unger‘s book LifePrints: decoding your Life Purpose from your Fingerprints
(available through your local bookstore or Amazon etc. online.) 280 pages
Or download the more complete version, LifePrints Deluxe. +500 pages which is more than 200 pages longer and includes an appendix covering Richard’s thoughts on different systems. You can also take in depth courses that teach you how to use this system effectively in your own life and to give your clients more clarity and perspective. In the next post I’ll explore some practical applications of this system, so stay posted.
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Reference notes
Here is a 20 page extract from LifePrints Deluxe Appendix II: Fingerprint History and Research reprinted with permission from Richard Unger.