RESCU: What is face reading and where did it come from?
Jean Haner: Chinese face reading is an ancient branch of Chinese medicine, which is 3,000 years old. It was originally used as a method of diagnosing health, but they soon recognised that the information they were reading on people’s faces also revealed their true inner nature – how they tend to think, feel and behave, and what they need to be happy in life. Thousands of years ago in China, face readers were the original personal coaches and therapists! They were the ones people went to for guidance in love, career and life path. This is my work with people, to help them find healthy, loving relationships, work that will bring them joy and to create a life in alignment with who they really are.
RESCU: How can we use face reading to improve relationships in business?
Jean Haner: In business, you can use face reading to establish immediate rapport with someone, because you can see the best way to communicate with them, the right words to use, even how quickly to speak or how close to stand to them. For instance, if the person you’re meeting has a large boney nose, don’t give them a big hug on first meeting them! It’s likely they’re highly sensitive and need to get used to your energy a bit before they can feel comfortable with a hug. For someone like this, you’ll also want to be sure to be on time for your meeting – promptness is important to them! For people you’re already in a relationship with, face reading is brilliant – it allows you to see the real reasons for their feelings or behavior, and how you can communicate your own needs in ways they’ll understand and accept. Overall, it helps you experience more love and compassion for who anyone really is, whether that’s your romantic partner, child, boss or mother-in-law! One woman in a recent workshop I taught learned to read her daughter’s face and not only discovered the underlying reason her daughter’s rebelliousness, but also how to channel that urge in a healthy and productive way.
RESCU: What are the different personality types and what are the key facial features to look out for?
Jean Haner: In Chinese face reading, there are five personality types. We each have all five of them in different percentages in our natures, but there is always one that is our “home base”, our main personality. They are Water – the Artist/Innovator/Philosopher; Wood – the Warrior/ Pioneer/Entrepreneur; Fire – the Lover/Performer/Free Spirit; Earth – the Diplomat/Mother/Gatherer; and Metal – the Visionary/Father/Sensor. If someone is primarily a Water personality, they may have a domed forehead, large ears, shadowed or puffy under-eyes and a big chin. If someone is a Wood, they often have strong eyebrows, indented temples and a prominent jaw. If they’re Fire, you may see curly or red hair (or baldness in men), a twinkle in the eyes, an easy smile, pointed nose or cleft chin. Earth people often have a round face, large mouths and/or full lips, and plump cheeks. If someone is primarily Metal, they may have a large nose, prominent cheeks, high eyebrows and visible upper eyelids.
RESCU: How can we use face reading to better understand and communicate with our children?
Jean Haner: They say your child doesn’t come with a user’s manual, but that’s not so! It’s written in their face and all you have to do is learn to read it. Face reading can be used in very practical ways to make your life as a parent easier, for instance, to design the best bedtime ritual that matches your child’s needs so that you can get them to sleep in record time; their best learning style for school so they’ll excel and gain confidence; to understand why they’re really upset in any situation and help them deal with those emotions. One mother emailed me recently after reading my book, to say that it was like a lifetime guide for raising her child, but also gave her deep revelations about her own childhood.
The Wisdom of Your Child’s Face is available at Borders and Angus and Robertson (RRP: $25.95)