HISTORY
Mole/birthmark divination, also known as maculomancy, moleomancy, molesophy, or molescopy, is thought to have started with the ancient Chinese, as part of their whole science of face reading (see bibliographic citation at the end of the lesson). It appears to have made its way west to Europe quite early, as the Greek physician Hippocrates is said to have studied the art at some length. Hippocrates eventually concluded birthmarks should be taken into consideration when reviewing the total health of patients, a view many physicians and healers concur with today, although possibly for different reasons. After all, the danger exists that a mole or birthmark can turn into skin cancer at some point.
At some point long after Hippocrates passed from the scene, European gypsies carried on the practice of mole- and birthmark reading. Both the gypsies and the Chinese believed, that not just the placement, but the size, shape, and color of moles foretold personal fortune or misfortune for the individual possessing them, aside from the state of their health.
MOLE AND BIRTHMARK IDENTIFICATION
Moles are those raised areas of the skin which are usually of a different color than the surrounding skin. Birthmarks can range from light red to very dark red, or from light brown to very dark brown, clearly-defined areas of the skin. They can be large or small, and also deceptive. For example, I have a niece who was born with a single tiny, dark mole somewhere in the middle of her clear, high, unmarked forehead. If you didn’t know any better, you might think it’s just an oddly-placed freckle, and many people probably do. So be on the look-out for that—moles or birthmarks masquerading as freckles. And freckles masquerading as moles or birthmarks. And moles or birthmarks that aren’t moles or birthmarks at all, but beauty marks they purchased at Sephora™ or Ulta™. This is where some of the ‘art’ to this divination technique comes in—knowing what you’re at, and looking for.
The Chinese believed that moles which had a light reddish gleam were a sign of good fortune, no matter where on the body they were, but that the darker the spot, the more it should be watched, because a dark mole or birthmark was considered to be an ominous sign. This was held to be especially true if the mole or birthmark suddenly changed size or color, as a change of fate was considered to be just around the corner—usually a negative change, although in rare cases, it could be a positive one.
The significance and meanings of moles can vary widely from practitioner to practitioner, but the gypsies appear to have a set of very general, agreed-upon meanings:
- The darker the mole or mark, the more significance they hold.
- Round moles or marks are considered fortuitious omens.
- Long or oblong marks indicate a propensity for prosperity.
- Angular marks, any roundish marks with an angle to them, or just-plain odd-shaped marks indicate a personality with memorable qualities, such as a charismatic personality, a fiery temper, a mysterious demeanor, a magnetic manner, a winning smile, or some other trait which makes them stand out in some way.
With those general guidelines out of the way, below is a maculomancy guide, listing all parts of the body starting from the forehead and ending with the toes:
This guide very often specifies the right side of the body or the left side of the body. It was never made clear if this was referring to the subject’s left and right, or the spectator’s left and right. I have come to the conclusion it’s referring to the subject’s left and right. But observe their personality and determine for yourself.