FACE READING...future!

Face Reading - Bringing the World Together…. One Face at a Time! June, 2023: NEWS Update from Barbara - Face Reading! Face Reading - Bringing the World Together…. One Face at a Time! See: facereading1.com for Session and Books! As you know my passion in life has been spiritually and psychologically to encourage harmony among people of all ethnic backgrounds. As the face is an accurate recording of one's life, and the goal of my 35 years has been to encourage inner transformation and strength of character in people as I read their life story from their faces. If you have enjoyed the youtube.com TV (30+) shows and/or want to help others to heal, kindly contribute whatever you can $ below. My goal is to continue to train and to love those who are interested in bringing out the best of others. Thank you! LINK: PayPal@barbararoberts1512

Face Reading will quicken your healing from past traumatic relationships!

Gain Deeper Understanding about your 'difficult' person The ancient, intuitive skills of Face Reading will give added insights and clarity to help you heal more quickly from past difficult relationships. As a body-mind tool, Face Reading will identify specific facial features, which reflect psychological meanings. In a Session your face and the ‘difficult’ person will be analyzed in depth with the focus on healing and insight. You will be compared energetically (also with spiritual astrology and numerology) to see what each person is learning, your past karmic patterns, and how to best resolve hurts and issues. To Order Session: Go to facereading1.com (1 Hour Session) Questions? Contact Barbara: facereading1@aol.com 760-479-0008 Barbara Roberts, 35 years experience in Face Reading and intuitive healing. Guest on 60 TV nat’l/local TV Shows (Hallmark, TYRA, NBC) and 2 million views on youtube.com. Background - clinical medical research (UCSD). Has read over 10,000 people's faces in her 500 Classes. Fifty years meditating and doing her own inner healing.

NOW on EBAY!

Face Reading - How to Know anyone at a Glance - Barbara Roberts 

              NEW copy!...ONLY one sold by AUTHOR - $49 Includes: 

*Autographed copy by Barbara 

*Sent FED EX delivery (US only orders). Go to facereading1.com for IPAD/PDF Int'l Orders 

*Free $10 Face Chart (with 100+ facial features and their psychological meanings) 

*Extra Face Reading short stories 

*Discount Coupon for $55/off - for the 1 hour Session - Personal Face Reading with Barbara ($175/hour on her website.) Coupon makes Session: $120/hour 

*Some color photos of famous peoples' faces with their facial features explained (Author does not sell on amazon).

      Barbara Roberts - Guest on Hallmark, TYRA, NBC, InSide San Diego + 75 national/local TV/radio shows. Face Reader - 1 1/2 million views on Youtube.com, 10,000 people/35 years. Honors all ethnic groups. 

Go to: www.facereading1.com - Personal Intuitive Reading with Barbara -  Zoom or Skype

Questions? Email: facereading1@aol.com - Phone: 760-479-0008

NOV 10 ...Testimonial

Dana Terrell Barbara is a genius. She can see with so much understanding, and her goal is healing. It is remarkable how she can look at two faces and predict the strengths and weaknesses of the two. This can be very helpful in business, in choosing even healthcare personnel, and of course in choosing a life partner. Dave and I had been married a long time when she first met us, but her prompt summary was "the marriage is good."

NOW on EBAY ONLY!!!

Update on selling NEW copies of my book! (instead of readers buying them for up to $325?! on amazon.com) Now EBAY! NEW copy! - SOLD BY AUTHOR (ONLY sold on EBAY) $49 *mailed Fed Ex *hand authographed *$10 Face Chart (100 facial features and their psychological meanings) included *Discount Coupon for $55 off 1 hour Website/price for Personal Session *Color examples of photos of famous people with their facial features explained * More Face Reading short stories

FREE $10 Face Chart!

 

FREE Face Reading CHART...150+ Facial Features and their Psychological Meanings! 

($10 Value) To get: write to Barbara -- facereading1@aol.com "CHART"

How to Handle a Ruler (Face Reading Short Story)

 

Alexander the Great, his broad shoulders and flowing robe, was pacing before his teacher, Aristotle.

“Sit down, Alex, you’re making me nervous.” The huge elephant of a conqueror plopped down on his thrown.

 

“I just don’t know what to do, Aris. It’s all making me crazy. We’re losing men in the Western province, and my feet are hurting. Just can’t find the right sandal maker.”

 

“OK. OK. Well, let’s look at one problem at a time, like I taught you to do when you were a boy. You’ve conquered Mesopotamia by land and brought 8,000 men over the mountain ridge into Constantinople last week. How did the elephants fare? I heard there were rainstorms, and some of them lost their footing in the mud.”

 

“Only lost three elephants out of the lot, but, dang, those things are heavy when they go down! Have a good elephant man though, and he pulled them through. Seems like a trainer had cut back on their rations. That’s all. Just needed to feed them on the spot, and they were right as rain. Excuse the pun.” Alexander fidgeted with his crown.

 

“So let’s go to our maps, and see where we need reinforcements this week.” Aristotle’s noble face turned to his friend and student. “You know. I can’t always be doing this for you. I’m needed at the Pantheon to do my gig at the Acropolis. Don’t want to spread myself too thin, if you know what I mean. But for you, Alex, anything.”

 

“Thanks, my friend. I feel better knowing I can talk this over. Even conquerors need down time. Can your page here bring me some wine and bread? Haven’t eaten since breakfast, and I am used to my three squares. After all, I’m a growing boy.” Aristotle let his eyes roll, and both men laughed. Alexander’s massive body resembled one of the elephants.

 

“OK. So the provinces are done. Now, how are the captured peoples?” Aristotle went through their usual list of items conquerors need to attend to. 

 

“Just checking that all are being treated well. You know, it’s important for your image to be extra kind to the foreigners. Don’t let your men get sloppy and take food out of their homes. Doesn’t look good, and after all – your army is the highest paid in centuries. They can certainly learn to act like gentlemen after a battle.” Aristotle reached for an herbal beverage. He wasn’t a liquor sort of guy. Tarnished his reputation as a thinker.

 

“Aris,” the younger one looked up. “ I need some new generals for the overland conquests. Some of our older men want to go home and be with their families. Say they’ve been gone too long and miss their kids. What should I be looking for in the incoming batch? Any new ideas for leadership?”

 

Aristotle nodded. “The new scholars in Greece have been talking about something called “physiognomy” or “Face Reading.” It’s all the rave in the sun cities. And easy to understand. I’ve started incorporating it into my own work. Last week I met with Socrates, who was really with it for once. He had heard of it, too. Sometimes he’s a bit too cerebral, but no one is perfect.

“So how does it work, Aris? I want to choose the top of the crop of the men coming into the field, if you know what I mean.” Alexander liked to make farming references as he knew nothing about land and wanted to appear intellectually broader. As he wasn’t always the sharpest sword in the sheath.

Aristotle got out the writing board which he used for visuals. “For your uses, let’s see. You’d need a soldier that has these qualities:

 

Brave and fearless in battle.

Quick and mentally agile. Able to grasp complicated battle plans.

Sort of rugged looking. Outdoorsy sort of guy. Able to enjoy living in tents year round.

Powerful looking. Looks like he would command leadership over the guys.

Able to inspire the men, so they follow and don’t take the horses in opposite directions.

Approachable. Can throw a mean dice and joke it up with the troops.

 


 “So what does a man like this look like?”

 

Aristotle walked back and forth in front of the throne popping grapes in his mouth. “OK, here’s what Face Reading stuff says you’ll need. They are called “Facial Features.” Physical Patterns. And his look would include these features.

He raised his chalk to write.

 

Alexander sat up to pay attention. He had to memorize the information and burn it into his huge head. There won’t much papyrus to go around these days. Plus, his robe didn’t have any pockets. Direct recall was the best even if it hurt all his brain cells to think so much. Those metal helmets in battle had been too small, he told himself.

 

Aristotle continued, “You’ll want a ‘big, broad wide forehead’ for the strategy part, so he will be clever and smarter than his commander.” He winked at his friend. The facial feature of ‘High cheek bones’ means he loves to travel. You’ll need that. A man “on the go” doesn’t take a lot of toiletries. ‘Full, thick beard’ shows outdoors person. Those ‘sparse beards’ mean a man is immature. Might just stop into his middle of a battle and have an outdoor cook-out. Can’t have that. The key is the jaw structure. All great warriors and leaders, men of state who move the world have ‘huge jaws’ and ‘forward thrusting chins.’ That’s really the key, Alex. Look for the ‘huge jaw and forward chin,’ means dynamic leader with forceful presence. And I bet the other facial features will follow.”

 

Alexander nodded. So much less to remember. He liked this Face Reading stuff better all the time. No need to cloud his mind with too many facts.

 

“For him being a ‘guy’s guy,’ I’d go with the ‘big front teeth’ and a ‘wide mouth.’ Makes a man strong and forceful with a tinge of rollicking fun. Kind of adds a nice touch, don’t you think? Also, ‘very small eyes’ and elephant ‘big ears’ - a blend of a commander who is watchful and listens well. That way you don’t have to pay the spies as much. They usually want too many coins for travel time. And they’ve been known to work on both sides if they feel they’re not appreciated.”

 

“Isn’t that the truth!” Alexander nodded. “So we’ve got ourselves a visual picture of a great general. Thanks so much for the tips.”

 

“And just remember that it doesn’t make any different what province or tribe the leader comes from. These are universal facial features that apply to all men.” Aristotle put down his chalk and came to sit on his simple chair near the throne.

 

“Righted, tighty then,” nodded Alexander. “So how are the boys at the Pantheon, Aris? What else is new?”

 

And so they went on to other topics.

 


(c) Copyright, Barbara Roberts. August, 2016. All Rights reserved. Can be contacted at: facereading1@aol.com

Face Reading SHORT STORY!

 

MatchU4Love Dating Service

Jason sighed. If this date was any more of a gold digger, she’d be sitting on his lap taking out his dental fillings. He really needed to change his “MatchU4Love” Profile on the “Income” line. Take off the “millionaire” entry. Yes, he owned his own company and was darn proud of it, but perhaps he shouldn’t advertise it on first dates.
    Back at his desk he told Keri, his budget manager, that he’d be in “conference” and went in to reread his “Man on the Go Looking for Independent Woman” Profile title bar. “OK. Got to rework this one,” he mumbled. “I’ll leave the photo - after all, I’m tall, dark, and handsome – and humble.”
    After fifty eight dates – women who were tall, short, blonde, brunette, red head, corporate investors, homemakers, childless, with children, rich, poor, he’d reached his limit for even a “man on the go.” Perhaps an image change? Perhaps a lobotomy.
    He barely cleared Keri’s desk as he walked out of the office on his way to lunch. She looked up. Sensitive to every nuance of his walk, she inquired, “Bad day, eh, Jason?” They were attuned to each other not because they were steamy closet lovers at work, but because she was his sister. They’d been competing siblings over cookies and Mom, but now they had settled into harmonious bantering.
    “Keri, I’m lost in this dating world. Help me! Help me! You are my only hope,” he did his best impersonation of Princess Leah talking to Obi-Wan.
    His sister put down her Excel printout and looked into his very blue but sad eyes. “You know I read all the current women’s self-help books,” Keri began in the way only an older sister can totally bore a brother to tears.
    He controlled his gag reflex. “SO?” He rolled his eyes indicating if he heard any more feminine psychobabble, he would ask God to reincarnate as a turtle.
“Well, there’s this woman who went on Tyra Banks last month. Her name is Barbara Roberts, and she wrote a book called FACE READING – How to Know Anyone at a Glance. It’s the new way to find romance. Tyra really liked her. Look here,” she motioned to an open page from the book. “See, you have these facial features:
    Blue eyes, Square forehead line, Vertical line above your nose
Strong jaw, Round naso-labial lines, Wide mouth, Large ears
    Full cheeks
    “You’ve been ‘looking for love in all the wrong places,’ my little brother. Get off “MatchU4Love,” and stop paying that gypsy at “Cupid will Deliver.”
    Jason immediately confiscated the FACE READING book from her desk, tucked it under his arm and left the office in a far better mood that he’d been in in a long time.
    Patterns. Facial Patterns.
    It was midnight. He had read the whole book.
My face has Patterns. All I need to do is just match the Patterns in my face to the Patterns in her face!
 “There might be hope!” He turned over to Massie, his German Shepard, who was currently taking up half of his bed. “They’ll soon be a special someone with us, my girl.” And he gave her an affectionate ear scratching.
    Not long after, he was at the airport meeting his client Phil. The plane was delayed, so he got his Starbuck’s caramel latte and blueberry scone and popped open his paper to wait. A woman carrying a laptop approached the seat next to him. Blue silk suit holding a cell phone. He looked over just in time to catch a “Hi”-nod and went on reading the local news.
    When she finished talking and started adjusting her cup’s tea bag, she turned to ask, “Waiting for the Phoenix incoming flight?”
    “Yep. My client Phil is on it. How about you?” As they spoke he regarded her closely. She seemed amazingly familiar for someone he had never met. Then his mind clicked into the facial feature composite of his “ideal” woman. Cassie. One by one, he counted off their compatible facial features. He became so excited, he mentally he was begging God to get to know this woman, but he was trying not to grovel. He was chaffing at the bit to ask if she was single as he listened to her describe an actual normal life. When she wanted to know about his life and interests, he was incredulous that a woman would ask about him.
     By the time Phil walked out of Gate 24, Jason had already planned their wedding and bought his tuxedo.
    After he introduced Phil to Cassie, he turned to her. “Here, let me give you my card.” They both said that at the same time. Cassie blushed. He smiled.
As he guided Phil into his office and passed Keri’s desk, Jason gave her the thumbs up-signal and mouthed, “I’ll tell you later.”
    Well, Massie and Arnold, Cassie’s German Shepard, became a regular on walks in the park, Friday night movies at home, Saturday picnics, and morning coffees. Together they watched the seasons change and laughed and talked through Christmas, Easter and July 4th.
      In the Fall Jason turned to Massie before he set his alarm for work, “Massie, it’s time for you to start sleeping on the floor. Cassie and Arnold are coming to live with us.”
      He thought he saw Massie smile before she rolled over and started snoring.

(c) Copyright, Barbara Roberts. March 25, 2021. All rights reserved.

 

© 2021 Verizon Media

2021 FACE READING TESTIMONIALS!

 

    “Each time Barbara appeared on InSide San Diego, people from all over the station would line up for Face Readings. Time and again, her accuracy would blow them away.”
    —A. Moyer, Supervising Producer, KGTV


    “Face Reading is the SECRET WEAPON You Must Have! I wish so much I had learned this earlier in my career! If you work with people — if your career depends on your ability to read and influence others — if you’re looking for a statistically proven way to instantly read friends, family, colleagues, and clients — get (Barbara’s book) now!  I highly recommend investing the time to have Barbara read your face personally. You’ll be shocked and amazed at the detail and accuracy!”
    —P. Bowen, Costa Mesa, California


    “Barbara’s system is the single most valuable tool I know of for effective communication. I interview thousands of people, and I use these skills all the time.”
    —L. Buxton, Morning News Anchor, KUSI TV


    “I am so impressed by the accuracy of Barbara’s work…Simply amazing. I can hardly believe I didn’t know about this before. I have been seeing people so differently since studying the book and am so excited to have additional insight into my own life.”
    —J. Borba Von Stauffenberg, Owner OlivePR


    “In my individual session with Barbara, she directed me to my life’s work, which I would not have thought of my own. I couldn’t be happier with the peace and fulfillment it has brought me. I am doing what I love!”
    —R. Winrow, Owner of European Skin Centre.


    “I have been attending Barbara’s Face Reading classes for the last 15 years. Barbara consistently demonstrates a depth of understanding others and doing so with great accuracy and finesse. She is warm, compassionate, and nurturing to her class . . . .  Her book gives greater understanding and appreciation of others in a non-verbal ways without stepping over their personal boundaries.”
    —Dr. M. Malay, Parole Officer, San Diego, California


    "It was amazing to watch you in action. You certainly hit the nail on the head with each of our members, uncanny success with people you have never known before. Your knowledge can be a valuable contributor to decision making at any level, and I know we are inspired to use your services for that.”
    —Dr. A. Windsor, Inside Edge, Foundation for Education, Irvine, California


    “I was in a very dark place trying to sort out what to do with my life and career, and Barbara was a Light on my Path. Her intuitive skill enabled me to find myself my best career. I feel God sent her to me as an answer to my prayers. Now abundance is pouring in. Barbara was my ANGEL.”
    —M. Davis (Amazon.com Book Review)


    “In my medical practice, Barbara’s work has given me a more profound insight into people’s symptoms, conditions…how these may be related and how to help people live fuller lives on many levels. Meeting Barbara has been a blessing in my life both personally and professionally. I have enjoyed her workshops as well as her consultations. You inevitably come away with lifelong, invaluable tools.”
    — E. Llorente, MD, Fountain Valley, California


    “I’ve had my face read by Barbara, and it was eerie how much she could pick up about me, my personality, and my life after just meeting me and studying my features briefly. The books allow you to bring home the positive experience and learn more. I totally recommend them!”
    — I. Heather, Chemist, Anaheim, California


    “The first time I went to Barbara for a Face Reading, it was like I was meeting an old friend. She started me on my journey to self-awareness.”
    – J. Insua, Supervising Producer, TV’s Cristina Show

JUST HORSING AROUND

 

(True! Short story on "Face Reading")

Jamie, a woman with nely-textured blonde hair, blue eyes, a narrow jaw, and ne-pored skin sat before me. Her features all expressed sensitivity. With so many features for gentleness in her face, I wonder if she would nd dealing with people too abrasive. Would she prefer the company of animals for companionship? If so, what animal would most appeal to her? Animals with gentleness, intelligence, and responsiveness? Might be horses.

I leaned forward. “Do you like horses?”

Astonished laughter and gasps broke out in the room.

Jamie replied, “I’ve loved horses since I was ve. I own my own stable. Sometimes I have a hard time functioning in the world. I feel too sensitive for its hardness. Horses help me feel connected to life.”

AN UPSCALE HAIR SALON

(True Story on "Face Reading")

The red and green ornaments for Christmas were scattered throughout the large room. Festive music played, and chocolate desserts were laid out on long tables. But no one was moving. Forty people gathered behind me to listen as I read one face after another. Laughing, good humored snickers and some applause resounded behind me.

An older gentleman sat down, and I focused on his big money nose, bushy eyebrows, and determined chin. Definitely an entrepreneur! A man whose nose told me he was very wealthy. I went with my intuitive hunch, “John, do you have any connection with the word ‘franchise’?”

Uproarious laughter surrounded me in stereo.
“I guess that means ‘Yes?’” my eyebrows went up. His wife turned to me, “He owns 80 franchises.”

         

 

Face Reading - How to Know Anyone at a Glance!
Buy on www.facereading1.com (PDF/IPAD in US/Int'l, Paperback in US only)

 

March 1st...NEW things Barbara is offering!

 3/1/2021 - *FREE - “Facial Features Chart” ($10 value/ PDF) - 100+ Facial Features and their psychological meanings! To get: Email Barbara - "FACE CHART" at facereading1@aol.com.

*1 Hour Personal FACE READING Session with Barbara reads your Facial Features and covers the Career you were BORN to do! - Your ideal Romantic Partner - $ Wealth Potential, How to maximize your personal strengths. Practical, insightful, and fun Session! ($140 FEE includes a FREE copy of her book (PDF/IPAD) - Pay on www.facereading1.com *30 min FACE READING Session covers either Career OR Romance ($75). Pay on: facereading1.com. Barbara will then contact you to set up the date/time that works for you! (Skype and Zoom) (US or Int'l Sessions available - Sat/Sun included.) *Her book: Face Reading - How to Know Anyone at a Glance is sold ONLY on www.facereading1.com. IPAD/PDF $20 (US/Int’l), Paperback $29 (US only). Barbara Roberts in her 35 years as an international Face Reading Expert was a Guest on 75 national/news TV/radio shows (Hallmark, TYRA, NBC News) and has read 10,000+ people’s faces in her 500 Classes. She has 1 + 1/2 million views on her youtube Channel. See: www.facereading1.com for clips of her TV Videos, magazine articles, and radio shows!

What did Jesus Look Like?

 

FACE READING - Barbara Roberts

What did Jesus look like?

At the holy season of his birth, our minds are turned to the presence of Christ that we might draw closer to him in a personal way. We feel him in our hearts and want to know him better. We are used to understanding people as we look at their faces. So what did Jesus look like? In art history around the world, all cultures portray Jesus differently. In the Orient, mosaics of him show him with upward slanted eyes and black hair. In the West, sometimes we see him as blonde and blue eyed. One of the Catholic mystics, Catherine Emmerick, who herself received the Stigmata (like St. Francis of Assisi - which confirms her deep, close relationship with Christ) - said that he had 'blonde' hair in her first Volume about his life and teachings.

Another mystic, saint who saw Christ in Visions said the artist's Hoffman painting of Christ (the one often found in churches) is the closest portrayal to his face. What can we see in his facial features from that painting? The magnificent, compassionate eye texture in this painting reveal depth of holiness and Divine Love for all. His hair is curly and dark; his eye color brown, as might have who was born in Israel. His face is radiant and loving, and for ages other artists have conveyed the same holiness - Rembrandt, Titian, Raphael. The face shape is long, but not too narrow. This is the shape of a teacher and guide. The forehead is high, which conveys depth of wisdom. The mouth area is soft and full, which is kindness and affectionate. What a great personal witness the painting Hoffman gave us in the beautiful face of Christ. Full of Divine Love and Blessings for the world.

May your own holiday season be filled with this Divine Love, whether you are Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Islamic, or following another spiritual way.

Blessings, Barbara

2020 President: Who will WIN?

 

The Presidential Race: 

 

The intuitive prediction I have about Kamala being President (Biden winning, and her taking over for him when he can't finish the 4 years) was met with very divided comments (some of you surprisingly negative), so this time, I'm going to explain my intuition. I'll leave this post on for a few days.....

When Clinton was Inagurated I was featured on Morning TV NEWS and was asked about his future. I've been doing Face Reading for the last 35 years as many of you know...(been featured on 75 national/local TV/radio shows, have 1 1/2 million people following my TV shows on youtube.com, have worked with the Navy, Fortune 500, UCSD, etc.)....and I said, "He will be a soft President (not dynamic like Kennedy). However, at SOME point in his presidency, Clinton will try to manipulate the American public. The public will turn on him, and he won't like it." Enter Monica Lewinsky years later...(I got this from looking at the LEFT side of his face which was his true nature, not his public side.)

 

When past President Obama was a young politician (no experience), I looked closely at his face, and he had a face of Destiny...and I knew he would be President one day. 

 

When I see Kamala I feel the same deep response in my heart that I did with Obama (when he was young.) That's how I'm coming to my intuitive insight. It is not by watching politics..... Barbara

Face Reading.... BEAUTY

 

A friend sent this:

Beautiful is that face in which every change of thought, feeling and action can be noticed. In spite of the continual changes of facial expression, there are traits in such a face which remain the same. Such a face is an expression of a noble and elevated soul. Beautiful is that person whose face you can read. The beautiful face manifests everything that lies hidden in the soul. Beautiful is the face on which God writes, while the human being maintains the purity of what is inscribed.

Current Client comments on Reading....

 

Hi Barbara,

Thank you for the insightful reading. You have quite a gift.

It was lovely meeting you. The preciseness of your reading is quite amazing and helpful in that I feel affirmed in being who I am in this moment. I've been through many things and nobody noticed. You, however, noticed.

With affection and care,

John (from Dubai)

MARCH 27, 2020....NEW FREE ITEM!

March 27, 2020...FREE - "FACIAL FEATURES" CHART, a PDF of over 100 Facial Features and their psychological meanings for you to print out! To get this FREE PDF e-mail Barbara: "FACE CHART" (put in Search area) to facereading1@aol.com. ($10/value)

Personal Skype FACE READING SESSION with Barbara - SPECIAL DISCOUNT - NOW is $100/1 Hour - ($40 off website price.) How to Order: Go to www.facereading1.com. On the far right side find "Order Books." Click on "View and Order." In the second row is the FACE CHART (white sheet paper). Enter a "10" (10 X $10 = $100). Then go to Cart to pay using Visa/MC/Paypal. When Barbara receives the Order, she will e-mail you to set up a day/time for your Session. (US/Canada ONLY).

Her book, Face Reading - How to Know Anyone at a Glance is sold ONLY on www.facereading1.com. IPAD/PDF $20 (US/Int’l), Paperback $25 + S/H (US only).

Barbara Roberts has read 10,000 people's faces in her 500 Classes and as a Guest on 75 TV national/local shows. She has 1 + 1/2 million people following her on youtube.com. From her 35 years of Face Readings, she will give you depth of spiritual understanding about who you are. Her focus is healing and insight oriented, warm hearted, and funny. See: www.facereading1.com for her TV Videos, magazine articles, and radio shows.

Affirmation on FEARLESSNESS

I am Fearless.

I am made of the substance of God.

I am a Spark of the Fire of Spirit.

I am an atom of the Cosmic Flame.

I am a cell of the vast Universal Body of the Father.

I and my Father are One.
(Yogananda)

Hoffman's painting of Jesus

 

What did Jesus look like?

     At the holy season of his birth, our minds are turned to the presence of Christ that we might draw closer to him in a personal way. We feel him in our hearts and want to know him better. We are used to understanding people as we look at their faces. So what did Jesus look like? In art history around the world, all cultures portray Jesus differently. In the Orient, mosaics of him show him with upward slanted eyes and black hair. In the West, sometimes we see him as blonde and blue eyed. One of the Catholic mystics, Catherine Emmerick, who herself received the Stigmata (like St. Francis of Assisi - which confirms her deep, close relationship with Christ) - said that he had 'blonde' hair in her first Volume about his life and teachings. 
      Another mystic, saint who saw Christ in Visions said the artist's Hoffman painting of Christ (the one often found in churches) is the closest portrayal to his face. What can we see in his facial features from that painting? The magnificent, compassionate eye texture in this painting reveal depth of holiness and Divine Love for all. His hair is curly and dark; his eye color brown, as might have who was born in Israel. His face is radiant and loving, and for ages other artists have conveyed the same holiness - Rembrandt, Titian, Raphael. The face shape is long, but not too narrow. This is the shape of a teacher and guide. The forehead is high, which conveys depth of wisdom. The mouth area is soft and full, which is kindness and affectionate. What a great personal witness the painting Hoffman gave us in the beautiful face of Christ. Full of Divine Love and Blessings for the world. 
     May your own holiday season be filled with this Divine Love, whether you are Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Islamic, or following another spiritual way. 
     Blessings, Barbara

From Canadian Client - Testimonial

Hi Barbara,

I just wanted to say thank you so much for the session today. My sister, mom and I all enjoyed meeting you so much. You are such a lovely person and what you do is amazing. I think that what you told my mom was very helpful and also very accurate. I really wanted her to hear positive attributes about herself from someone after being told so much negative for much of her life. 

She loved the time she had with you, and I hope that she can use your insight to help her live a more peaceful and happy life. 

Take care,
Susan (Canada)

SOUL AGE...Are YOU an Old Soul?

   Yes, the eyes are the 'windows to the soul' - but Face Reading goes far, far beyond this quote to really identify the level of Inner development of a person. Soul Age has nothing to do with eye color or ethnic background. It only applied to the Radiance coming from a person's eyes.

     Check out this youtube.com link: (for my TV show on Soul Age)

     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V_pWCkAHAs 

     It features St. Therese of Lisieux, a French saint who wrote, The Little Flower, a beautiful book on how to do little things for God, and Paramahansa Yogananda, author or Autobiography of a Yogi, a spiritual classic of his life in India and the great masters he met.
     A NEW video has just gone up last week on my Channel: "Barbara Roberts face reading" showing over 15 photos of 'young' and 'Old' souls comparing their eye radiance! Please check it out!

      I call the first a 'young' soul. The energy radiating from the eyes is flat, cold, or cruel. When you look at that person's eyes, there is no warmth or compassion. Sometimes (and not all) models have this flat aspect. In 'young' souls their desire is to play, and they respond to rules and regulations. Criminals may also have very flat, cruel or vacant eye radiance.

      The second group in the video I refer to as 'Old' souls. People like Gandhi, Martin Luther King, The Dalhi Lama, Yogananda, and St. Therese of Lisieux are examples of people who have this dynamic love, radiance, wisdom, and joy pouring from their eyes. They beam out goodness! When we look at them, we can get lost in their eyes.  

    

     For more information on Soul Age please see my brown book on this website: www.facereading1.com, which is featured in PDF/IPAD/paperback.

     (c) Copyright, Barbara Roberts. July, 2015. All rights reserved.

How to See Others Clearly - The Inner Track to Understanding

In The Little Prince, Saint-Exupéry says, “Only with the heart can one see clearly.”

In opening one’s heart to clearly perceiving what is being communicated by another - whether it be a spouse, child, or client, many people believe expressing true ‘compassion’ is a matter of absorbing the other person’s pain. Some health practitioners believe that ‘healing’ another is achieved by “merging” with that person’s emotional trauma, anger, guilt or fear. and absorbing their trauma so the suffering person can go ‘free.’ This sounds good, but it does not work. The reason is that there is was no resolution of the trauma within the sufferer. The pain is just duplicated and absorbed within the ‘healer’s’ mind and body. Many of the 10,000 people who have come to my Face Reading classes and sessions are health care practitioners. Some tell me that they have become tired, angry, depressed or overwhelmed and long term have developed severe fatigue or major illnesses.

In an attempt to deal with this, some healers have isolated themselves from others - concerned that they have ‘no more to give.’ So this then hampers intimacy within their marriage and/or closeness with their children. Yesterday, I was talking to a seasoned psychotherapist who told me that she felt others were too close in her ‘aura’ and for years had cut herself off from people. When asked about the above, she said YES - her goal is to ‘merge’ with her clients, absorbing their pain. Her habit came from childhood of her mother’s depression and her attempt to help her mother feel better, so that in turn she might feel more secure.

Achieving balance and having good emotional boundaries is paramount not only in life but especially for health professions. In my Face Reading sessions my goal is to help clients rebalance their lives. Our facial features reveal our strongest inner gifts and our life lessons.

From the inherent facial features, we can see what is unique for each person…his/her specific tendency to go out of balance - whether it be mentally, emotionally, spiritually, or physically.
When I presented my day Workshop for Jenny Craig’s national sales conference, I looked at the 20 managers and identified for each how she could increase her financial and business magnetism by rebalancing whatever aspect was her weak-link. This is the ultimate goal of Face Reading - reading others clearly - so as to understand their needs (spoken and unspoken), their levels of honesty and integrity, and their true heart’s desires beyond the verbiage they express.

Technique of Face Reading and effective compassion: Instead of absorbing someone’s suffering, using your same heart’s compassionate feeling, your mental focus, and listening ability, pretend you are taking a photo of the client’s essence - his level of conscious awareness, his emotional state, how he expresses it verbally and non-verbally. Your goal is to resonate with his strivings, emotions, and/or trauma but to keep your good and clear boundaries. Then, taking his photo and opening your tool box skills and using what you can from your training to match his needs. As an artistic role model, I think of Rembrandt’s paintings of great and ordinary people - how he was able to capture their essences and then record them with paint.

To add to your own self-awareness of your Inner gifts and life lessons, please see my website: facereading1.com. Private (couple) Sessions are available internationally along with my book, Face Reading - How to Know Anyone at a Glance. (NOT on amazon.com)

NEW Magazine Article I wrote!

WOMAN'S WORLD (national magazine)
See my article on "FACE READING - FOREHEADS" (and what they mean) 2 page article! On the stands around AUG 1-7. It'll be the AUG 12th issue (in grocery stores)

Testimonial for Face Reading Session

Barbara, I honestly cannot thank you enough. I’ve never had a more rewarding reading than that with you. Completely blown away about it!! It feels  AMAZING!!!

Lisa Anderson, Oceanside, CA.

What is the Career you were BORN to do?

What is the Career YOU were Born to do?

The ancient system of Face Reading gives clues to the Career you were born to do by analyzing your specific facial features, each of which has psychological meanings. By reading over 10,000 faces, expert Barbara Roberts, Author of Face Reading - How to Know Anyone at a Glance (facereading1.com) has identified patterns of facial features in people who are successful and happy in the following careers:

ANALYTICAL, COMPUTER, TECHNICAL OR MEDICAL JOBS
Close-set eyes (means the person is precision oriented, focused)
Narrow nose bridge (high standards, good at quality control, perfectionist)
Large, wide forehead (thinker, planner, strategist)
Small eyes (aware of all details, analytical)
(Dr. Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Anita Sengupta, Sophie Wilson)

ARTISTIC, DESIGN, MUSIC, CREATIVE JOBS
Widow’s peak (means creative, individualistic, thinks outside the box)
Fine hair (sensitive, empathic, attuned to her environment)
Ears come forward away from head (music ability)
Large eyes (feeling oriented, expensive, romantic)
(Ann Hathoway, Faith Hill)

COMMUNICATIONS - TEACHING, COUNSELOR, WRITER JOBS
Rounded forehead (means the person is good with people, great communicator)
Large ears (listens well, seeks to understand others)
Lines around the mouth forming “( )” (highly verbal, articulate)
Lines radiating down from outer eye area (excellent at writing, teaching and speaking
(Dorris Lessing, J.K. Rowlings)

SELF-EMPLOYED, SALES OR MARKETING JOBS
Chin projects forward (means go-getter, self-starter)
Round or square face shape (people will instinctively trust and follow her)
Ball on tip of nose (loves to share news and information, personable)
Wide cheek area (responsible, dependable, leader)
(Barbara Walters) 

Barbara Roberts was trained in clinical medical research and has appeared on 75 national/local TV shows (TYRA, HALLMARK - “Home and Family”, NBC Nightly News, The Learning Channel, InSide San Diego.) Her youtube.comvideos have over one million viewers. Website: www.facereading1.com

(c) Copyright, August 2016. Barbara Roberts All rights reserved.

Your NOSE = Your WEALTH $$ Indicator

The 2,000 year old system of Face Reading identifies facial features and to each, it attributes a psychological meaning. In my 35 years of teaching this and private practice, after looking at 10,000 faces in over 500 classes, I've made a close study of these features and what they mean. (Please see my book, Face Reading - How to Know Anyone at a Glance  - brown book on http://www.facereading1.com)

The NOSE is the area of the face that tells us about WEALTH - financial, spiritual and abundance of all kinds flowing into our lives. Below are some examples of NOSE types and what they mean.

Do you have the nose shape that shows you will be wildly $$$ wealthy?

The larger the nose, the more abundance may come to you. Example: I had the honor of meeting Mother Theresa of Calcutta in India. She had a beautiful, large nose - for her denoting Spiritual abundance.

A small nose may indicate someone who is good at saving $$ - especially if the nose is bowed (turns outward).

The nostrils also show something about spending - If from a front view (at eye level) you can see open nostrils, this means $$ comes to you, and $$ goes from you, but then it comes back also! So budgeting is important. Another similar money spending trait is when you can see the gum line above the teeth when someone smiles easily - this means they 'swing' with money - budget and then spend.

If the nose is very high on the face and small, it may mean the person is very frugal. Once a husband and wife came to see me for a private session. The man had this nose structure, and I made the 'frugal' comment to the wife. Believe it or not, she said, "Every night he takes the gas out of the car tank and measures it." ??

A nose that has a 45 degree angle from the bottom going towards the forehead (Tanya Harding, the one who hit Nancy Kerrigan in the skating championship) may mean the person is immature emotionally.

A nose that turns up only to a 30 degree angle (from the base of the nose going towards the head) reflects someone who loves to be of service to other people. Very nice quality.

A 'roman nose' (90 degree angle from the base) is often a person who likes to $$ bargain and get special deals.

Keep in mind that to read a person correctly, you must evaluate ALL his/her features and not just one.

The key to understanding face reading as a tool for personal growth is to understand who we are at a certain time period - and then change ourselves for the POSITIVE using affirmation, meditation, 12-step work, spiritual communion, professional counseling or medication. Whatever our heart tells us will move us forward into the positve action that will attract to us Divine abundance and financial security for ourselves and our families. We can change our destiny at any time. Face Reading is just one introspective indicator.

(c) Copyright, Barbara Roberts. December 27, 2011. All rights reserved.

Darkness from the Past (Face Reading Short Story)

    The doctors were scrubbing before entering the operating room. The nurses moved quickly to make room for the stretcher on which lay the body of the French Prime Minister. The leader had been eating dinner when he gripped his chest and fell forward. Life Flight aired him to the London Cardiac Surgical Center, and top medical teams were called in from all parts of Europe. Though his vital signs were stable, the angiography revealed a partially blocked aorta. The central heart artery might rupture at any moment. And the cardiac specialists were taking no chances. The anesthesiologist held up the O2 mask as quick hands placed Jacques Cabot gingerly onto the surgery table.
    Prime Minister Jacques Cabot had been in the French military in Algeria before his election. His many bloody sieges and major mismanagements of the Algerian conquests were omitted in the military reports and dossiers sent to the people of France. The populace thought him a hero, but the rural town’s people of Nomei, Algeria knew he was a monster. After capturing a province, he would torture children. However, Algeria was far from France, and nothing was recorded as out of ordinary in the French military dispatches.
    In battle, Jacques would sit with his top officers. Bottles of Johnny Walker and special cigars were passed around the table. As the French commander turned to the side to fill his whisky glass, his profile stood out: A nose with a sharp eagle beak, his two black eyes curtained with a thick unibrow, the side “gills” of his jaw muscle flexed into tight constriction. His eyes were always cold and ruthless.
    Marka had been six at the time of Algerian sieges, but he would never forget Jacques Cabot and his men. As a young child, he hid in fear and horror as he watched the soldiers kill his little sister. After the death of her child, Marka’s mother was never the same - spending hours and days staring at the bedroom wall.

    As he grew Marka showed that he had a quick mind. He loved science and math and studied diligently at the schoolhouse with the other children. One day the missionaries came to evaluate young men for the priesthood. Marka was very happy to be chosen to further his education. Though it saddened him to leave his dissolute mother, he seized the opportunity to go live in the monastery and to read new books. The senior monks observed Marko’s brilliance and manual dexterity. He could draw and sculpt a perfect copy of any Holy statue for the Holy days. He was kind and particularly enjoyed caring for the older, infirm brothers. He knew instinctually which herbs and poultices would ease their pain and increase their joint mobility.
     The monks all said Marka had the face of a king: A round hairline, high placed large ears, long ear lobes, one horizontal - straight line across his forehead - a line they say marks the face of an ‘emperor.’ His deep blue eyes had a radiant gaze which calmed others who were in turmoil. His teeth were small, and his mouth was wide and easy to smile. His facial features radiated nobility.
    When the bishop came to evaluate the monastery, the older monks took him aside to point out Marka’s talents and how these might be wasted in the role of a country priest. After many interviews, tests, and a personal meeting with the Pope, Marka was selected to train at the French Medical Academy in Paris. Though he was humble, his ability to sculpt in surgery became legendary all over Europe. His hands were delicate with long fingers - perfect for a surgeon. His mentors encouraged him to focus on Cardiology, a specialty that was just gaining recognition.
    And so it happened that when the call went through the medical community for Prime Minister Cabot’s heart surgery, Dr. Marka was asked to consult on the case.
    The older French statesman would never remember the young boy who hid behind the tree away from the soldiers. The French leader, in pain and vulnerable, had no awareness that his murderous deeds were being called into account as he was transferred onto the surgical table.
    So, here they were in the same room - an unconscious heart patient, full of dark deeds and a young, vibrant Cardiologist who was there to save his life.
“And for what?” Marka reflected bitterly. “A man whose hidden darkness reached out far and wide.” It was only fair that Cabot should ‘accidentally’ die on the table. Just as his sister had ‘accidentally’ died.
     Twenty news reporters leaned over the glass encased balcony which separated them from the Operating Room below. Three nurses prepped the patient, laid out delicate instruments, and counted the sponges. Marka knew exactly where to open Cabot’s chest. He had assessed the man’s height and weight to a millimeter. One cut a fourth of an inch off, and the aorta would rupture. The prime minister would then bleed out on the table – too quick for surgeons to cauterize the open artery.
A life threatening surgery. Who could tell which way it would go?  An ‘accident’ could be very quick and look completely innocent to the whole surgical team. No one would doubt.
    Marka’s hand was steady but his heart was conflicted. Rage poured over his emotions in vicious floods. It had been years since he had tasted that acid, bitter taste of watching his sister murdered by Cabot’s men. He felt his body throbbing with a deep desire for revenge.   
     He stood still and waited. Slowly and evenly his breath returned to normal. He remembered the Oath he took as a physician “to do no harm.” Through his mind washed the images of the hundreds of patients he had surgically changed – cleft palates in children, pacemakers in fragile older men, physical hearts he had mended so that they might beat again – strong and true. His spiritual essence, despite all his childhood trauma now was rising in his consciousness calming his pounding heart.
    The surgical suite was completely quiet as all waited for Dr. Marka’s first incision. Both he and world famous Cardiologist, Dr. Philip Robbins, had worked on many cases together. They were surgical partners and beyond that, they were friends. Either could do this operation.
    “Phil,” Marka exhaled deeply, “I want you to do this surgery. I will be your ‘second,’ back-up surgeon this time.”
    And with a nod, Phil nodded and moved into position to open and repair Cabot’s heart.

(Copyright, May 2019. Barbara Roberts. All rights reserved.)

How to Handle a Ruler (Short Story)

   
    Alexander the Great, his broad shoulders and flowing robe, was pacing before his teacher, Aristotle.
    “Sit down, Alex, you’re making me nervous.” The huge elephant of a conqueror plopped down on his thrown.
 “I just don’t know what to do, Aris. It’s all making me crazy. We’re losing men in the Western province, and my feet are hurting. Just can’t find the right sandal maker.”
    “OK. OK. Well, let’s look at one problem at a time, like I taught you to do when you were a boy. You’ve conquered Mesopotamia by land and brought 8,000 men over the mountain ridge into Constantinople last week. How did the elephants fare? I heard there were  rainstorms, and some of them lost their footing in the mud.”
    “Only lost three elephants out of the lot, but, dang, those things are heavy when they go down! Have a good elephant man though, and he pulled them through. Seems like a trainer had cut back on their rations. That’s all. Just needed to feed them on the spot, and they were right as rain. Excuse the pun.” Alexander fidgeted with his crown.
    “So let’s go to our maps, and see where we need reinforcements this week.” Aristotle’s noble face turned to his friend and student. “You know. I can’t always be doing this for you. I’m needed at the Pantheon to do my gig at the Acropolis. Don’t want to spread myself too thin, if you know what I mean. But for you, Alex, anything.”
    “Thanks, my friend. I feel better knowing I can talk this over. Even conquerors need down time. Can your page here bring me some wine and bread? Haven’t eaten since breakfast, and I am used to my three squares. After all, I’m a growing boy.” Aristotle let his eyes roll, and both men laughed. Alexander’s massive body resembled one of the elephants.
    “OK. So the provinces are done. Now, how are the captured peoples?” Aristotle went through their usual list of items conquerors need to attend to.
    “Just checking that all are being treated well. You know, it’s important for your image to be extra kind to the foreigners. Don’t let your men get sloppy and take food out of their homes. Doesn’t look good, and after all – your army is the highest paid in centuries.  They can certainly learn to act like gentlemen after a battle.” Aristotle reached for an herbal beverage. He wasn’t a liquor sort of guy. Tarnished his reputation as a thinker.
    “Aris,” the younger one looked up. “ I need some new generals for the overland conquests. Some of our older men want to go home and be with their families. Say they’ve been gone too long and miss their kids. What should I be looking for in the incoming batch? Any new ideas for leadership?”
    Aristotle nodded. “The new scholars in Greece have been talking about something called “physiognomy” or “Face Reading.” It’s all the rave in the sun cities. And easy to understand. I’ve started incorporating it into my own work. Last week I met with Socrates, who was really with it for once. He had heard of it, too. Sometimes he’s a bit too cerebral, but no one is perfect.
    “So how does it work, Aris? I want to choose the top of the crop of the men coming into the field, if you know what I mean.” Alexander liked to make farming references as he knew nothing about land and wanted to appear intellectually boarder. As he wasn’t always the sharpest sword in the sheath.
    Aristotle got out the writing board which he issued for visuals.  “For your uses, let’s see. You’d need a solder that has these qualities:

    Brave and fearless in battle.
    Quick and mentally agile. Able to grasp complicated battle plans.
Sort of rugged looking. Outdoorsy sort of guy. Able to enjoy living in
    tents year round.
    Powerful looking. Looks like he would command leadership over the
        guys.
    Able to inspire the men, so they follow and don’t take the elephants   
        in opposite directions.
    Approachable. Can throw a mean dice and joke it up with the troops.
    
    “So what does a man like this look like?”
    Aristotle walked back and forth in front of the throne popping grapes in his mouth. “OK, here’s what Face Reading stuff says you’ll need. They are called “Facial Features.” Physical Patterns. And his look would include these features.
He raised his chalk to write.
    Alexander sat up to pay attention. He had to memorize the information and burn it into his huge head. There won’t much papyrus to go around these days. Plus, his robe didn’t have any pockets. Direct recall was the best even if it hurt all his brain cells to think so much. Those metal helmets in battle had been too small, he told himself.
    Aristotle continued, “You’ll want a ‘big, broad wide forehead’ for the strategy part, so he will be clever and smarter than his commander.” He winked at his friend. The facial feature of ‘High cheek bones’ means he loves to travel. You’ll need that. A man “on the go” doesn’t take a lot of toiletries. ‘Full, thick beard’ shows outdoors person. Those ‘sparse beards’ mean a man is immature. Might just stop into his middle of a battle and have an outdoor cook-out. Can’t have that. The key is the jaw structure. All great warriors and leaders, men of state who move the world have ‘huge jaws’ and ‘forward thrusting chins.’ That’s really the key, Alex. Look for the ‘huge jaw and forward chin,’ means dynamic leader with forceful presence. And I bet the other facial features will follow.”
    Alexander nodded. So much less to remember. He liked this Face Reading stuff better all the time. No need to cloud his mind with too many facts.
    “For him being a ‘guy’s guy,’  I’d go with the ‘big front teeth’ and a ‘wide mouth.’ Makes a man strong and forceful with a tinge of rollicking fun. Kind of adds a nice touch, don’t you think?  Also, ‘very small eyes’ and elephant ‘big ears’ - a blend of a commander who is watchful and  listens well. That way you don’t have to pay the spies as much. They usually want too many coins for travel time. And they’ve been known to work on both sides if they feel they’re not appreciated.”
    “Isn’t that the truth!” Alexander nodded. “So we’ve got ourselves a visual picture of a great general. Thanks so much for the tips.”
    “And just remember that it doesn’t make any different what province or tribe the leader comes from. These are universal facial features that apply to all men.” Aristotle put down his chalk and came to sit on his simple chair near the throne.
    “Righted, tighty then,” nodded Alexander. “So how are the boys at the Pantheon, Aris? What else is new?”
 And so they went on to other topics.
    
(c) Copyright, Barbara Roberts. August, 2016. All Rights reserved.
Can be contacted at: facereading1.com
   

The Princess and the Gardner (Short Story)

Alabaster straightened his legs and shook the dust from his hands. He was hidden behind the ferns in the fountain he was planting for the emperor. At one time he had been a brave knight leading troops into battle, but his face had been burned and scarred in one siege. So, he wore a mask to cover his deformity so that he would not frighten the children and the women would not pity him. The court artist had woven the mask to resemble the face Alabaster had had before the burns. The king had given him the role of Royal Gardener for the palace. At least he was still useful to his to his liege, so he was happy.

His finger went to rest on the hoe as he watched the scene at the far end of the courtyard. Princess Lisette was being led by her maid to a stone bench surrounded by his Glory roses. Her woven long hair was filled with sunshine. The pink silk and damask laced gown was the color of her blushing cheeks as each suitor approached her. The runners had spread the word though the provinces that the Princess was seeking a husband, so men – brave and tall, short and pudgy, merchants and princes came forward. Some of the knights boasted of their conquests, others flaunted velvet jackets and a laced neck shirts. And some became mute when they saw her beauty. She regarded all with quiet humility. Princess Lisette listened, nodded and smiled. But she refused them all.

Her father, the king, paced before her seat, “Darling, you have to accept one of them! I need an heir. Please!”

Lisette replied, “Papa, I need to find someone I love. I refuse to marry someone I don’t love.” A similar discussion between them ensued week after week. The king would shake his head and pace with exasperated sighs.

The Princess looked forlorn. She was firm, but being loving and kind by nature, she really wanted to please her father. Alabaster noted with admiration her skin, her hands and her modest smile. He had memorized each of her gowns and silently and secretly adored her. This afternoon as he was planting the Glory red roses, he heard a quiet weeping coming from her direction. Immediately, he stopped and turned to see the Princess sighing and softly dabbing her eyes with a lace clothe. He wanted to comfort her with all his heart but was hesitant as he was only the gardener. Then he realized the real reason was that he was ashamed of his facial burns and the mask he wore to cover them.

So, he placed himself near her chair, but remained hidden. “My lady, I am only the gardener, but I wish to know why you weep. Please tell me the reason for your sadness.”

Princes Lisette turned to the area of the ferns to see a tall and muscular man in simple garb. His hands were large and strong, but his face was obscured by the foliage.
“Sir, for weeks my father, the King, has been trying to find a suitor for my hand in marriage. Though many men have come to me, none of them move my heart.” She inhaled a sob.

Alabaster’s facial burns had deepened his sensitivity to other’s sorrows and unfulfilled longings. In his heart he had lived a million lives in his one body, and his heart had seen and touched it all.
”My lady,” he began, “I understand the heart’s longing for pure love. Pure love alone can satisfy. Divine Love alone can heal. It is worth waiting for such a love.”

Comforted that someone understood her inner feelings, the princess turned to him and asked, “And how is it a gardener speaks with such wisdom? Will you tell me your story and how you have come to know of such things?” And so began many conversations and a friendship between the two. Every week Alabaster would put a perfect Glory on her chair. His heart would quicken when he saw her satin gowns entering his floral cave. Sometimes they would talk between suitors. She understood his thoughts and shared his observations. And they laughed. Week after week his secret love for her grew.

“Love can heal. Love can change you. It is worth waiting for such a love.”

By fall the leaves were red and yellow canopies above the alcove. All week he would go over the words he would say to her. He reviewed her mannerisms, her smiles. And even though he told her “Love can heal,” in his own heart, he knew she could never love him. His face was burned beyond recognition, and he was afraid to be seen without his mask.

The princes from the outlining provinces had come and gone on horseback. The king was going bald from tearing out his hair, and the Queen had stopped eating for her worry over Lisette. The Princess was given an ultimatum that she must choose a husband or be banished to that outer forest with her maid. When Alabaster brought her morning beverage, Lisette spoke up, “My friend, we have spent months talking and coming to understand each other’s inner hearts. I know you are noble and true. You voice is the one I hear in my mind when I go to sleep and when I awaken at dawn. But, Alabaster, I so long to see your face as it really is. Please show me.”

The gardener was shocked by her request and felt deep sorrow. “Princess, what we have now must be enough. I cannot show you my face as in battle it was scarred and changed. I fear that if you really saw me, you would be horrified and banish me from your sight. My heart would break if I could not be your friend.”

Lisette looked at him with a firm gaze, “I know who you are inside, Alabaster. That is enough for me. Please take off your mask so that my fingers might stroke your wounds and give you comfort. Your burns must make you feel lonely, and I seek to give back to you a portion of the love you have given me.” And she became quiet and waited.

“Love can heal. Love can change you. It is worth waiting for such a love.”

So for the first time since his battle, he reached for the artificial covering over his face and carefully removed the mask. He waited for her shock and horror. He waited for a gasp or scream. And nothing came. He looked up into her deep eyes to a smiling face.
“My beloved,” she said lovingly,” Your face has become the same as the mask.”

“Love can heal. Love can change you. It is worth waiting for such a love.”

To the joy of the king and all the land, the royal gardener was wedded to the princess. The king got a wig. The country gave a huge banquet for the wedding, and the queen started eating again.

(c) Copyright, Barbara Roberts, 2009. All rights reserved.

Abraham Lincoln Chooses his Cabinet

Abraham Lincoln emerged from the War Room tired and sick at heart. He had just come from the battlefield where he visited the tents of the surgeons. His mind held the continuous image of timelessly sobbing widows in black long dresses. Hopeless, sons and daughters cried at the doors of the homes waiting for their fathers who would never return. Although he had surrounded himself politically with those who had opposed him and wished for his nation to be open to all men and all views, the president was acutely aware of that political incompetence meant wounded soldiers and dead men. His heart was filled with quiet grieving, and the Great War never left his heart for a moment.

“To even have a healthy son reach adulthood was a miracle of God,” he reflected. “So many epidemics of flu or cases of consumption. Even a body soaked with rain on a wintry day might be lost by nightfall.”

 

So that some of the city’s young bucks dreamed of the ‘battle cry’ and fighting to prove their manhood angered him deep in his soul. That the young people romanticized war gave him lingering sadness. If only they saw what he had seen. Brothers in battle together – one kneeling over his dying loved on. And no grieving, they say, can compare to a parent who has lost a son. He had Todd, and he knew what the all encompassing love of a father could be. Protective and tender at the same time. And how cruel men and nature could be to the human flesh. Some was Fate. War was choice. He was determined to end the War as quickly as he could. Send just one son home to his Mama - one son who might never have had a chance on the battlefield. It would be worth one son - whole and well.

So much rested on the integrity and capabilities of the men he chose for his Cabinet. His leaders must be of the highest caliber. Strong, fearless and true. They must be understanding of his people, their children, and the future of a great nation. Everything was at stake now. Of the Cabinet he had chosen, some were from different states and had different backgrounds. He liked that about them. He chose them by looking closely at their military records, their letters of accommodation, and by reading their characters. He tried not to miss anything. As president he could not control much, but he could hand-select his men who would make national decisions. That was his job. The destiny of a nation at War depended on it. He must not fail his people.

When he was younger the Illinois lawyer had met with one obstacle after another. Some eight at least, he reflected. Many elections lost. To others he seemed like a complete failure. But in each political skirmish he had learned to look at people closely and assess their nuances of personality. So their behavior or decisions would never surprise him. He knew more about some people than they knew about themselves, but he kept his own council. He studied the ancient system of physiognomy (Face Reading). Ten feet from a prospective juror or witness in a trial, he could turn the fate of a legal outcome. Lincoln could laugh and weave a good story with the best of them, but inside he had the instincts of a cougher. He looked at people and saw them – beyond artifices, fancy verbiage and fine clothes. He would laugh at a child’s story and shun an arrogant general.

 

One afternoon as his Cabinet assembled in the White House, the sun’s hot fierceness poured through the room. Men were loosening their neck clothes and removing their bulky jackets, wiping their forehead with large white hankies. All stood as Lincoln entered the room. His hands rose palms down to motion them to be seated.

 

“I understand that today we are reviewing the application for Lt. James Need, who wishes to be Secretary of the Treasury. Will those of you who have letters of accommodation, military files and written testimonials abut him, please step forward.” Lincoln seated himself behind the mahogany desk and opened his right hand to receive the papers. Letters from Generals, teachers, red wax sealed missives about Lt. McNeed were handed over. The pile was so high that by the time Lincoln had read them all, the sun was setting. The men were eager to get into their carriages and return home to their wives and dinners.

 

“Well,” Lincoln began, “he seems an ideal candidate form these dossiers. His war record is impeccable, and I can find no fault with anything I have read about this man. Let us meet him now, so we might to return to a quiet evening with our families. Bring Lt. James McNeed to me please.”

The side door opened, and the attending army aide ushered a man in uniform into the room. He came to stand directly in front of Abraham Lincoln. The president’s gaze was powerful and searching as he regarded the officer. Lincoln was reviewing McNeed’s facial features, as system called Face Reading, which he had learned when he was a young lawyer. It helped him to accurately read a person’s character. In his mind, Lincoln made note of Lt. McNeed's features: a dimpled chin that was short, a chin which receded back to tuck behind forward thrusting front teeth, an uneven forehead hairline, a tiny, tight mouth (that looked like a man set on a vinegar drink), strange ears which protruded out from his head at odd angles, a mouth that upturned like a joker (but McNeed wasn’t smiling), and a thick unibrow eyebrow. The president reflected that he looked like a rat. And then Lincoln  remembered the words of Aristotle, the first great scholar in science of physiognomy: “If you look like an animal, you are it!” (You will have the temperament of that animal.)

 

What was curious about Mr. McNeed, Lincoln thought, was that as he answered each direct question, his eyes would shift, almost retract visibly. Then they would become clear and present. It seemed to happen when the questions involved his military record. Lincoln had learned to recognize this eye change as “cloaking,” and he had seen it often in spies of all sorts. The president paced up and down, his head down and reflective before his men.

He made his decision and turned to the group, “Please leave us, Mr. McNeed.”  

 

And after the man disappeared down the corridor, Lincoln turned to the curious Cabinet members and said, “I don’t want this man anywhere close to me.” Lincoln pounded his open flat hand onto his desk as the astonished group gasped and was riveted to attention. “Show me a man who is forty who is not responsible for his face.” With that he pulled in his vest and with long strides left the room.

Weeks later a news bulletin emerged from a Border state with an artist’s rendering of an escaped convict, Walter McNeed, who had been incarcerated for killing his brother, Lt. James McNeed, and stealing his military papers. The murdered brother, Lt. James McNeed had been a valiant soldier, decorated in battle. And for those who studied the facial drawing closely, the man who had stood before Lincoln had been none other than Walter McNeed.

(c) Copyright, Barbara Roberts, September, 2017. All rights reserved.