Q1. Frederique, it’s wonderful to have you with us for this Q&A. I am sure you are asked this a lot so I hope you don’t mind answering this question again: Please describe your early days as a palmist.
Well, Nisar, when I was in my late twenties, I lost both my brother and my father within three months of each other. The emptiness caused by those two deaths led me to want to understand more about the meaning of life. As the saying goes, “When the student is ready, the master appears,” and the Universe brought me to the Birla Center and its founder, Ghanshyam Singh Birla.
For several years, I learned palmistry with Kathy Keogh, now Vice President of the Birla Center. More recently, I took the whole 18-course program again – online this time – which comprises about 500 hours of instruction. Today, I am still very much involved with the Center.
At the beginning of my studies, I was extremely insecure. It took me more than five years to find the courage to do a one-on-one palmistry session… and I didn’t accept any payment! I slowly became more assertive and more willing to share my knowledge via consultations, workshops and a bit of writing. My YouTube channel came much later.
Q2. I have noticed that your YouTube channel, Palm Reading by Frederique, features palmistry-related content which is quite outside the norm, featuring a mixture of personality analysis and divinatory perspectives, can you tell us not only the history of your YT channel but also your thoughts on whether palmistry is scientific, half-scientific, or not scientific at all?
Palmistry is definitely a science, i.e., a systematic study based on observation, experiment and measurement. That’s why it can be learned through formal courses. However, during a consultation, intuition is what helps me choose the right thing to say, to the right person, at the right time. For instance, looking at her handprints, I once asked a slender client: “What is your relationship with food?” Stunned, she answered: “I just lost 50 lbs. Food is all I think about!” I have no idea why I asked this question and yet it was what the client needed, but was unwilling to admit. Those serendipitous insights are very common during my sessions. They could be the result of my many years of practice, or maybe a spiritual communication!
Now, Nisar, let’s talk about my YouTube channel. I had a website and wasn’t really interested in a YouTube channel. However, I became aware of all the negative information shared about palm reading on YouTube. For instance, I remember a palmist explaining that an island is a bad sign, without giving any details on what she meant by “bad.” I know how vulnerable people are feeling when they are trying to find answers about their own hand features. Any negative observation can be devastating. I resolved to do something about it.
The Birla Center’s courses and research – as well as the plethora of handprints I have taken over more than three decades – have taught me that hands change all the time. Therefore, what you see on a hand today may be different a month, a year or 10 years from now. Based on this knowledge, I strongly believe that our hands reflect our behaviors and attitudes, and we create the lines and signs on our hands by the way we live our lives.
I created my channel in order to share this message loud and clear, with many prints to prove my point. My goal is to give hope to my viewers, and I believe it is working!
I am also lucky to have Michael, an extremely talented videographer and editor, and the love of my life! Michael is the one who makes sure that the sound and lighting are perfect, the illustrations and titles are at the right place, and the whole video experience is smooth.
Q3. Could you tell us about your most fun palm reading moments?
An important aspect of palm reading is taking prints. I once left my print-taking equipment open and unattended on the table. That day, Blackberry, one of my cats, decided to take her own prints by walking first on the ink, and then on the paper! I think she was trying to tell me that I should switch to “paw reading!”
Q4. What advice would you give to aspiring palmists?
Since palmistry is a science, it takes a long time to learn. Don’t expect to become a good palmist in three months. However, you can gain fascinating insights right away by watching my YouTube channel. If you are serious about studying palmistry, contact the Birla Vedic Online College.
Q5. Please inform us about your upcoming projects.
I am presently writing a book on how to change your hands. However, it is an extremely slow process so, for the moment, there is no official release date. In the meantime, I will keep adding content to my YouTube channel. I can be contacted through my website.
Thank you, Nisar, for giving me a wonderful opportunity to talk about my passion!
