The ancient Chinese art of face reading
We all have an innate ability to understand and read people's emotions and characters from their faces. From the moment we're born, we gaze up at the human faces around us and glean information from them, long before language takes over as the primary means of communication. Then, as we grow older, we're encouraged to follow our rational minds, our learnt intelligence, rather than our intuitive intelligence. By relying less and less on this inner voice, we lose confidence in it, and its accuracy fades. Yet there is so much insight to be gained from tapping into our intuition. The ancient art of Chinese face reading - it goes back over 3,000 years - is a quick way for us to re-access this knowledge, about ourselves and others.

In fact, face reading is an essential diagnostic tool in Chinese medicine. Not only does it reveal character traits and potential, and indicate how fluently a person expresses themselves in the five main emotions of joy, anger, grief, sympathy and fear, but it is also vital in the diagnosis of potential illnesses and problem areas in the future.

For example, big, strong eyebrows are a sign of strong liver qi (energy). As the liver is connected to the emotion of anger, this would indicate that the person potentially has a lot of anger to express. They are often conscious of the power of their anger, and so try to keep a lid on it. Conversely, those with thin or small eyebrows may seem easygoing and gentle to others, but are often more likely to flare up suddenly; they're less able to contain their anger. Knowing how one expresses anger can help one ensure one expresses it more evenly. And recognising how another handles the emotion can help you respond more calmly when they express it.

Consultations
During a consultation, I will highlight personality traits that could benefit from being enhanced or channelled, and discuss your potential in various areas of your life, such as relationships, work, money, friendships and health. I will also help you to identify your skills and natural talents, and find ways to tap into your full potential, to help you find your life path. I can also offer a compatibility reading as part of the consultation. All you have to do is bring photographs of a potential or current partner (headshots: one straight-faced, one smiling and one profile) and you can discover where the strengths and weaknesses lie in the relationship. Expect some revelations about the real dynamics beneath the surface!

Booking a face reading
I have completed an advanced apprenticeship with the highly respected and internationally recognised teacher Lillian Bridges (www.lotusinstitute.com), and am an established acupuncturist. My consultations are held in Belsize Park, London NW3. They last an hour and cost £55. Please contact me at saffron@saffronellidge.com or on my mobile, 07810 864 320, for more information or to book an appointment.

Remote readings
If you are abroad, I can offer mini-readings via email. Just send me three good-quality headshots of yourself: one with a straight face, one smiling, and one profile (not smiling), and I will provide you with a two-page reading via email that will cover your character traits, your potential in various areas of your life, including relationships, friendships, work, money and health; and what strengths you should focus on. Please also specify any areas you would like more detail on. If you would like advice on compatibility with a partner or potential partner, also send me three photographs of them, as above (where possible), and I will incorporate this into your reading. Email readings cost £50 and can be booked through PayPal on my website.

Face readings for corporate events and parties
I also offer mini face-readings for corporate events and parties, either as a remote service via email, using photographs, or in person as a "mystery guest" offering on-the-spot readings. Please contact me at saffron@saffronellidge.com for details.

Published features and television appearances
Apart from my column in GQ, I have written face-reading features for Loaded and Fabulous magazine, among others. I also feature in the current series of Farmer Wants a Wife, on channel Five, helping Farmer Desmond choose his ideal wife.