The Basics of Perakee

by Larry Brinkley

The stories on this page were originally published on an online discussion board. I have edited them somewhat, to take out redundancies, incorporate some answers to questions, and I have added some material to make them flow a little better. But basically they are the same.

Contents of this page

1. Perakee
2. I Walk Alone
3. Perakee Palmistry
4. Pierce of the Earth Arrow
5. The Web of Desire
6. Legend of Perakee
7. Balancing the Level
8. Sleeping With the Enemy
9. The Perakee Way
10. The Boss Energy
11. Medicine Man
12. The Rainbow
13. Land of the Talking Wood

1. Perakee

I was born with the simian line in both hands. My grandfather, James Bascom Hoover, had the simian line in both hands. His grandfather, my great-great-grandfather, a man named Toh, had the lines in both hands. Toh was known as a Perakee, which we would call a medicine man, of the Caddo Indians in southwest Arkansas. I was told that every third or fourth generation, a man is born into our line with these marks in our hands. As a result of these markings, I was given a body of arcane knowledge from my grandfather, as it was given to him by his grandfather, as, I was told, has been handed down our line for thousands of years.

I have told this story to very few people, simply because I am not believed. But I will pass some of it on here, thinking maybe it will help some of you understand what these lines are.

Many centuries ago, before those we know as American Indians lived, there existed what is known as the Toltec Empire that spread across the North and South American continents. During that time, it was discovered that people who had what we now call the Simian Lines had a greater ability to concentrate and learn information that others could not grasp. All children were screened, looking for the lines in the hands and, when found, were taken at the age of five to be taught certain knowledge. These individuals were called Perakee, or Holders of the Knowledge of the Land, or simply Manwolves. They formed the governing body, and were used as teachers, priests, and arbitrators of disputes.

As the Empire fell apart, the people fell into tribes according to geographic conditions, forming their own languages and ways of living. Some of the Knowledge was retained as legend and myth, though vastly changed. One such example is holding up your hand in greeting. White man thought this was a sign of friendship, to show no weapons were being held. But this was not so. They were showing the lines in their hands. Some Native American peoples still know this, but it has never been understood by outsiders.

Even in some traditions today, when a person becomes accepted as a spiritual leader of his tribe, his initiation includes slashing the palms of his hands to leave straight scars across his hands, so that when he raises his hands to strangers, they can see that he is a Man of Knowledge.

I have become a scholar in an effort to ascertain whether this knowledge I have been entrusted is valid, or if my grandfather was full of it. And I have indeed found that various societies have held those of us with the Simian Lines in high esteem. But I will leave each of you to make those discoveries on your own.

I have become a poet and songwriter. In this way, I have passed what was taught to me, and some of what I have learned from those teachings, onto the world, though in a somewhat guarded form. One such poem or song I will give here:

The Indian Graveyard

2. I Walk Alone

Having had my simian lines pointed out to me at an early age, what they meant and what they portended, I have lived my whole life with this knowledge. If I were to write a book of my experiences, it would have to be titled I Walk Alone. And its underlying theme would have to be: Whether you lead or follow, you are still just part of the herd!

When I came across the online discussion board, it did not surprise me that experts were trying to find out more about us, as from reading books on palmistry I have seen that their knowledge is pitifully inadequate. I was very surprised, however, to find many postings of people with these lines who seem to have no idea of who or what they are.

I received a flood of messages from my first posting there. Unfortunately, my life is too busy to answer each one with the lengthy responses they deserve. After discussing the problem with the board’s owner, he kindly gave permission to make a few blanket posts there to try to answer some of your questions. And then he encouraged me to make this site.

First I want to say that I am not an expert on simian lines. Other than my grandfather and myself, I have never even met another person with double simian lines, and I am fifty years old. I can only report what was passed to me from my grandfather, and how I have used that information to navigate my world.

I have known several, however, with a single simian line. One of them is my best friend. I often tease him that his simian side is semi-functional. Whereas the rest of the world lives their entire lives using only the top four feet of the oceans’ waters, I would say that he can safely explore the top fifty feet. And he teases me about being able to dive to the bottom and bring back perfect pearls. When I show up at his house with a new poem, he says, “Ah, I see you found another one.” Then he grabs his guitar and we go about the task of putting it to music.

You can write a book
On every man who ever lived,
And still not comprehend
All that life can give.
Everybody’s got it—
Nobody gets it!

My grandfather taught me that there are two kinds of people born. They are called Perakee and Mahakah. The difference is represented by the lines in their hands by how they use their life force. He said the life force is just like the Sun. We cannot live without the Sun, but it is too powerful for us to use directly. It must be weakened and put into components that man can use, such as warmth, light, food, water, and oxygen. Likewise, the life force must be toned down in order to be used by man.

These components are clearly shown on the lines of the hand. The Life Line shows how much of the life force each of us is allotted. The Head Line shows how the life force propels us throughout our lives. These are the main lines of the Perakee, though other lines may show direction.

My grandfather told me that there are few Perakee born, and that most of them die in childhood. The life force with which they are born is simply too powerful to be contained by most babies. In order for them to have even a slim chance of surviving, two things must be in place. They must be born into strong and healthy bodies, free of genetic defects. And they must be surrounded from birth by kind, loving, and patient adults. If they live to the age of five, then they have passed their first great hurdle. They have successfully contained their power.

At that time they are given guidance to help them channel their great energy. They have much to learn before they can safely venture into adulthood, the most important of which is how to live within the framework of their society.