Look at my eyes. See how they're set close together, penetrating orbs of observation, wired to pick up the finest detail and most subtle nuance.

Now check out those ears. Not Spock ears, mind you, but clearly angled upward and outward, expressing inner rebellion and independence.

And how about those lips? The lower is three times larger than the upper, and the shape suggests a powerful gift for persuasion. So be careful now, you are under my spell.

I learned these things about myself this week from Rose Rosetree, a face reader from Virginia.

She gave me a reading via e-mail after looking at my picture on the Internet.

Rose, author of two books "The Power of Face Reading" and "Aura Reading Through All Your Senses," offered to provide similar observations about newsmakers from Riverside County.

So, I sent her photographs of the Murrieta City Council members.

Here's the gist of what she had to say.

Mayor Kelly Seyarto: His chin juts forward, and it's prominent from the front and profile. This means he is very competitive. He likes to win and get his way.

These qualities are intensified by the fact his eyebrows are close to his eyes, indicating he has a hard time holding his tongue. He comes across very confident, in part, because his aura suggests he is comfortable in his body.

Jack van Haaster: His forehead is wider than his cheeks and he has a very narrow nose.

Van Haaster is an intense intellectual. He spends most of his life in his head, analyzing problems and visualizing solutions. He has an intense way of thinking and acting that may intimidate some people, which makes it difficult for him to build consensus.

He is ambitious and independent. He may be impatient with people who do not see things his way.

Warnie Enochs: His right eyelid slopes inward like Pat Buchanan's, which indicates deep loyalty to those he trusts.

He makes snap judgments about people, and it's difficult for him to see the flaws in his reasoning. Although he is somewhat judgmental, you won't know it because he has flawless manners.

He is down-to-earth, reliable and values financial security.

Richard Ostling: His straight chin suggests he makes his decisions based on firmly held convictions, which are the lens through which he views the world.

He does not compromise often, and may be legitimately puzzled when others disagree with him.

Ostling is honest and intelligent and analytical. He understands how things fit together physically and intellectually.

He has a gift for accumulating power by working cooperatively with others. You can tell this by his padded cheeks.

His narrow nose aids him in social interaction, which in turn contributes to his overall popularity. Youens, like others on the council, has an intense desire to do things his own way.

He has a strong spiritual aura and is genuinely happy.

Reading faces, Rose says, is similar to reading palms. It's a skill anyone can learn if they read her book.

Murrieta's councilmen said Rose's analysis of their mug shots was surprisingly accurate. I, too, recognized an outline of myself through the mystical fog.

But I've got these close-set eyes, and I can't help but see my flaws.

Scott Farwell's column appears Saturdays. Voice mail messages may be left at (909) 587-3131, write to 27740 Jefferson Ave., Suite 380, Temecula, 92590, or e-mail at sfarwell@pe.com.

Published 4/8/2000