All about palmistry

Palmistry is a centuries-old tool for self-enquiry. It’s based on similar beliefs to those of reflexology — that is, a part of you reflects your whole. A palmist examines the features of your hand to determine information about your personality, past and future. Hands and their intricate markings are unique to humans. Before we had written language, we communicated through sounds and gestures, often formed by our hands. Historically, other body parts were also examined in detail, including the skull, in a practice known as “phrenology”.

Also known as “chiromancy” in the west, palmistry is based on the tenet that your hand is a map of your self — your potential, your strengths and your challenges. Your hand, like you, grows and changes in response to external events and experiences. In palmistry, the hand is viewed as a microcosm of the macrocosm of the self.

Throughout 16th and 17th century England, palmistry was popular as it was believed to have a “recognised intellectual basis”. Five hundred years ago, palmistry was apparently taken quite seriously by learned men during the Renaissance. Books on palmistry tools and techniques were published in the 16th and 17th centuries, in both Englandand Europe. In Religion and The Decline of Magic, Keith Thomas writes, “The doctrine of correspondences, or relationships between each part of the physical world, made possible the belief in systems of divination like palmistry and physiognomy; for, just as an individual man was believed to mirror the world in miniature, so the hand or face mirrored the man.”

Significant shifts in intellectual thought through the later part of the 17th century led many divinatory systems, especially those based on the macrocosm/microcosm theory, such as palmistry, to go out of favour. A new mechanical world view was emerging that would form the basis of modern-day science. Yet even today, our legal system still relies on the uniqueness of each human hand, using fingerprints as a unique way of identifying individuals.

Different styles

Three schools of palmistry exist: Chinese, Indian (Vedic) and Western. Even though the Western style of palmistry is the youngest, it is the most accessible due to the vast number of books and printed material available on this topic in the developed world. Indian palmistry claims to be the oldest but is mostly transmitted verbally, via a process known as parampara, within family, social and cultural groups.

In India, palm reading is an integral part of most natural medicine practices. Palm reading also forms part of the Indian version of astrology, known as jyotish. It’s quite common for Indian Ayurveda practitioners to be well versed in palmistry.

Indian palmistry is more predictive than Western palmistry, which is holistic and focuses more on psychological qualities. That said, Western palmistry does still have a predictive side to it. In India, palmistry is part of samudrika shastra — the study of the body and its features. Hasta samudrikam or hasta samudrika shastra specifically refers to the study of the lines on the palm. Palmistry is written about in detail in ancient Hindu literature and it’s thought the description of fingers and mounts as symbolic of planetary energies comes through from the Indian or Vedic style. Western palmistry is often considered a simplified, yet still effective, version of Indian palmistry.

Chinese palmistry is said to be around 3000 years old and forms part of the original traditional Chinese medicine. In China, palmistry is known as shou xiang and shou zhen. Chinese palmistry uses its own terms to define parts of the hand, referring instead to lines based on elements, or mounts based on certain stars, rather than planets. Chinese palmistry has three different systems based on trigrams, stars or lines. The Chinese trigram system draws on the bagua map, also used in feng shui, and has clear, direct links to different organs and systems within the body.

To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.
~ William Blake (1757–1827)

Key points

There are three key aspects palmists explore on the hands: they examine the fingers and the lines and mounts of the palm. When you begin to explore hands — your own or others — it’s important to have an open mind. Creating a simple structure of what to explore in which order will give your palm readings some form and flow. The most common place to start, after considering the shape of the hand, is with the thumb.

When beginning a palm reading, one of the most common questions palmists face is which hand? There is no clear, definitive answer. Some say to use the dominant hand — your left if you are left-handed or your right if you are right-handed. Others say the left hand reveals your talents, while the right shows what you do with them, or that the left reveals the past and the right the future. Still others suggest switching hands for males and females, or at different times of life. By far the most common method involves reading the dominant hand, defined as the one you use to write with. The other hand does offer useful information, too, and is often used to add to or clarify what appears in the dominant hand.

At the start of a palm reading, it’s also important to be aware of what you first notice, especially to do with colour, temperature and texture of the hand. Hand shape is not usually the main focus of a palm reading, but taking a moment to consider the general shape of the fingers and hands also provides you with information about the person.

Types of hand shapes — which also include finger shapes — considered in a typical palm reading include:

• Practical — square-looking, indicating patient, consistent, grounded qualities
• Cone-shaped — cone-like fingers, hand wider at the base, indicating creativity, originality, sensitivity
• Psychic — long fingers/thin palm, pinky/Mercury finger often pointed, indicating imagination, intuition and psychic gifts
• Philosophical — long fingers/slender hand indicating analytical skills, diplomacy, studios, hermit-like

Exploring your hands

Fingers

Each of your four fingers is associated with a planetary energy. Your index finger (next to your thumb) is your Jupiter finger. Your middle finger (usually the longest) is your Saturn finger. Your ring finger is ruled by the Sun and your little finger is your Mercury finger.

The bones in your fingers are known as phalanges — you can see the three phalanges in each finger separated by the two creases dividing each finger into thirds. The first phalange is the top part of your finger — the part that has your nail on it. The second phalange is your middle section and the third phalange is the bottom third, where your finger connects to your hand. The first phalange links to intuition and what you pick up. The second phalange links to logic and rational thinking. The width of this phalange provides information about how broad-minded (or not!) you are. The third phalange has a material and physical quality, showing how attached you might be to matters of this world.

In palmistry, everything on the hand matters. This includes the kinds of joins between the phalanges, and the colour and length of your fingers. Holding your hands loosely face up, are your fingers evenly spaced or do one or more lean to a certain direction? Are your fingers generally straight or kind of crooked?

Every hand is different and it’s the quirks defining the relationships between your fingers that provide the palmist with unique information about you. In his book The Complete Guide to Palmistry, palmist Robin Gile writes: “If your Jupiter (index) finger reaches past the bottom of Saturn’s nail — what is called a Napoleonic Jupiter — you’ve probably got some extra ego. You’ll often find this configuration in athletes or very ambitious types, as well as natural leaders.” Consider the lengths of your fingers in relation to these average guidelines. Fingers longer than the norm show an influence or exaggeration of energy; fingers shorter than the norm show a limited or diffused energy.

Your thumb represents your will. Unlike the fingers, the thumb doesn’t have a planet associated with it, though the Mount of Venus is the fleshy part at the base of your thumb.

How much or how little will (which could be assertiveness, drive or initiation in this context) you have is determined by where the tip of your thumb reaches in relation to the base of your index (Jupiter) finger. First, note where the middle of the bottom phalange is on your index (Jupiter) finger. Remember, the bottom phalange is the section of your index/Jupiter finger that connects that finger to the hand. If the tip of your thumb is below this point, your will is less active. If the tip of your thumb is above this point, your will is strongly active. If the tip of your thumb reaches this middle point, you have a “normal” amount of will.

Typical and average relationships between fingers

• The tip of your index finger (Jupiter) touches the base of the nail on your middle finger (Saturn)
• Your middle finger (Saturn) is about half a nail’s worth longer than your ring finger (Sun)
• Your ring finger (Sun) touches at least the bottom of the nail on your middle finger (Saturn)
• Your pinky/little finger (Mercury) reaches the first joint (the joint separating the tip of your finger from the middle section) of your ring finger (Sun)

Lines

Often, when you think of palmistry, it’s terms such as “life line” or “heart line” that first spring to mind. The lines in your palm are most likely to change throughout life, depending on the choices you do or don’t make. The depth of the lines in your palm says most about the quality of the energy they symbolise. Deeper lines act as better channels, showing strength and vitality for the areas of life associated with each line — similar to the way deep creeks carry more water.

Each line has a number of unique features. Some of the precise information in your lines is determined by the palmist’s interpretation of the dots, channels, islands, branches and forks along each line. It’s especially important to note where lines end, as the place on the palm where lines finish gives you special information about how you’ll approach that area of life.

There are three major lines on the palm: the head line, the heart line and the life line. You’ll find your life line curving around the mount at the base of the thumb. The life line begins on the side of the palm, between the thumb and index finger, and ends somewhere down near where your hand connects to your wrist. Your life line is the bottom of the three deepest lines in the palm.

Your heart line runs horizontally from the outer edge of your palm (starting under your pinky/Mercury finger). It’s the uppermost of the three deepest lines in your palm. Your head line — also loosely horizontal — starts on the inner edge of your palm, somewhere underneath the base of the index/Jupiter finger, and runs across the hand, usually beneath the heart line. It generally appears in the middle of the three deepest lines.

In their book, The Complete Guide to Palmistry, Robin Gile and Lisa Lenard also describe four rising lines — one for each finger/planet. These lines are often less defined and can be short or long. Most people have one or two and just as many have none or four. They are less vertical and can be found in the general region below the base of each finger. Think of them as extra highlighter points and, if you have any, take special note of the mounts to which they rise. The themes of those mounts become more important.

Your heart line represents your emotional life and shows the way you give and receive love. Notice where your heart line ends — does it end under your middle/Saturn finger? This shows a need for concrete security, commitment and financial support in relationships. Does your heart line end under your index/Jupiter finger? This shows more of an “in love with life” quality. While it may indicate a level of popularity, it can also show struggles with commitment. Does your heart line end somewhere in between? You may just have the best of both worlds and be able to blend excitement with commitment in love.

Your head line represents your mind and, usually, but not always, curves downward. The head line begins on the side of your palm between the thumb and index/Jupiter finger and often runs generally between your heart and life lines. It’s usually short, especially in comparison to the heart and life lines, so again take note of its depth. This shows your capacity for details. Also make note of what direction your head line curves towards — up, underneath one of the mounts, or down towards the mount of the Moon.

If your head line curves down to the mount of the Moon, imagination and creativity are emphasised. If your head line either curves up towards or has a bump under your index/Jupiter finger, it shows an emphasis on leadership. If it curves up or has a bump underneath your middle/Saturn finger, it shows an emphasis on the material world. If it curves up towards or has a bump underneath your ring/Sun finger, it shows an emphasis on creativity and the arts. If it curves up towards or has a bump underneath your pinky/Mercury finger, it shows an emphasis on communication and business.

Your life line represents energy, vitality and your influence out in the world. Contrary to some modern myths, the length of your life line doesn’t determine how long you’ll live. The curve of the life line and how close or far this is from the base of the thumb shows your desire or lack of desire around travel, as do some of the little lines that cross over the life line. Again, note the depth of your life line — it shows the level of your vitality, energy or chi.

Mounts

Palmists use two different sets of mounts to gain extra information about you and your life. Whereas the lines on the palm are sometimes referred to as your personal plotlines, the mounts at the base of your fingers show “where you do the things you do”, while the mounts on various parts of your palm reveal your personality strengths.

The easiest mounts to begin with are those that rest at the base of your fingers and, yes, these mounts each correspond to the planetary energy ruling that finger. This means the soft mound at the base of your index finger is your Jupiter mount, the soft mound beneath your middle finger is your Saturn mount, the soft mound beneath your ring finger is your Sun mount and the soft mound at the base of your pinky is your Mercury mount. The large mount at the bottom of your thumb is your Venus mount.

Hold your hand out parallel to the ground and see which, if any, of your finger mounts is more prominent than the others. At this angle, you might even notice a rising line or two heading up to the mounts at the base of some of your fingers. You might consider the planetary energy linked to whichever mounts dominate as key to your preferred places of action.

The mounts on the palm consist of the mount of Venus — the mount at the base of the thumb — and the mount of the Moon — the mount below your pinky/Mercury finger, near where the hand attaches to the palm. The “mounts” of Mars differ in that they aren’t as obvious in terms of the mount-like shape, but they still contribute important information regarding your personality.

For Mars, there is the “passive Mars” area that occupies the space between the head and heart lines, on the side of your hand underneath your pinky/Mercury finger. (It’s above the mount of the Moon mentioned above.) If you drew a line down your hand from the break between your pinky/Mercury finger and your ring/Sun finger, the place where it crosses the head and heart lines would represent the inner boundary of passive Mars (the outer boundary being the edge of your hand).

The “plain of Mars” occupies the space between the edge of passive Mars and runs to where a line drawn from the space between your index/Jupiter finger and your middle/Saturn finger would cross the head and heart lines. Active Mars occupies the space between the thumb joint and the life line — sitting above the mount of Venus.

Mounts are given importance according to colour and markings, which include lines and dots. Notice which of your mounts have the most markings on them. You can bet the affairs of that planet are prominent at this time in your life.

Planets and palmistry

More to discover

The hand shape, lines and fingers of the palm provide an abundance of unique information about you and your life. For those whose interest in palmistry is piqued, there are many more extra unique features to discover. If you decide to continue your exploration of palmistry, you’ll also learn about the “angle of generosity” and the “girdle of Venus” or the “mystic cross” as you delve deeper into this fascinating and detailed subject.

Kelly Surtees is an internationally published writer devoted to expanding her wellbeing through personal growth. Her geographic home is in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada.