Palm reading: how to read the lines of your hand

Paracelsus, one of the most famous authorities on esoteric knowledge, wrote that the human being is a small world which, in all its powers and virtues, corresponds to the great world – and therefore deserves the noble name of microcosm. Chiromancy, the art of reading the hand, rests on this idea.

Chiromancy looks for references to human destiny and its forces directly on the body, and more precisely on the hands. For many researchers the hand is a fascinating object on which to study the links between the small world of human fate and the great world of the cosmos. Just as everyone’s hands differ, so do the paths of their lives.

A brief history of chiromancy

Aristotle already noticed a connection between the lines on the palm and the length of life. This was not fortune-telling, however, but a hypothesis. Ancient thinkers regarded hand reading as part of physiognomy, which drew conclusions about a person’s health and character from the shape of every part of the body.

Over time chiromancy began to draw on the rich store of astrological knowledge. The elaborate symbolism of astrology made it possible to build a network of correspondences intended to make the links between the fate written on the hand and the influences of the universe legible – hence the planetary names of the fingers and mounts.

For a long time, the ability to read palm lines was considered a serious field of knowledge; it is said that as late as the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries some German universities still offered lectures on chiromancy. In time it split into many different systems. It is worth remembering that Chinese palmistry, for example, uses entirely different patterns of interpretation from the European tradition.

Over the centuries, knowledge of the palm lines grew into a vast system, and the methods of reading became so complicated that only specialists could use them. Those who simply wanted to make money said whatever came into their heads – and this, too, contributed to the decline of chiromancy’s prestige. In the mid-nineteenth century the fight against belief in magic moved into school textbooks and encyclopaedias; chiromancy ended up there as well, long condemned by the Catholic Church as a form of divination.

To become a palmist it was not enough to look at a hand – one had to know physiognomy and psychology and, according to old authors, also have something of the clairvoyant.

Left hand or right hand?

There is a long-standing belief that the left hand shows the course of life determined by the position of the stars at birth, while the right hand shows a person’s character and spirituality. Because for most people the right hand is the active one – we write with it and do many things with it – it was credited with greater power than the left. Some palmists held that for people born at night the left hand should be read. The most convincing view, however, is that only a comparison of both hands gives a full picture of a person.

The palmist’s main task was considered to be warning of coming difficulties and preparing the person to face them. By getting to know their weaknesses, people can draw conclusions and work on their shortcomings – and in this sense an apt hint given at the right time can be valuable.

How to begin reading a hand

First we note whether the hands are soft and smooth or stiff. Next we assess the size of the hand in relation to the whole body, and only then decide what type it belongs to. With practice you can recognise the type of hand at a glance. The next step is to assess the length of the fingers. The thumb should be judged separately from the rest of the hand: we look at how it is set – low or high – and whether it is broad or narrow.

Then we turn the hand over and see which mounts on the palm are the most prominent. Only at the end do we look at the life line and the other lines and signs.

What the shape of the hand reveals

• A hand in proportion to the body – someone who pursues goals and grasps the whole picture while also appreciating the importance of details.
• An overly soft hand – a poetic, dreamy, nervous and impractical nature; it can also be the hand of a lazy, not very affectionate person.
• A hand with well-developed muscles – someone who is not afraid of work and can bear a hard lot.
• An overly hard hand – according to tradition, roughness and indifference to the suffering of others.
• A bony, thin hand – shyness and lack of ambition.
• A thick, fleshy hand – excessive sensuality and materialism.
• A thick, short, hard hand with short fingers – modest ambitions.
• A flat, hollow palm – frequent trouble in business or in matters of the heart.
• Large hands – a love of precise work; people of their word who keep promises even when it is not to their advantage.
• Small hands – far-reaching ambitions that are rarely carried through; cheerful people who make promises easily and break them just as easily.

The seven hand types

Classical chiromancy, based on the classification of the French author Casimir d’Arpentigny, distinguishes seven types of hand:

• Elementary – short, stiff fingers without rounded tips, a broad, thick and usually hard palm. It is attributed to calm, slow, practical people with little imagination and little need for change.
• Square (broad) – the most common type. A likeable person who loves order, a good organiser who can be relied on; firm in their convictions, not quarrelsome, demanding of themselves and others. It is the hand of a businessperson and capable executor rather than a person of ideas. They enjoy sport, often extreme sports, are guided by reason and do not trust intuition or anything not backed by facts.
• Spatulate – fingertips flattened and wider than at the knuckles. It belongs to active, quick and energetic people who love new challenges, yet are very responsible and faithful to one partner. Such people easily set up their own businesses and gain financial independence. It is the hand of the navigator, mechanic, explorer and businessperson.
• Philosophical (knotty) – pronounced swellings at the finger joints; a distinctive though not particularly beautiful hand. Its owner loves the exact sciences and the search for truth based on facts. They often work for the good of others, forgetting themselves, but rarely make friends; they attach great importance to clothing – their own and that of those around them. It is found among engineers, architects, mathematicians and diplomats.
• Artistic (conic) – an elongated hand with fingers tapering towards the tips. Noble in their actions, lovers of beauty, romantic and sensitive, guided by instinct and impulse, prone to nostalgia and passing moods. They are brilliant and cannot live without love, though they are rarely happy in marriage; on closer acquaintance they may disappoint, as they can present themselves as someone they are not. It is the hand of artists, journalists and people with artistic interests.
• Idealistic (psychic) – considered the most beautiful type of hand. Its owners are idealistic and impractical, often quite unable to cope with everyday life, and do not always escape a hard fate.
• Mixed – the hardest to recognise, as it combines features of several types. It indicates a versatile personality with varied interests. Such people adapt easily to changing conditions, are skilled conversationalists and come across as very intelligent. However, they change their convictions easily and quickly lose heart, so they rarely achieve lasting success.

The fingers – their names, shape and meaning

Apart from the thumb, the fingers bear planetary names in chiromancy:

• Index finger – the finger of Jupiter.
• Middle finger – the finger of Saturn.
• Ring finger – the finger of the Sun (Apollo).
• Little finger – the finger of Mercury.

When assessing a hand, the most distinctive finger points to the dominant traits of character and temperament. If the bases of the fingers form a gently curved line, this promises success and an easy life. If one finger is set low and looks as if it has been pushed into the palm, the road to success will not be so straightforward.

• The middle finger (Saturn) is usually set normally.
• A low-set ring finger (Sun) means a desire to stand out and a longing for fame.
• A low-set index finger (Jupiter) means a lack of charm and social ease.
• A low-set little finger (Mercury) foretells many obstacles and difficulty in influencing people.
• Pale, broad, long fingers are found in people with a penetrating mind.
• Very long, narrow fingers are attributed to strong and wise people.
• Short, rounded fingers, according to tradition, indicate a weak and quarrelsome character.

The shape of individual fingers

• Crooked index finger – lack of independence.
• Crooked middle finger – a nervous temperament prone to overreacting.
• Bent ring finger – someone who seeks publicity.
• Long little finger – someone who quickly grasps any situation and has outstanding business skills.
• Short little finger – a very perceptive person.
• Excessively long little finger – someone who creates sham situations to divert attention from the heart of the matter.
• Bent little finger – combined with a long heart line, it indicates jealousy.

The thumb

No two thumbs in the world are the same. In chiromancy the thumb is especially important because it shows the strength or weakness of the will. An observation often quoted is that a baby clenches its fingers over a thumb tucked inside its fist, and only as it develops does it begin to wrap its thumb over the other fingers.

A normal thumb is in proportion to the whole hand. When assessing it, we look at the length of the first phalanx (the one with the nail) and whether the thumb is set low or high. A long, broad first phalanx means strong will – such a person is hard to persuade or turn from their chosen path. If this part of the thumb is excessively long or broad, these traits are intensified and become stubbornness.

• A thumb tapering towards the tip – keen intuition.
• A short thumb tip – someone guided more by the heart than by the head.
• A broad thumb – a person of exceptional qualities, independent in thought and action, ready to bear the consequences of their deeds; guided by reason and logic, they do not like to show their feelings.
• A small thumb – a sentimental nature, easily influenced; indecisive people who often miss good opportunities for this reason, can be impatient and quick-tempered, and are guided in life above all by feeling and love.
• An excessively long, broad, square thumb – an unbridled temperament and a tendency to violence.
• Slender thumb joints – a tendency to extravagance.
• A thumb very flexible at the second joint – usually a spendthrift; a stiffer thumb indicates decisiveness, strong will, caution and common sense.
• A thumb thickened at the tip – a hot-headed, uncontrolled nature.

The nails

Nails differ in colour, thickness and brittleness, and their colour, texture and rate of growth change, among other things, with a person’s health; in warm climates they grow faster. Nail-biting is often linked with tension and stress. Old palmists linked nail shapes with susceptibility to particular complaints – this is part of the tradition, not a diagnosis: any worrying change in your nails is worth checking with a doctor.

• Nails of proportionate length, fairly broad and brittle – according to tradition, sensitive airways (throat, colds, asthma).
• Slightly triangular, thin, flat nails – a tendency to nervous complaints.
• Long, thin, ridged nails – weaker lungs; convex, domed nails – according to old authors, also sensitive lungs and lymph nodes.
• Thin, narrow, long nails – weaker physical condition; people with long nails are considered more understanding than those with short ones.
• Short, almost square nails – traditionally linked with the workings of the heart; short, broad nails overgrown by cuticle – a quick temper.
• Narrow, curved, long nails – according to tradition, a sensitive back and spine.

White spots on the nails are temporary; they are usually caused by minor knocks, while tradition links them with periods of nervous tension, worry and mental fatigue.

A normal nail should be shiny, slightly pink, not brittle, translucent and not too thin. According to palmists, it indicates a cheerful disposition, good taste and tact.

In folk tradition, dark specks on the nails foretell discord at home or gossip, while light ones mean harmony, friendship and few worries.

The mounts of the hand and their meaning

The mounts, or raised pads of the palm, are just as important as the shape of the hand. According to chiromancy they speak of general traits and qualities of character, and old authors also linked them with a tendency to certain complaints.

Mount of Jupiter

Located just below the index finger.

• Barely visible – lack of ambition and of marked leadership talents.
• Well proportioned – an ambitious person who is nonetheless cautious in making acquaintances.
• Overdeveloped – a lust for power.

Mount of Saturn

Located below the middle finger.

• Undeveloped – a rather colourless life.
• Slightly developed – a liking for serious matters, a tendency to solitude, caution.
• Strongly developed – often found in deeply religious people with firm moral principles.
• Overdeveloped – a very sensitive person.

Mount of the Sun (Apollo)

Located below the ring finger.

• Barely visible – little interest in art and in the glitter of public life.
• Well proportioned – a sense of beauty, artistic talent, a chance of recognition.
• Overdeveloped – vanity and a craving for publicity.

Mount of Mercury

Located at the base of the little finger.

• Not visible – weaker mathematical ability and little business sense.
• Developed – may indicate both good and bad traits; combined with favourable signs on the hand, it means business or scientific ability, quick thinking and the promise of long journeys.
• Very strongly developed – a tendency to cunning and craftiness.

Mount of Venus

Located at the base of the thumb. Tradition regards it as the mount of “feminine” qualities, just as the mount of Jupiter defines “masculine” ones.

• Barely visible – a cool nature, not much interested in life’s pleasures.
• Developed – a sensual nature, good stamina and a desire to win friendship and love. Old authors, knowing that important blood vessels run through this area, linked a large mount with lively circulation.

Mount of the Moon

Located on the opposite side of the palm from the mount of Venus, by its outer edge.

• Not visible – a lack of intuition.
• Of normal proportions – a romantic and mysterious person who loves poetry and music.
• Strongly raised – a vivid imagination, strange dreams and visions.

Mount of Mars

Located between the Head and Heart lines, below the mount of Mercury.

• Developed – courage and self-control; its absence means a lack of courage in life.
• Overdeveloped – violence and quarrelsomeness.

Signs on the mounts

Small signs may appear on the mounts, and tradition gives them the following meanings:

The lines of the hand

Seven main, clearly visible lines are distinguished on the palm:

• the Life line,
• the Head line,
• the Heart line,
• the Fate line,
• the Health line (line of Mercury),
• the Sun line,
• the Girdle of Venus.

Normal lines are clean and clearly marked, pale pink – neither too pale nor too red, and neither too wide nor too deep.

• Very pale lines – low vitality.
• Lines that are too red – according to tradition, a tendency to cruelty.
• Yellowish lines – a reserved, proud nature.
• Very dark lines – a gloomy, melancholy nature given to brooding.
• Pink lines – a cheerful disposition.
• Wide, dark lines – unhealthy instincts and envy.
• Pale, wide lines – dissoluteness and a lust for power.

Remember that a single line can never decide illness or misfortune. The meanings below come from old chiromancy handbooks; predictions of illness or a short life should be treated purely as part of the tradition – no shape of line determines how long you will live or replaces a medical examination.

The Life line

The Life line curves around the mount of Venus. Traditionally it speaks of vitality, life force and the most important changes in life. Old palmists argued that since people are born with hidden tendencies towards certain illnesses, and the brain is closely connected with the lines of the hand, such tendencies could be read in the palm long before they appeared – modern medicine does not confirm this.

• Short on both hands – once read as a sign of a short life; modern palmists link it rather with smaller reserves of energy.
• Thin and pale – weaker health.
• Thick and red – an unrestrained nature.
• Thin and weak in the middle – a period of weaker health in midlife.
• A dark spot at the end of a thin line – in the old tradition, a sudden danger.
• Broken in many places – illness or loss of vitality.
• Broken at the start, below the mount of Jupiter – illnesses in early childhood.
• Ending abruptly in several short strokes – in the old tradition, the sudden end of an important stage, or even of life.
• Broken – illness; broken and irregular – long-lasting ailments.
• Broken on both hands – in old handbooks, a serious threat to life, especially when the lower part of the line curves into the palm.

• Joined to the Head line at the start – caution and sensitivity.
• Partly separate from the Head line – self-confidence in social life.
• Joined to the Fate line – a lucky escape from a dangerous accident.
• A branch halfway along the line – a transitional period, a time of change.
• A long branch from the middle running towards the mount of the Moon – restlessness and frequent travel.
• A wide branch towards the mount of the Moon – according to old authors, a tendency to nervous instability.
• Many small lines at the end, near the wrist – financial losses late in life.
• Branches pointing upwards – honours and money.
• Branches pointing downwards – loss of health and money.
• A line that breaks and then rejoins – protection against illness.
• A cross at the end of the line – adversity in old age.
• An island on the line – nervous exhaustion.

The Heart line

• Starting in the middle of the mount of Jupiter – the noblest kind of love, great and idealistic; such a person is proud of their partner but easily put off by their failures.
• Starting on the mount of Jupiter and forked – a sincere and open heart.
• Starting between the index and middle fingers – a less ideal, easily fading love.
• Starting on the mount of Saturn, below the middle finger – a nature more sensual than emotional.
• Running straight across the whole palm – a desire to dominate and a tendency to jealousy.
• With many small branches – changeable feelings, a tendency to passing flirtations and difficulty making decisions.
• Red – violent feelings and lack of self-control.
• Pale and wide – indifference.
• Thin and pale – a cold, phlegmatic nature.
• Broken by islands – many worries in love.
• With numerous light dots – romantic conquests.
• Broken – disappointments and heartbreak.
• Fading in places – disappointment in matters of the heart.

The Fate line

The Fate line usually runs up the middle of the palm towards the middle finger and relates to everything connected with success, obstacles in life and the fate that befalls us. It may start on the Life line, on the mount of the Moon, near the wrist or only in the middle of the palm.

• Starting on the mount of the Moon – success comes more easily but can be fickle and dependent on other people.
• Starting on the Life line – success will be the fruit of one’s own effort and hard work.
• Joined to the Life line – devotion to the family from early youth.
• Stopping at the Head line – a career held back by wrong decisions, less luck in life.
• Breaking off at the Heart line – a career broken by an unhappy relationship.
• Invisible up to the middle of the palm – modest achievements in youth, but things improve in later years and obstacles are overcome.
• Rising from the Heart line – success comes only in mature years, around fifty.
• No line at all – a quiet life with few events.
• Crossed by many small lines – a life in which failures alternate with successes.
• Double – a very favourable sign, promising a double career.
• With branches pointing downwards – losses and worries.

Chiromancy is a tradition, not a science – its readings are not supported by research. Palm reading is best treated as an opportunity to reflect on your own character and choices, not as an oracle.