How to Read Palms

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Last Updated: August 19, 2022

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Imagine if you held everything you ever wanted to know about your fate, love life, and personality in the palm of your hand. Palm reading, also known as palmistry or chiromancy, is a mystical art practiced all over the world. It has its roots in Indian astrology and Roman fortune-telling—but you can hop into this ancient tradition today. Whether you're an aspiring palm reader or just looking for a fun way to impress your friends, we’ve got you covered. Read on for palm-reading charts and a complete guide to interpreting palm lines.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:
Deciphering the Lines

1
Choose a hand. In palmistry, it is thought that:
- For females, the right hand is what you're born with, and left is what you've accumulated throughout your life.
- For males, it is the other way around. The left hand is what you're born with, and the right is what you've accumulated throughout your life.
- That being said, you can also choose whichever hand is dominant to be your present/past life hand (the non-dominant hand would then be your future life hand).
  - There are different schools of thought on the matter. Some say the left-hand shows potential and what could be -- not necessarily what will be. And a difference in the hands could mean one is or is about to take action when it comes to their lives, changing it.^{[1]
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2
Identify the four major lines. There may be breaks in them or they may be short, but at least three of them are there.
- (1) The heart line
- (2) The head line
- (3) The life line
- (4) The fate line (only some people have this).
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3
Interpret the heart line. This line can be read in either direction (from the pinkie finger to the index finger or vice versa) depending on the tradition being followed. It's believed to indicate emotional stability, romantic perspectives, depression, and cardiac health. The basic interpretations are as follows:
- Begins below the index finger - content with love life
- Begins below the middle finger - selfish when it comes to love
- Begins in the middle - falls in love easily
- Straight and short - less interest in romance
- Touches life line - heart is broken easily
- Long and curvy - freely expresses emotions and feelings
- Straight and parallel to the head line - good handle on emotions
- Wavy - many relationships and lovers, absence of serious relationships
- Circle on the line - sadness or depression
- Broken line - emotional trauma
- Smaller lines crossing through heart line - emotional trauma
4
Examine the head line. This represents a person's learning style, communication approach, intellectualism, and thirst for knowledge. A curved line is associated with creativity and spontaneity, while a straight line is linked with practicality and a structured approach. The basic interpretations are as follows:
- Short line - prefers physical achievements over mental ones
- Curved, sloping line - creativity
- Separated from life line - adventure, enthusiasm for life
- Wavy line - short attention span
- Deep, long line - thinking is clear and focused
- Straight line - thinks realistically
- Donuts or cross in head line - emotional crisis
- Broken head line - inconsistencies in thought
- Multiple crosses through head line - momentous decisions.
5
Evaluate the life line. This begins near the thumb and travels in an arc towards the wrist. It reflects physical health, general well-being, and major life changes (for example, cataclysmic events, physical injuries, and relocation). Its length is not associated with length of life. The basic interpretations are as follows:
- Runs close to thumb - often tired
- Curvy - plenty of energy
- Long, deep - vitality
- Short and shallow - manipulated by others
- Swoops around in a semicircle - strength, and enthusiasm
- Straight and close to the edge of the palm - cautious when it comes to relationships
- Multiple life lines - extra vitality
- Circle in line indicates - hospitalized or injured
- Break - sudden change in lifestyle
6
Study the fate line. This is also known as the line of destiny, and it indicates the degree to which a person's life is affected by external circumstances beyond their control. It begins at the base of the palm. The basic interpretations are as follows:
- Deep line - strongly controlled by fate
- Breaks and changes of direction - prone to many changes in life from external forces
- Starts joined to life line - self-made individual; develops aspirations early on
- Joins with the life line around in the middle - signifies a point at which one's interests must be surrendered to those of others
- Starts at base of the thumb and crosses life line - support offered by family and friends.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:
Interpreting the Hands, Fingers, etc.

1
Determine the hand shape. Each hand shape is associated with certain character traits. The length of the palm is measured from the wrist to the bottom of the fingers. The basic interpretations are as follows:
- Earth - broad, square palms and fingers, thick or coarse skin, and ruddy color; length of the palm equals length of fingers
  - Solid values and energy, sometimes stubborn
  - Practical and responsible, sometimes materialistic
  - Work with their hands, comfortable with the tangible
- Air - square or rectangular palms with long fingers and sometimes protruding knuckles, low-set thumbs, and dry skin; length of the palm less than length of fingers
  - Sociable, talkative and witty
  - Can be shallow, spiteful and cold
  - Comfortable with the mental and the intangible
  - Does things in different and radical ways
- Water - long, sometimes oval-shaped palm, with long, flexible, conical fingers; length of the palm equals the length of fingers but is less than the width across the widest part of the palm.
  - Creative, perceptive and sympathetic
  - Can be moody, emotional and inhibited
  - Introverts
  - Do things quietly and intuitively.
- Fire - square or rectangular palm, flushed or pink skin, and shorter fingers; length of the palm is greater than length of fingers
  - Spontaneous, enthusiastic and optimistic
  - Sometimes egoistic, impulsive and insensitive
  - Extroverts
  - Do things boldly and instinctively.
2
Look at the mounts. That's what the fleshy bit below your fingers are called, on the opposite side of your knuckle. To make them visible, cup your hand just a bit. Which one is the largest?
- A high Venus mount (the one under your thumb) indicates a predisposition for hedonism, promiscuity, and the need for instant gratification. A non-existent Venus mount indicates little interest in family matters.
- The mount under your index finger is called the Jupiter mount. If this is well-developed, it means you are dominant, possibly self-centered, and aggressive. A lack of one means you lack confidence.
- Under your middle finger is the Saturn mount. A high mount shows you're stubborn, cynical, and prone to depression. If it is low, it's an indicator of superficiality and disorganization.
- The Sun mount is under your ring finger. You're quick-tempered, extravagant, and prideful if you have a high Sun mount. A low Sun mount means you lack imagination.
- The Mercury mount is under your pinkie. If it's protruding, you talk too much. A low mount means the opposite -- you're shy.
  - None of this is based on science. And your hands are known to change throughout time. Don't take any of it too seriously!
3
Examine the hand and finger size. Relative to the size of the body, some say that small hands are active and don't dwell on thinking about what to do. Large hands are on those who are contemplative and slow to action.^{[2]
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- Remember, this is relative to the body. If you're 8 feet (2.4 m) tall (2.4 m), you're going to have bigger hands than a 4-year-old. It's all proportional.
- What's more, long fingers may be an indicator of anxiety, in addition to being well-mannered, good-looking, and delicate. Short fingers are found on those who are impatient, highly-sexed, and creative.
- Long fingernails, on the other hand, mean you're kind and a good secret-keeper. Short fingernails mean you're critical and sarcastic. If they're almond-shaped, you're sweet and diplomatic.^{[1]
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Can I use palm reading to predict how many children I’ll have?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Palmists believe that the vertical lines under your little finger can give you indications about the number and gender of your future children. The lines may also branch off of a love line. Try to count the lines to get an idea of how many children you’ll have (although these lines can be faint and difficult to count). Broader and deeper lines are thought to indicate boys, while fainter lines are thought to indicate girls. Palmists also claim that broken or diverted lines could indicate that the child will have a health issue.

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Which line can I look at to find out about marriage?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Staff Answer

Look at the “marriage lines” or “love lines,” which are small horizontal indentations on the outer side of your hand, under your little finger. You may have an easier time seeing them if you curl your hand into a fist. Each line or groove is thought to represent a different marriage, and deeper and longer grooves represent stronger or longer-lasting relationships. However, some palmists believe that these lines don’t distinguish between marriages and other types of romantic relationships.

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What does it mean if my fate line is absent?

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It means you will shape your own future. Your fate is not predetermined.

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Tips

Since palm lines change as you progress through life, palm reading is seen by many as an opportunity to reveal what's already happened, but not as a way of predicting the future.^{[3]
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Accept that palm reading is not always accurate. The fate of your life and your decisions should not be influenced by fortune-telling; rather, your own efforts and fortitude are what really help you to succeed in life.

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Don't judge others while reading their palms!

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Warnings

If you're going to do read someone else's palms, keep it light. Don't make any dark predictions that will make people worry about their lives; you're no more "in-the-know" than any other person is. No-one is really confident about palm reading, so don't make predictions that influence others to harm themselves in any way or ruin their lives.

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Remember that palm reading is for entertainment purposes and there is no substantiated evidence of a correlation between palm features and psychological traits.

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