palmistry
palmistry is the best known of all the names relating to the reading of hands. The use of the word is comparatively modern for a practice that extends back through the centuries since time immemorial. Cheiromancy was formerly the predominant name for hand reading, used since classical times until palmistry usurped it in the seventeenth century.
Hand reading is found in many cultures; Greek, Roman, Arabic, Indian, Chinese, and Japanese among others. In the Orient palmistry is still highly respected and openly practised on the street. By contrast, within European culture the practice is much more subdued; formerly the practice was suppressed by the Church due to its links with astrology, while latterly science has largely spurned it as a subject unworthy of serious investigation.
The premise of hand reading rests upon the outer form and structure of a person's hand being visualized as the expression of the inner temperament and psyche. The skill of hand reading lies in being able to observe the minutiae of each hand and to interpret what the specific formations mean in the life of its owner.
For many people palmistry is thought to be solely linked to interpretation and prognostication from the lines on the palm, but this is not strictly true. A complete reading of the hand considers its overall shape, the texture of the skin, the divisions of the palm into four quadrants, and the development of the thumb and each individual finger in turn, as well as an intricate inspection of all the palmar lines.
In all main traditions of hand reading the lines are seen as formations resulting from the flow of vital energy passing through the skin. This flow of vital energy is visualized as being synonymous with the flow of energy through the psyche, that fluctuates with every emotional experience. The sum total of all emotional experience is thus etched into the palm, resulting in lineal patterns that are unique to each person.
Accordingly every palmar main line is linked to a different area of experience; to use the palmist's nomenclature:
The vitality line, which curves around the thumb, reflects a person's vitality and physical constitution, the influence of the family, and their capacity to earn money and derive security.
The temper line, located in the angle of the thumb within the vitality line, reflects a person's physical strength, their resistance to illness, and their drives and sexual potency.
The heart line, which runs across the palm from underneath the little finger to the index finger, reflects a person's emotionality; their ability to express feelings and share them with others.
The fate line, which runs up the palm from the palmar base to the middle finger, reflects a person's application and concentration on their work or career and consequent achievement of success in life.
The head line, which runs across the palm between the vitality and heart lines, reflects a person's thinking skills and ability to communicate, along with their capacity to make plans and take decisions.
The Apollo line, which runs from the palmar base to the ring finger, reflects a person's creative expression; the brilliance of their talents and the fame achieved through them.
The health line, which runs from the little finger to the palmar base, reflects a person's health, intuition, inventiveness, and business sense.
Ideally a line should have a good length, and be clearly formed and free from markings. Whenever it is well formed it shows that the vital energy is flowing smoothly within the person and indicates that the corresponding area of a person's life is functioning soundly. For example, a clear head line indicates someone who can communicate their ideas well.
By contrast, markings such as islands, chains, bars, crosses, breaks, and forks all show interruption to the energy flow and indicate discord. For example, a head line with several islands indicates someone who is uncertain and has difficulty in communicating their ideas. Markings are often descriptive of particular experiences and can be timed coinciding with specific events in a person's life.
A skilled hand reader seeks to illuminate the sources of conflict as reflected in the markings of the lines, to assist the person to resolve them. Once conflict is overcome then the lines change and show signs of enhancement to the energy flow. Change to the palmar lines is normally gradual, taking months or even years to observe. However, the impact of sudden traumatic events can be reflected in the palmar lines within six weeks.
Despite acknowledging the importance of the development of the hand to our human evolution, science has generally viewed palmistry with great suspicion. This is largely because of the belief that the lines are crease marks in the skin related to the mechanical folding of the hand. The very idea that these ‘crease’ lines could be intricately linked to the consciousness of the person, and therefore relate to specific events and experiences in their life, has been regarded as nonsense. However this is refuted by palmists on the grounds that the lines develop on the fetal palm between the seventh and tenth weeks of embryological development, whereas it is only by the twelfth week that the muscles are sufficiently developed to begin the first primitive movements of the hand; thus the lines are clearly present on the palm two weeks before movement of the hand is possible.
Today, in a world where people are feeling alienated in an increasingly technological environment, more and more are rediscovering the cultural importance of hand reading for providing inner meaning to their lives. At a time when science is increasingly investigating the interrelationship of consciousness with matter, the study of hand reading could significantly enrich scientific investigation.
Due to the suppression of hand reading within European culture, its history is obscure. However, notable palmists include Napoleon Bonaparte, Alexander the Great, Homer, Hippocrates, Galen, Paracelsus, and Robert Fludd.
See also hand.
Hand reading is found in many cultures; Greek, Roman, Arabic, Indian, Chinese, and Japanese among others. In the Orient palmistry is still highly respected and openly practised on the street. By contrast, within European culture the practice is much more subdued; formerly the practice was suppressed by the Church due to its links with astrology, while latterly science has largely spurned it as a subject unworthy of serious investigation.
The premise of hand reading rests upon the outer form and structure of a person's hand being visualized as the expression of the inner temperament and psyche. The skill of hand reading lies in being able to observe the minutiae of each hand and to interpret what the specific formations mean in the life of its owner.
For many people palmistry is thought to be solely linked to interpretation and prognostication from the lines on the palm, but this is not strictly true. A complete reading of the hand considers its overall shape, the texture of the skin, the divisions of the palm into four quadrants, and the development of the thumb and each individual finger in turn, as well as an intricate inspection of all the palmar lines.
In all main traditions of hand reading the lines are seen as formations resulting from the flow of vital energy passing through the skin. This flow of vital energy is visualized as being synonymous with the flow of energy through the psyche, that fluctuates with every emotional experience. The sum total of all emotional experience is thus etched into the palm, resulting in lineal patterns that are unique to each person.
Accordingly every palmar main line is linked to a different area of experience; to use the palmist's nomenclature:
The vitality line, which curves around the thumb, reflects a person's vitality and physical constitution, the influence of the family, and their capacity to earn money and derive security.
The temper line, located in the angle of the thumb within the vitality line, reflects a person's physical strength, their resistance to illness, and their drives and sexual potency.
The heart line, which runs across the palm from underneath the little finger to the index finger, reflects a person's emotionality; their ability to express feelings and share them with others.
The fate line, which runs up the palm from the palmar base to the middle finger, reflects a person's application and concentration on their work or career and consequent achievement of success in life.
The head line, which runs across the palm between the vitality and heart lines, reflects a person's thinking skills and ability to communicate, along with their capacity to make plans and take decisions.
The Apollo line, which runs from the palmar base to the ring finger, reflects a person's creative expression; the brilliance of their talents and the fame achieved through them.
The health line, which runs from the little finger to the palmar base, reflects a person's health, intuition, inventiveness, and business sense.
Ideally a line should have a good length, and be clearly formed and free from markings. Whenever it is well formed it shows that the vital energy is flowing smoothly within the person and indicates that the corresponding area of a person's life is functioning soundly. For example, a clear head line indicates someone who can communicate their ideas well.
By contrast, markings such as islands, chains, bars, crosses, breaks, and forks all show interruption to the energy flow and indicate discord. For example, a head line with several islands indicates someone who is uncertain and has difficulty in communicating their ideas. Markings are often descriptive of particular experiences and can be timed coinciding with specific events in a person's life.
A skilled hand reader seeks to illuminate the sources of conflict as reflected in the markings of the lines, to assist the person to resolve them. Once conflict is overcome then the lines change and show signs of enhancement to the energy flow. Change to the palmar lines is normally gradual, taking months or even years to observe. However, the impact of sudden traumatic events can be reflected in the palmar lines within six weeks.
Despite acknowledging the importance of the development of the hand to our human evolution, science has generally viewed palmistry with great suspicion. This is largely because of the belief that the lines are crease marks in the skin related to the mechanical folding of the hand. The very idea that these ‘crease’ lines could be intricately linked to the consciousness of the person, and therefore relate to specific events and experiences in their life, has been regarded as nonsense. However this is refuted by palmists on the grounds that the lines develop on the fetal palm between the seventh and tenth weeks of embryological development, whereas it is only by the twelfth week that the muscles are sufficiently developed to begin the first primitive movements of the hand; thus the lines are clearly present on the palm two weeks before movement of the hand is possible.
Today, in a world where people are feeling alienated in an increasingly technological environment, more and more are rediscovering the cultural importance of hand reading for providing inner meaning to their lives. At a time when science is increasingly investigating the interrelationship of consciousness with matter, the study of hand reading could significantly enrich scientific investigation.
Due to the suppression of hand reading within European culture, its history is obscure. However, notable palmists include Napoleon Bonaparte, Alexander the Great, Homer, Hippocrates, Galen, Paracelsus, and Robert Fludd.
Dylan Warren-Davis
Bibliography
Warren-Davis, D. (2001). The hand reveals. 2nd edn. Chrysalis Books Ltd., London.
See also hand.
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palmistry