What is Palmistry and Why Should I Learn?
Updated: Jul 5
Palmistry as defined by "The American Heritage Dictionary" is the practice of telling fortunes from the lines, marks, and patterns on the palms of the hands. Palmistry also called chiromancy, palm-reading, chirology, or hand analysis is an ancient art form, originating in India. It was said to be practiced by the Brahmins, an educated priestly cast of Ancient India who used it for divining just about everything in life.
Records of the practice of Palmistry were also found in countries such as ancient Egypt, Persia, Mesopotamia, Greece, China, and Tibet. It is even referred to in the Bible. Palmistry can also be regarded as a part of Astrology as each planet is represented in the hand.
Born in Ireland (1866-1936) he accurately predicted many events of his time. For example, he correctly foretold the Boer War, the death of Queen Victoria, and the assassination of King Umberto of Italy, all a year or so before these events occurred.
He correctly predicted a worldwide “Great Depression,” as well as, the beginning and end of World War 1 prior to their occurrence. Not to mention, he foresaw the downfall of Czar Nicholas of Russia and the subsequent massacre of the emperor and his immediate family.
Cheiro probably did more to introduce the ancient art of palmistry to the western world than any other person. During his lifetime Cheiro wrote a number of valuable books on Palmistry, many still in use today. He read for such diverse people as Mark Twain, Mata Hari, Charlie Chaplin, Royalty from all over Europe including the Prince of Wales, generals, presidents, even Thomas Edison sought his advice. In his visitors book MarkTwain wrote:
“Cheiro has exposed my character to me with humiliating accuracy. I ought not to confess this accuracy; still I am moved to do so. – Mark Twain.” Learning to read palms is not difficult, and it can be quite entertaining and enlightening. As a psychic and palmist of over thirty-five years, I often instruct my students to begin their psychic development by learning palm reading.
Why you, ask? Because it’s simply the easiest form of divination (Divine communication) you can do. You need no special psychic abilities (although by learning palmistry you will most likely develop them) and you will always have your tools available. Besides even the most skeptical of people, upon discovering you are learning, will stick their hand in your face and ask for a reading. Learn palm reading; if for no other reason than it's fun and it will teach you a lot about yourself.
Palmistry is based on reading the lines and markings in the palm of a person's hand. By reading the lines, it is quite possible to tell the person's past, present and future. The basics of Palmistry are simple; although many palmists would have you think it is some grand mystery only available to a few lucky initiates. A palmist will examine the hand carefully and advise on the best course of action. The positioning of the lines in the hand is the key. Many Palmists agree, the dominant hand of a person reveals the current and future trends, while, the passive hand reveals the person’s childhood. Palmists look for definite patterns in the lines on the palm.
The main lines are the life line, head line, heart line, and fate line. From these lines, a palmist can learn about such things as, the possible length and health of your life, your relationships, talents, and abilities, even the best line of work for you. The mounts or fleshy part of the hand along with the shape of the hand and fingers reveal even more about the person.
Additionally, there is a relation between the lines in one's palm, and the planetary motions, incorporating astrological signs and meanings into the palm.
As with any form of divination, there are always doubters, especially among the scientific community. Palmists believe predictions through Palmistry have a scientific basis, even though some scientists may say otherwise. But then many scientists do not believe in most things metaphysical, including God, and are as a whole generally unwilling to even try to conduct an honest investigation. Whereas Palmistry plays a central part of everyday life in many countries today, particularly in India, it had fallen out of regular practice in the modern west. However, it is now seeing a resurgence in popularity. With the uncertainties of this modern stressful age, many people are finding that technology does not have the answers to all of life’s concerns.
Google may be able to answer many questions, but it can’t tell you where you are going wrong in the love department or whether you will be doing much traveling this year. While seeking information about their futures, people are turning back to tried and true methods, such as palmistry. Modern Hand Analysis aka Palm-reading has emerged today as a useful tool of introspection helping people to chart out their lives, throwing light upon the best course of action to take. It works as a guidepost to; which career might suit you better; who might make a better spouse for you; your approach to problem-solving, decision making and reacting to different situations, along with a horde of other issues.
Coupled with psychology, palmistry can prove a powerful tool to gain insights into the kind of person you really are. Even behavioral traits can be ascertained from modern hand analysis.
For example; whenever I find a person with a broken Girdle of Venus (missing a part, usually in the center or just broken in places) I know I have a client who has a great tendency to give the benefit of the doubt to the opposite sex, even when their instincts tell them not to. Often this client will go through several bad relationships where she/he idolizes their partner and placing them on a pedestal. Then being shocked when their lover falls off and falls short of the idealized image that was placed on them by the person with that broken Girdle of Venus.
I usually advise such a client to not make any judgments or determinations about a potential mate's character until they have known them for at least six months. (A year is better.) Most people, male and female alike, wear a mask for the first six months or so, revealing only their best side- but that mask will slip and in time you will see who they really are. Not who they want you to believe they are. Unless you know palmistry and can see the truth for yourself.
On the upside, any Girdle of Venus in the palm indicates a greater capacity to love and an increased sensitivity to one’s environment. As I said, coupled with psychology, palmistry can be a powerful tool for self-evaluation, couple it further with psychic ability, and it can be an amazing tool to aid you in your life. There are many psychics who use palmistry in their practice as I do, combined with clairvoyance, remote viewing and mediumship abilities the palm is another tool by which information can be obtained.
I began palm reading as a child, around age nine, if I could learn, so can you.
There are a great many books on palmistry, a few I would recommend to the novice palmist are- my first primer “Palmistry the Whole View,” by Judith Hipskind first written in 1977, reprinted 1998. Although out of print at this time, it is still easily found online.
In my opinion, it remains one of the best laid out of all the palmistry books I have read. It will easily take you from novice to intermediate level without any problems. The author also includes a very helpful part about how to give a reading, which you do not often find. If you are interested in one of Cheiro’s books his “Cheiro’s Guide to the Hand” first written in 1900 was republished in 2007, and is available today, along with several others. Although I would not recommend it as a sole beginners book, due to its scarcity of illustrations, for those who are already versed in the basics or who would like to learn along with say, “Palmistry the Whole View” it is a greatly informative book.
Cheiro goes into great detail about every aspect of the hand and palm, the lines mounts, shapes, textures and colors along with the history of palm reading, the religious aspects of it, as well as many fascinating facts not often found in modern books on palmistry. These are just a couple of books out of thousands on the subject of palmistry; I have listed others on the recommended page if you are interested in some quality books to begin your adventure in Palm Reading.
Good luck and happy reading!
Part 1 in Monthly Palm Reading Series.