The History of Palmistry

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Palmistry is also known as Chiromancy or 'cheiromancy' The practice is found all over the world, with numerous cultural variations. Those who practice chiromancy are generally called palmists, palm readers, hand readers, or chirologists.

Palmistry is said to have originated in India, spreading its way throughout China finding it’s way to Egypt, Greece and then to Europe more than 5,000 years ago. The practice is found all over the world, with numerous cultural variations. Those who practice Palm Reading are generally called palmists, palm readers, hand readers, or chirologists. Modern palmists often combine traditional predictive techniques with psychology, holistic healing, and alternative methods of divination.

Despite its suppression throughout the Middle Ages and the prohibited use of it during the reign of King Henry VIII (who banned palmistry and other alternative practices, brandishing those who used it as sorcerers and devil worshipers). It is still flourishing more than ever today, especially in these stressful modern times when we are all searching for truth and answers within ourselves.

Palm Reading consists of the practice of evaluating a person's character or future by "reading" the palm of that person's hand. Various "lines" ("heart line", "life line", etc.) and "mounts" (or bumps) (chirognomy), purportedly suggest interpretations by their relative sizes, qualities, and intersections. In some traditions, readers also examine characteristics of the fingers, fingernails, fingerprints and palmar skin patterns (dermatoglyphics), skin texture and color, shape of the palm, and flexibility of the hand.
Many doctors and psychologists who have investigated its science have shown from their conclusions that hands have the potential to reveal a person’s character, health and psychological states.
Although Palmistry is a science and an art, by using psychic intuition a much greater understanding about an individual can be achieved.

A reader usually begins by reading the person's 'dominant hand' (the hand he or she writes with or uses the most)(sometimes considered to represent the conscious mind, whereas the other hand is subconscious). In some traditions of palmistry, the other hand is believed to carry hereditary or family traits, or, depending on the palmist's cosmological beliefs, to convey information about past-life or karmic conditions. Many people do not know that the lines on the palm as well as the shape of the hands do change, from within as little as two-three months.

The Left Hand is controlled by the right brain (pattern recognition, relationship understanding), reflects the inner person, the natural self, the anima, and the lateral thinking. It could even be considered to be a part of a person spiritual and personal development. It is the "yin" of personality (feminine and receptive).

The Right Hand is controlled by the left brain (logic, reason, and language), reflects the outer person, objective self, influence of social environment, education, and experience. It represents linear thinking. It also corresponds to the "yang" aspect of personality (masculine and outgoing).


Peace, Love & Light,
~ Jenna