Palmistry, << PAH muh stree, >> is the practice of foretelling the future by examining the lines and marks of the human hand. Palmistry, sometimes called chiromancy, originated in ancient China and India. Today, it is practiced by people in many parts of the world.
In palmistry, the fleshy parts of the palm at the base of the thumb and fingers and on the side of the hand are called mounts. The mounts are named for Apollo, the god of the sun in Greek and Roman mythology; the moon; and the planets Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, and Mars. A well-developed, fleshy mount supposedly means that a person has the characteristics associated with that mount. For example, the mount of Apollo indicates art and riches. Jupiter signifies ambition and pride, and Venus represents love and music.
The wrinkles on the palm are called lines. Like the mounts, each line has a name and a meaning. For example, a long line of life supposedly foretells a long life. A long, clear line of the heart indicates an affectionate disposition. A strongly marked line of the head signifies intelligence and imagination. Other lines of the palm indicate prospects for health, marriage, fate, and fortune.
Many palmists also use various physical and psychological clues in making predictions. Nervousness or small muscular reactions to statements made by the palmist may reveal a person’s feelings. The condition of the hands and nails also indicates some characteristics. Such signs may help the palmist make surprisingly accurate predictions.
Some palmists use the form of the hand to describe an individual’s personality as part of the process of predicting the future. Many of the people who believe in palmistry try to connect it with other occult practices, such as astrology (fortunetelling by the stars and planets).
