The practice of palm reading, also known as palmistry or chiromancy, is found throughout the world. There are a number of cultural variations that all seek to basically achieve the same purpose. Essentially, it is a method to evaluate certain character traits and present circumstances, as well as to give insight regarding the probability of future events.
The reading of palms as a method of divination has very ancient roots that stem from a number of different cultures. Historically, many people seem to agree that the practice was first originated as a part of Hindu astrology in India and later developed in China and other Asian countries.
From here, it is thought to have been further spread and refined in the Middle East and finally in Europe. Today, many people tend to first think of the Roma Gypsies in association with palm reading line. In fact, they did not adopt the craft as a means of fortune telling until much later than did some other cultures.
Hand analysts will often combine their art with a variety of other divination methods. Some use it in conjunction with astrology, numerology or other type of predication system. It is not uncommon to be combined with Tarot or other card readings. Of course, many readers of palms rely on only a single system to provide observations and predictions.
In any event, palm reading involves evaluating the character of a person or predicting the likelihood of future occurrences by examining the palm of that person. Features such as lines, bumps, shapes and other characteristics are interpreted by the reader to make observations and predictions.
Depending on a reader’s particular background, skin textures, hand color or hand size may be considered. Slenderness, thickness or length of fingers might also come into play, contingent upon the variety of palmistry being used. There are many methods that are actively practiced and any particular reading will rely on the specific background of the reader.
However, the focus on the lines in the palm of a hand is nearly universal to all forms of palmistry. Most people are familiar with reference to what is known as the life line. This is examined for features such as length and general positioning in the palm. Other factors include curves or straightness and whether or not it intersects with other significant lines.
In addition to the life line, the head line and the heart line are major indicators that are usually analyzed. The head line is normally seen as a representation of how a person’s mind may work, while the heart line will focus on physical and emotional issues. While some people think of the life line as representing how long you will live, it is most often used as an indicator of how you have lived and how you are living.
There sometimes are debates on which hand is best to read from. Some customs assume that the left hands show the potential of an individual, while the right hands indicate realized personalities. Some say that the future is shown in the right hand and the past is in the left. Others claim that the right hand of men should be read and the left one is read for women. Ultimately, the determining factor lies within the method that works best for the reader.
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