Chiromancy

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The Fortune Teller, by Caravaggio (1594-95; Canvas; Louvre), depicting a palm reading

Chiromancy or cheiromancy, (Greek cheir, “hand”; manteia, “divination”), is the art of characterization and foretelling the future through the study of the palm, also known as palmistry, palm-reading, chirology or hand analysis. The practice is found all over the world, with numerous cultural variations. Those who practise chiromancy are generally called chiromancers, palmists, palm readers or chirologists.

Modern palmistry can trace its roots back to gypsy fortune tellers and Indian mystics, but often modern palmists combine traditional predictive techniques with psychology, holistic healing, and alternative methods of divination.

The practice of chiromancy is regarded by many as a pseudoscience, and no hard scientific evidence has been found to back up claims of veracity. It should be noted that the information outlined below is representative of modern palmistry; there are many ― often conflicting ― interpretations of various lines and palmar features across various "schools" of palmistry. None of these interpretations have been verified by any objective scientific research.

Contents

1 Techniques
2 The Lines
3 Science and skeptics
4 Notable Chiromancers
5 References
6 External links

Techniques

Palm of man's right hand (dominant hand)

Chiromancy consists of the practice of evaluating a person's character or future life by "reading" the palm of that person's hand. Various "lines" ("heart line", "life line", etc.) and "mounts" (bumps) 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.

A reader usually begins by reading the person's 'dominant hand' (the hand he or she writes with or uses the most). In some traditions of palmistry, the other hand is believed to carry past-life or karmic information, as well as hereditary traits.

The basic framework for "Classical" palmistry (the most widely taught and practiced tradition) is rooted in Greek mythology. Each area of the palm and fingers is related to a god or goddess, and the features of that area indicate the nature of the corresponding aspect of the subject. For example, the ring finger is associated with the Greek god Apollo; characteristics of the ring finger are tied to the subject's dealings with art, music, aesthetics, fame, and harmony.

The Lines

Some of the lines of the hand in Palmistry
1: Life line - 2: Head line - 3: Heart line - 4: Girdle of Venus - 5: Sun line - 6: Mercury line - 7: Fate line

Palmists look at three main lines: the heart line, the head line, and the life line.

The heart line is the first of the major lines examined by a reader. It is found towards the top of the palm, under the fingers. In some traditions, the line is read as starting from the edge of the palm under the little finger and flowing across the palm towards the thumb; in others, it is seen as starting under the fingers and flowing toward the outside edge of the palm. This line is said to represent matters of the heart, both physical and metaphorical. Those who practice palmistry believe it can indicate emotional stability, romantic perspectives, depression, and stoicism, in addition to various aspects of cardiac health.

The next line identified by palmists is the head line. This line starts at the edge of the palm under the index finger and flows across the palm towards the outside edge. Often, the head line is joined with the life line (see below) at inception. This line is said to represent the person's mind and the way it works, including learning style, communication style, intellectualism, and thirst for knowledge. It is also believed to indicate a preference for creative or analytical approaches to information (i.e., right brain or left brain).

Finally, readers look at perhaps the most controversial line on the hand, the life line. This line extends from the edge of the palm above the thumb and travels in an arc towards the wrist. This line is believed to represent the person's vitality and vigor, physical health and general well being. The life line is also believed to reflect major life changes, including cataclysmic events, physical injuries, and relocations. Contrary to popular belief, modern palmists generally do not believe that the length of a person's life line is tied to the length of a person's life.

Additional major lines or variations include:

A simian crease, or fusing of the heart and head lines, is believed by practitioners of palmistry to indicate that the person has no distinction between what is desired and what is thought, resulting in an intense nature with a tendency to rush into things.

The fate line runs from the bottom of the palm near the wrist, up through the center of the palm towards the middle finger. This line is believed to be tied to the person's life path, including school and career choices, successes and obstacles. Sometimes this line is thought to reflect circumstances beyond the individual's control, or the person's choices and their consequences.

Other minor lines:

Sun Line - parallel to the Fate Line, under the ring finger; believed to indicate fame or scandal
Girdle of Venus - starts between the little and ring fingers, runs in a rough arc under the ring and middle fingers to end between the middle and pointer fingers; thought to relate to emotional intelligence and the ability to manipulate
Union Lines - short horizontal lines found on the percussive edge of the palm between the Heart Line and the bottom of the little finger; believed to indicate close relationships, sometimes - but not always - romantic.
Mercury Line - runs from the bottom of the palm near the wrist, up through the palm towards the little finger; purported to be an indicator of persistent health issues, business acumen, or skill in communication.
Travel Lines - these are horizontal lines found on the percussive edge of the palm between the wrist and the heart line; each line is said to represent a trip taken by the subject - the longer the line, the more important the trip is to the subject.
Other Markings - these include stars, crosses, triangles, squares, tridents, and rings under each of the fingers; their supposed impact and meaning varies by location on the palm and freedom from other interfering lines.

Science and skeptics

There has been little widely accepted research verifying palmistry's accuracy as a system of analysis. Much has been undertaken by readers themselves, and seems anecdotally interesting, though questionable when put to rigorous scientific standards. (See [10 Years of Hand Analysis Research] from Martijn van Mensvoort.) No conclusive data has yet been found to support the claims made by readers, and in fact, there is as much anecdotal evidence against palmistry as for it.

A considerable amount of research has been undertaken in more mainstream scientific veins, but this generally revolves around medical disorders, such as relating the simian line to Down's Syndrome. Although little known to the public, there have also been a number of studies relating hand features to psychology, including AD/HD (Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) and Schizophrenia (see http://www.dse.nl/~frvc/handresearch/publications.htm). Although some interesting correlations have been found, these were usually not considered very significant. More recently, John T. Manning has linked fingerlength ratios to, for example, homosexuality, depression, reproductive success and musical aptitude (http://human-nature.com/nibbs/02/manning.html). Yet so far no conclusive evidence has been provided to support a connection between the lines of the palm and a person's character.

Skeptics often include palmists on lists of alleged psychics who practice a technique called cold reading. Cold reading is cited as the practice that allows readers of all kinds, including palmists, to appear psychic. Although fortune telling is much less common today in mainstream palmistry as it was in the past, skeptics almost always associate palmistry with fortune telling rather than reading character.

Notable Chiromancers

Patrick "The Mysterious" Goodden, was said to be able to predict someone's exact date of death by looking at someone's hand. He died in 1875 and ironically predicted the completely wrong day of death.

Alex "The Mighty" Bernas, it has been said, could not only predict date of death but also the cause of death. He was known to heal as well and was not only revered as a chiromancer but also a witch doctor.

Cheiro, as he is known by nickname, was said to have predicted correctly dates and events in the lives of many renowned celebrities, including Marilyn Monroe, and even his own death.

References

Complete Illustrated Guide to Palmistry: The Principles and Practice of Hand Reading Revealed by Peter West; published January 1998, Thorsons/Element.

Palmistry: How to Chart the Lines of Your Destiny by Roz Levine; published December 1992, Simon & Schuster.

External links

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