Palmistry is thought to have started in India, though its exact origins are unclear. We do know that it eventually spread throughout China, Tibet, Egypt, Greece (the Greek philosopher Aristotle actually spoke of palmistry in his work), and Persia over time. The mystical practice eventually faced backlash from the witch-hunters of the Middle Ages but saw a resurgence during the Renaissance and again during the Enlightenment era. During the 20th century, renowned psychiatrist Carl Jung, among others, took newfound interest in palm reading, and it has since been a favorite of fortunetellers and more casual mystics.
The hand is thought to be "an entry point to the inner soul," explains Cassandra Eason, the author of A Little Bit of Palmistry. Palmistry devotees believe that its lines, mounds, and patterns can speak to everything from our talents, personality, and dreams to past lives, current circumstances, and destiny. "The lines and markings serve the same purpose as a tarot card, and each has a basic meaning," Eason says.
In Palmistry, the "active" or dominant hand reveals opportunities and challenges in your present and future, whereas you nondominant or "inactive" hand reflects your potential and longer-term plans. One thing that's nice about palm reading is you don't need to buy anything to get started. Eason does note, however, that when studying palms in detail, it can be helpful to accentuate the lines and markings with baby powder if particular areas are hard to distinguish. If you want to keep track of your palms over time, she also recommends keeping a palmistry journal to record what you find—because, yes, it will change. You can do this by tracing your hand and drawing in what you see, always remembering to date the diagram.
"The key to successful palm reading is to relax and trust what you feel," Eason says. Once you're set up, start by scanning your (or your friend's) dominant hand for the following lines. Then, move onto mounts, or raised sections of the hand. If you're new to palm reading, it might be difficult to decide what certain lines or mounts are telling you. Don't overthink what you find; just let yourself explore and allow your intuition to guide you. Continue reading from MBG Mindfulness
A Beginner's Guide to Reading Palms (Allure)
Palmistry (Encyclopedia Britannica)
Palmistry: The Future in the Palm of Your Hand (NIH National Library of Medicine)
A How-To Guide For Palm Reading (Refinery29)
Palmistry Basics: Exploring Lines on Your Palm (Learn Religions)
