Chiromancy

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, or hand analysis.

The Lines

There are three main lines: the heart line, the head line, and the life line.

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• The heart line is the top line. 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 represents matters of the heart, both physical and metaphorical. It can indicate emotional stability, romantic perspectives, depression, and stoicism, in addition to various aspects of cardiac health.
• The next line down is the head line. This line starts at the edge of the palm under the pointer 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 represents the person's mind and the way it works, including learning style, communication style, intellectualism, and thirst for knowledge. It can also indicate a preference for creative or analytical approaches to information (i.e., right brain or left brain).
• Finally, the life line, which extends from the edge of the palm above the thumb and travels in an arc towards the wrist. This line represents the person's vitality and vigor, physical health and general well being. The life line can 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. Although there are methods used for calculating length of life, these are generally regarded as superstitious and not predictably accurate.

Additional major lines or variations include:

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• 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 but 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 tied to the person's life path, including school and career choices, successes and obstacles. Sometimes this line reflects circumstances beyond the individual's control; it can also show the persons choices and their consequences.

Other minor lines:

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• Sun Line - parallel to the Fate Line, under the ring finger; can 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; relates 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; can 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; can 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 represents 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 impact and meaning varies by location on the palm and freedom from other interfering lines.