Palm Reading Basics

Palm reading or palmistry is an ancient art that originated in India and is closely associated with astrology. In recent times, it has also developed a scientific aspect and there are many people who are eager to learn and understand how to read palms. Palm reading basics will help you learn and understand the important aspects of the art before you learn how to read and interpret the various lines on the palm. Palm reading requires a good amount of practice before you can really start interpreting the lines on the palms of different people. So here are some basics of palm reading that you will need to be thorough with before you start reading palms. Read more on the art of palm reading.

Palm Reading Basics: The Hand to be Read
One of the most important points in any palm reading instructions guide and one of the most common questions asked while learning palm reading would be regarding the hand that is supposed to be read. There is a simple rule to determine the hand to be read; you need to determine the active hand and the passive. Wondering which one would be the active hand and the which would be the passive hand? Well, it depends. If a person is left-handed, his/her active hand would be the left hand and the passive hand would be the right hand and vice versa. The passive hand should be read to know about all inherited traits and the active hand should be read for all the changes that have taken place in the inherited traits. Read more on learn how to read palms.

Palm Reading Basics: Structure of the Hand
The structure of the person's hand being read speaks a lot about that person and hence plays an important role in palm reading. Each individuals hand would have a different size and shape and the length of his/her fingers would also differ, hence all these factors together determine the person's personality traits.

Shape: The shape of the hand is divided into the four elements of nature, i.e air, water, fire and earth. A person having an earth shaped hand would have a square shaped palm, short fingers, clear, straight and deep set lines and thick skin. One who has air shaped hands would have a square shaped palm, long fingers and thin but clear lines. A person with water shaped hands will have an oval shaped palm, long fingers and a lot of fine lines with soft and moist skin. One who has fire shaped hands will have a long palm, short fingers, thick, well defined and clear lines and hard but warm skin. Earth hands symbolize practical, strong but modest people, water hands symbolize sensitive, emotional and creative people, fire hands symbolize confident, positive and risk-taking people, whereas air hands symbolize sociable, restless and logical people.
Size: A person with large hands is somebody who would think first and then act while a person with small hands is more active and impulsive and thinks a lot less.
Flexibility of the Thumb: If the person's thumb is flexible to a certain extend, it would mean that he/she is quite accommodating, easy-going and adaptable, while people with more rigid thumbs are pretty obstinate.

Palm Reading Basics: Lines on the Palm
The lines on the palm are the most important in palm reading. This is what helps you interpret the most essential traits of an individual's life and personality. There are many different lines on the palm like the success line, the life line, the health line, the marriage line, the travel line, the line of fate, etc. All of these lines are interpreted in different ways and a few of them are discussed below. Read more on diagram of hand.

Life Line: This line starts in the area of the palm that lies between the thumb and the index finger and extends downwards till the edge of the palm. You will be able to interpret everything related to a person's life like his/her age, health, etc. by studying the length, shape and thickness of this line. However, how long a person would live cannot be interpreted by studying any of the lines on the palm and it is a popular misconception that the length of the life line indicates the same. Read more on the life line.
Fate Line: This line is present on the palms of some people and absent in the rest. If it is present, it extends from the center of the palm, vertically down to the wrist. This line indicates the presence of situations in an individual's life that have brought about some drastic changes in his/her life.
Marriage Line: This line can be found right below the little finger and indicates an individual's married life and other events related to it, even the number of times he/she may get married. Read more on the marriage and lifeline.
Head Line: This line can be found just above the life line and indicates a person's intellect, nature and psychological and mental problems that he/she may suffer from.

Palm Reading Basics: Mounts on the Palm
The mounts on the palm can be found at the base of the fingers and their texture, firmness and color must be checked for accurate interpretation. There are various mounts on the palm, a few important ones are discussed below.

Mount of Venus: Found at the base of the thumb, it indicates passion, love and sympathy.
Mount of Jupiter: Found at the base of the index finger, it indicates love towards nature, leadership and ambition.
Mount of Saturn: Found at the base of the middle finger, it indicates balance, wisdom and soberness.
Mount of Apollo: Found at the base of the ring finger, it indicates creativity, success and happiness.
Mount of Mercury: Found at the base of the little finger, it indicates shrewdness, success in business and criminal tendencies. Read more on chinese palm reading.

There are different palm reading techniques that you can learn and practice. Hope the above palm reading basics prove to be helpful for all those interested in learning and practicing palm reading or palmistry.