HAND READING

Through your hand movements, you tell others a great deal about yourself, without always being aware of the messages you are communicating. In addition, the hands have also long been thought of as a symbolic link between the psyche and the soul. The ancient mystical art of palmistry, believed to have been brought to Europe from Asia by gypsies during the Renaissance, attempts to predict a person's destiny by reading the features of the hand.

In palmistry, the fleshy parts of the palm at the base of the thumb and fingers of the hands are called mounts. These are named after Apollo (the god of the sun in Greek mythology), the moon, and the planets Venus, Juniper, Saturn, Mercury and Mars. A well-developed fleshy mount is supposed to mean that a person has the characteristics associated with that mount. For instance, the mount of Apollo indicates art and riches, Jupiter signifies ambition and pride, and Venus represents love and music.

The wrinkles in the palm are called lines, each with a name and meaning. For example, a long line of life apparently foretells a long life, whereas a long, clear line of the heart indicates an affectionate nature. A strongly marked line of the head is said to signify intelligence and imagination.

Some palmists use the form of the hand to indicate an individual's personality as part of the process of predicting the future. Such signs may help the palmist make surprisingly accurate readings.

The condition of the hands and nails also indicates some characteristics. For example, square fingertips and squared-off nails may indicate common sense, while tapered fingers and oval nails may be associated with idealism. Thin fingers and long, delicate nails can signal an individualist with an anxious temperament, whereas short fingers and broad nails may identify an impulsive nature.