How to Do a Modern Palm Reading

Co-authored by Jennifer McVey, Cht

Last Updated: October 4, 2024 References

Palm reading is a very old art. Most palm readers use the same techniques and understanding about the hand that were used centuries ago. However, many modern readers see a palm reading as a chance to look at a person's strengths and weaknesses and how she can use them to guide her future rather than as a prediction technique, from the palm lines to the palm mounts.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Beginning the Reading

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1
Ask for the dominant hand. In palm reading, the dominant hand is seen as the "active" hand. The other hand is seen as the "passive" hand. Use the dominant hand for the reading.^{[1]
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- In palm reading, the passive hand is said to display what you are born with, what your parents pass down.^{[2]
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- Alternatively, the active hand is supposed to show what you have done so far in your life.^{[3]
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Find the major lines. The main lines are the heart line, the head line, and the life line. Some people also have the fate line.^{[4]
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- The heart line runs from between the index and middle finger to the edge of the palm. It mostly runs horizontal if you are looking at your own palm with fingers up, though it can curve.^{[5]
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- The head line is the horizontal line that runs underneath the heart line.^{[6]
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- The life line curves around the thumb pad, while if you have a fate line, it will jut out from the bottom of your palm up towards the middle finger.^{[7]
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- To see the lines better, try cupping your hand slightly so you can see where it creases.^{[8]
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Look for the minor lines. Some people have other lines as well. These are more minor lines.^{[9]
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- For instance, some people have an intuition line that curves in from the middle outside of the palm and then back out at the bottom of the palm.^{[10]
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- Many people also have a bracelet line, where the hand meets the wrist.^{[11]
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- Others have the Girdle of Venus, which scoops down from the top of the palm and back up, all above the heart line.^{[12]
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- A health line can run from the base of the pinky down towards the bottom middle of the base of the palm, while the children and relationship lines are small horizontal lines under the base of the pinky.^{[13]
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Find the finger lines. Each of the fingers has its own name, as well, which can also give name to creases. The index finger is Jupiter. The middle finger is Saturn. The ring finger is Apollo, and the pinkie is Mercury.^{[14]
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- If a person has a ring underneath the creases at the bottom of each finger, they take the name of the finger, such as the ring of Saturn.^{[15]
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- These names can also be lent to lines that originate at the base of the finger, such as the Apollo line. It runs from the base of the ring finger down through the palm.^{[16]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Reading the Lines

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Consider the heart line. Like its name implies, this line is related to matters of the heart. It tells about your emotional life and relationships. Examine its length, how it curves, and whether it is broken or crossed. For instance, crosses in the line or places where it breaks can mean you've had episodes where you were very sad.^{[17]
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- If it's straight and long, that means you're happy with your love life. It also means you're giving emotionally. "Long" means it starts underneath the index finger.^{[18]
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- If it's long and curved, that means you are emotionally open, and that you're especially affectionate when that curve points towards the index finger.^{[19]
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- If the line is straight and short, that means you're not as tied down by romantic notions. "Short" means it starts near your middle finger or even further down your palm.^{[20]
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- If it's short and curves, that means you keep your emotions closer to the chest, preferring the company of a close group of friends to that of a large party.^{[21]
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Check up on your life line. Your life line isn't about how long you're going to live. Rather, it points to how you've been taking care of yourself, or more pointedly, if you haven't been taking care of yourself.^{[22]
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- If you see a number or breaks a long this line, that could be an indication you need to take better care of yourself. In other words, you need to get more rest and look after your emotional and physical needs.^{[23]
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- A short line (one that doesn't go all the way to the bottom of your palm), means you like to distract yourself when tough times hit, while a longer line means you're the person everyone else looks to for support.
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Take a look at the head line. The head line displays things to do with your brain, such as your intelligence or the way you communicate. It also can show the ways you learn best.^{[24]
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- Pay attention to how the head and heart line interact. If they are pinched together, it can mean you are a bit more reserved and cautious. The more spread apart these two lines are at the beginning, the more adventurous you are.^{[25]
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- If the line is straight, it says you're more levelheaded, while if it curves, you're more spontaneous.^{[26]
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- If the line splits, that could mean you are more able to step into another person's shoes than most people.
Because not everyone has a fate line, it can be exciting to find one. It can tell you what your life is going to look like. For instance, if it is often broken in places, that means you have or could have many career and life changes in your lifetime.^{[27]
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Examine the minor lines. Not everyone has the minor lines. If they do, it can indicate any number of things. For instance, if a person has a Girdle of Venus, it likely means that person is highly nervous and excitable,^{[28]
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- You can actually have more than one relationship line, and those indicate any person you're close to, not just a lover. If you are able to see them easily or they are especially long (past the pinky to the ring finger), that indicates someone who is able to commit.
- The rings of the fingers each have a different meaning. For instance, the ring of Saturn (middle finger) indicates people who keep themselves away from others, while the ring of Jupiter (index finger) is a highly intelligent person and the ring of Apollo (ring finger) can mean you're feeling blocked in a creative endeavor.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Reading the Mounts

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Look at the Venus mount. The Venus mount is basically your thumb pad. If you found your life line, that generally encircles your Venus mount.^{[30]
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- If it rises about average, that means you are enjoying life, including the arts and other good things in life.^{[32]
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- If it's a little below average or nonexistent, that means you may be lonely or fall on hard times often.
- If it's above average, it can mean you're a bit gluttonous in how you approach life.^{[33]
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Check the mount of Jupiter. This mount is the pad just below the index finger, and it is meant to show how confident you are, how well you manage your life, and how society views you. Check how prominent it is in relation to other mounts on the hand.^{[34]
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- If it is especially developed, you're more likely to have a charmed life, as well as you're likely to be very gregarious.^{[35]
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  Research source} However, it can also go bad, as it can mean you're aggressive and domineering.^{[36]
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- If it's average, it means you are meant to be a helper and do good in the world.^{[37]
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  Research source} It can also mean you're smart and are able to guide others.^{[38]
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- If it's less than average, that means you don't have the best self-esteem.^{[39]
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Look for the mount of Saturn. This mount is located below your middle finger. It indicates how responsible you are, as well as how much duty you feel and whether you seek solitude or not.^{[40]
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- If it is particularly prominent, it can indicate that you put your foot down a bit too much and you tend to not trust others.^{[41]
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- If it's average, it shows your likable and capable of surviving on your own.^{[42]
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- If it's low, it can mean you don't have a lot of depth and don't spend enough time reflecting.^{[43]
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Check the mount of Apollo. This mount is below your ring finger. It's connected to happiness, genius, and creativity.^{[44]
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- If it's high, you have a lot of pride, maybe too much, which can lead to you snapping at people. You enjoy charming other people, and you may enjoy spending money on yourself and others.^{[45]
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- If it's average, it can mean your less excitable, that you're independent and have high self-esteem. You also like people.^{[46]
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- If it's low, it shows you are less creative than other people, which can lead to indecision.^{[47]
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Find the Mercury mount. This mount is located below your pinky finger.^{[48]
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- If it's below average, you're probably shy and not able to connect to many people, which can mean you won't make as much money over your lifetime.^{[50]
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- An average mount can mean that you are a versatile person who is empathetic to others. You find many things interesting.^{[51]
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- A high mount shows someone who's full of avarice and who is a bit too talkative.^{[52]
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Find the moon mount. This mount is at the bottom of your hand, on the opposite side to the thumb. It can also represent creativity, as well as intuition.^{[53]
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- If it's below average, you may still have a decent imagination, but you just don't share it with others.^{[54]
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- If it's average, it shows it means you're very imaginative without getting too crazy.^{[55]
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- If it's highly developed, it means you can let your creativity get a bit too crazy, and you can go off the deep end.^{[56]
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Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Completing the Reading

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1
Read the hand as a whole. That is, it's important to look at all the parts together, not just individual pieces. Modern hand readers like to use the whole hand to figure out where a person is in life, and use that to complete the reading.
- For instance a straight head line and a long life line can indicate that you are levelheaded, which is what makes you so good in times of crisis.
Many modern readers don't just read hands. They might also read faces or tarot cards, for instance. Learning other types of readings can help you get a sense of the person as a whole, which in turn, gives you a better chance of helping the person with what they're facing.^{[57]
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Don't be afraid to bring in psychology. Many modern hand readers use psychology to assist them in their readings. Because so much of modern palm reading is about what makes up a person and how they can use that in the future, having a working knowledge of psychology can help you understand how a person might move forward with a problem.^{[58]
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- For instance, if someone is feeling frustrated about a project and showing a ring of Apollo, you might suggest ways that person can open up to creativity.
- Since the ring of Apollo indicates a creative block, learning new ways to be creative can help the person move forward, a solution that can rely on psychology.
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Think about holistic healing. Just like psychology, holistic healing techniques can also help you offer better solutions to the people you're reading for. Modern readers often bring in these techniques.^{[59]
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- Holistic healing means looking at the whole person and offering solutions that work for them. For instance, you may look at how the health can affect a person's mental state.
- As an example, if the person's mount of Jupiter is low, suggesting that he or she doesn't have great self-esteem, you could suggest a two-part approach that includes mind and body to boost self-esteem. For example, you could suggest an exercise program to help the person get in better shape and build confidence, along with a daily regimen of learning to talk positively to themselves so they build better self-esteem.^{[60]
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Is it bad to have a lot of lines on my hands?

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No, it's not. It simply means you will encounter a lot of challenging situations in your life.

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Why is my right different to my left in the palm lines?

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It is very natural for the lines to be different on each hand.

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Does the heart line have four lines at the end?

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It depends. Some people have four lines, others have only two or three.

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