| Palmistry, or Cheiromancy is a very popular and | | | | Palmistry is a science based on the study of the |
| accurate way of divining. | | | | hands. It can help individuals in self-discovery, |
| Leic de Hamon (Louis Hamon, aka Cheiro), the | | | | relationships, career options, recovery from |
| famous nineteenth century palmist was named | | | | depression and a host of other self development |
| Cheiro after it. | | | | issues. |
| Palmistry The art of Palmistry can be traced back | | | | It's up to the individual to discover all the |
| as far as the Stone Ages. Pictures of human | | | | opportunities that present themselves when the |
| hands are frequently found in cave drawings, | | | | world is viewed from a perspective of knowledge |
| indicating their special interest in this part of the | | | | instead of chaos. |
| body. These paintings can be seen in the Lascaux | | | | One of the unique characteristics of palmistry is |
| Caves in France, the remarkable Santander caves | | | | handprints taken at different times in a person's |
| in Spain and in several caves in Africa. | | | | life, provide palm readers with "before" and "after" |
| The ancient Vedic scriptures contained an | | | | snap shots of the individual's progress through |
| abundance of information on palmistry. K.C. Sen, | | | | time. |
| an eminent Indian palmist, says the earliest | | | | This can be a great tool to chart the progress in |
| writings on palmistry were ancient Sanskrit. These | | | | attitude/habit forming and help pinpoint specific |
| verses have been preserved and are still guarded | | | | conditions in an individual's life. This can help the |
| from the public eye. Cheiro, the famous palmist, | | | | individual see how a certain belief or habit was |
| claimed to have seen one of these manuscripts in | | | | formed in their life and help them to change or |
| the early 1900's. | | | | modify their belief or habit. |
| Palmistry is also mentioned favourably in the Old | | | | Your Life Is In Your Hands |
| Testament: | | | | Palmistry, like a doctor's examination, is strictly a |
| "...and he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus | | | | diagnostic reading. It can point out the forces that |
| pursue after his servant? for what have I done? | | | | operate within individuals, and summarize the |
| of what evil is in my hand?" 1 Samuel 26:18. | | | | logical results of these forces. They can be |
| "He sealeth up the hand of every man, that all | | | | accepted as they are, or can be changed over |
| men may know his work." Job 37:7. | | | | time. |
| "Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left | | | | Why Palmistry? |
| hand riches and honor". Proverbs 3:16. | | | | Why use Palmistry in the first place? The most |
| "Behold, I have graven thee on the palms of my | | | | logical reason is most individuals have at least one |
| hands, thy walls are continually before me" Isaiah | | | | hand. It's convenient and personal. The lines on |
| 49:16) | | | | each individual's hands are different and highly |
| Before the birth of Buddha in 563 B.C., leading | | | | personal to that individual. |
| seers of the time gathered at the royal palace. | | | | Goethe, a famous philosopher, and Richard |
| They were drawn by extraordinary indications | | | | Webster, a New Zealand psychic and palmist, both |
| revealed in the stars. They were ecstatic to find | | | | claim that the lines in the hand are a map of the |
| the mark of the wheel on Buddha's hands and | | | | individual's brain. |
| feet, indicating his future greatness. Palmists in | | | | A Palm Reader's Role |
| India still look for this special mark in the palms of | | | | Professional palmists explain to the client how a |
| babies. | | | | palm reading session will work, before a reading |
| Gypsies came into the picture around the | | | | begins. Most individuals visit a palmist because of a |
| eleventh century, though they had been practising | | | | problem they have not been able to resolve. |
| palmistry for centuries before. | | | | They may be nervous and perhaps a little |
| Sigismund, the Holy Roman Emperor, enlisted the | | | | apprehensive. |
| gypsies as spies. | | | | To ease the individual's anxiety, professional |
| Word of this soon spread and when Gypsies | | | | palmists try to be empathetic to the individual's |
| arrived at the gates of Paris in 1427 they were | | | | concerns. During the reading, they will attempt to |
| not allowed inside. However, the citizens of the | | | | focus on the individual's need for information. |
| city, intrigued and excited by these romantic | | | | It takes two to produce a good reading. There |
| strangers, rushed outside to have their fortunes | | | | must be a positive rapport between the reader |
| told. | | | | and the individual. As in many other areas, psychic |
| The tradition of crossing a Gypsy's palm with | | | | impressions from the palms are never 100% |
| silver, dates back to this era. | | | | accurate. It is not an exact science, but a solid |
| The church claimed the Gypsies were in league | | | | indication of the past, present and future. |
| with the Devil. To counter this, the Gypsies | | | | Although palm readings are rarely ever 100% |
| explained that the Devil was afraid of both silver | | | | accurate, professional palmists generally achieve a |
| and the sign of the cross. Therefore, if you made | | | | 70% - 80% accuracy rate. |
| a sign of the cross over a Gypsy's hand with | | | | Mindset is critical to a reading. In many cases, an |
| silver you would be protected. Needless to say, | | | | individual may have one thought or worry that |
| the gypsies kept the silver. | | | | consumes them. In these cases, the individual |
| Interest in using palmistry for psychological | | | | may be so consumed with their one focus that |
| analysis is a product of the last century. The first | | | | they miss the information that has been provided |
| major work on this subject was Julius Spier's The | | | | for them. Their mind will be constantly trying to |
| Hands of Children, which appeared in 1944. Not | | | | find information that relates to their concern. |
| surprisingly, the introduction was written by Carl | | | | At the end of a reading, the client should evaluate |
| Jung. This was quickly followed by works from | | | | the palmist. A scale based on percentages works |
| Noel Jaquin, Charlotte Wolf, and in 1990, by | | | | well as an evaluation tool. If the reading was 70% |
| Andrew Fizherbert. | | | | - 80% correct, the individual should feel |
| Since the Second World War, research on palm | | | | comfortable and confident that they received a |
| patterns has been going on at the Kennedy | | | | positive reading. They should also report what |
| Galton Centre near London. This research has lead | | | | they feel was incorrect, to the reader. |
| scientists to confirm that health factors can be | | | | Conclusions |
| determined in the hand. | | | | Modern science is just beginning to understand the |
| The current research into dermatoglyphics (the | | | | potential that palmistry has to enable individual |
| study of skin patterns) is potentially the most | | | | development. This ancient craft, with unknown |
| exciting development in the history of palmistry. | | | | origins may offer individuals an option for |
| Although palmistry dates back to the Stone Ages, | | | | alternative treatment. |
| its greatest period is just beginning. Now that | | | | By understanding the information written in the |
| scientists are proving its validity, palmistry may | | | | lines of the palms, humans may be on a journey |
| very soon become a main stream reality. | | | | of deep inner understanding. |
| Introduction | | | | |