Palmistry is an ancient art and it has many systems of interpretation. It is also an intuitive art that is easily learned just by learning a few basics about the symbolism represented by the lines running through the palm, the mounds (or fleshy parts) of the palm, and the structure of the fingers.

In some systems, the right hand represents who you are today and the left hand everything you were born with when you came into this world. However, for “palmistry on the run”, it is best to read the hand the person writes with, as that would be considered the dominant hand.

In palmistry, the hand as a whole is divided into three different sections. The Fingers represent the mind and the higher self. The center of the palm represents everyday life and the conscious mind. The lower half of the hand represents primal instincts, health, and the basic drives of the subconscious. Palmistry is all about the proportion, symmetry, and distortions of what would be considered a perfectly formed hand.

You can tell a lot about a person by looking at their thumb and fingers. The thumb has three phalanges. Its tip represents willpower. A club-shaped thumb indicates criminal tendency. Pointed or long tips indicate creativity and intelligence. The middle phalanx represents logic. The longer the phalanx, the more efficient and strategic the person will be. The fleshy part at the base of the thumb is called the Mount of Venus, which represents empathy, emotion, grace, and compassion. The fatter and fleshier this part of the hand is, the more sensitive and compassionate the individual is.

The index finger correlates with the planet Jupiter and indicates good fortune and career. The middle finger is related to Saturn and the limitations and restrictions in life. The ring finger is called Apollo. It is related to self-expression and intelligence. The little finger belongs to the planet Mercury, which is about your ability to communicate with others and maintain relationships. The longer and straighter the finger, the more good fortune a person can expect to have in these areas. All of these fingers have their own mounts, which are located on the palm just below each one. The more developed or pronounced these fleshy mounds are under the finger, the more developed that trait will be in a person.

The mount of Jupiter below the index fingers represents ambition, leadership, religion, honor and love of nature.

The Mount of Saturn under the middle finger represents sanity, sobriety, wisdom, introversion, and karmic events such as good or bad luck.

The Mount of Apollo below the ring represents confidence, creativity, impulsiveness, and extroversion.

The Mount of Mercury under your little finger has to do with the ability to sell yourself, communication, speed, connection, as well as writing and math skills. Sometimes the Mount of Mercury will be feathered with short vertical lines called Lines of Affection. These sometimes indicate the number of deep emotional connections or significant relationships in a person’s life.

Just below the mount of Mercury (below the little finger are two more mounts. About half way down is the upper mount of Mars, which reflects your temperament: if this mound is fleshy, then the person tends to be more courageous or warlike ). Below that, near the base of the hand, is the Mount of the Moon (also known as the Mount of the Moon). This mound reflects qualities such as generosity, warmth and imagination. If it is too pronounced, it can indicate a tendency to madness. .

Beneath the Mount of Jupiter (follow the index finger down) is the Lower Mars, which deals with aggression, hostility, and the capacity for evil. The center of the palm is called the Plane of Mars. If the plane sinks, you are calm, cool and collected. If it’s raised or flat, you’re more likely to show a temper.

The Heart Line cuts laterally the upper part of the palm of the hand between the mounts of Jupiter and Mercury. Loops, bubbles, cuts and breaks on this line indicate relationships and episodes that occur in a person’s love life.

The line of the head is normally placed and can cut into the palm of the hand or curve down. It is an indicator of intelligence and mental health. An optimal headline runs straight, is deep, and has a long extension almost to the other side of the palm. The more the headline curves down toward the list, the less control the individual can have over her emotions.

The line of life usually surrounds the thumb and begins under the mount of Jupiter and extends to the wrist. It surrounds the Lower Mount of Mars and Venus and in most cases ends at the base of the hand. This line indicates major life events as well as the subject’s health. The longer this line, the longer the individual will live.

The fourth main lie on the palm is called the Line of Destiny (also known as the Line of Faith. This line runs vertically from the middle of the base of the palm and towards the middle finger. It is an indicator of material and financial strength. The deeper, stronger, and less broken the line, the more likely the person is to succeed.It also indicates a serious and businesslike nature.

The line of Apollo is a vertical line found at the top of the Mount of the Moon. It has been called the line of the Sun and the line of Radiance, and has been credited with the gift of great artistic talents, wealth, and fame. Not all hands have this line.

The Mercury line has been variously called the Health line or the Liver line. It is found on Mount Mercury or on the Plain of Mars. If there is no line, you are probably injured in excellent health. Strong markings in this area indicate health problems.

There are many Minor Lines that do not appear on all hands, but one of the best known is the Girdle of Venus that begins between the Mounts of Jupiter and Saturn and ends around the little finger. This line looks like a ribbon that goes around three of your four fingers and its presence is supposed to indicate beauty and luck in romance. The hand is full of all kinds of marks, lines, feathers, stars and crosses, each with particular meanings.

As a general rule (no pun intended), whenever you find a mound mark, it usually indicates that something special is going on in that department of your life. Next month’s New Age Notebook will go into more detail about the meanings of these symbols on the hand.