Handreading

Handreading, also known as palmistry or chiromancy, is the practice of interpreting the lines, shapes, and other features of the human palm in an attempt to reveal aspects of a person’s character, life, and potential future events. Traditionally, it is presented as a form of divination or psychological insight, rooted in multiple cultural traditions and used for entertainment, personal reflection, or guidance.

Technique. Practitioners examine features such as the major lines (lifeline, headline, heart line, and sometimes the fate line), the mounts beneath the fingers, finger length and shape, and the overall contours of the palm. In many traditions, the dominant hand is read for current or future tendencies, while the non-dominant hand is read for inherited traits or past conditions. Interpretations vary by school, with some focusing on psychological traits, others on potential life events, health indicators, or talents. Palm reading can be combined with other esoteric systems such as astrology or numerology.

History and variation. The practice has ancient roots in Indian, Chinese, and Greco-Roman cultures and has persisted in modern forms in many regions. In South Asia, hast samudrika shastra is a classical term for palm reading; in the West, palmistry gained popularity during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Reception and critique. Scientific evidence for palmistry is lacking; no validated mechanism links palm features to personality or fate. Many scientists regard handreading as a pseudoscience or entertainment. Proponents argue that it can offer self-reflection or guidance, while critics emphasize the risk of misinterpretation and overgeneralization. Ethical considerations include informed consent and avoiding deception when used in commercial or clinical contexts.