- The technique of palm reading goes into ancient times. The act is rooted in Hindu astrology and gypsy fortunetellers. A book on the subject of palmistry written by the Hindu sage Valmiki goes back to over 5,000 years ago. The practice of palmistry spread throughout other cultures of the world, including China in 3,000 BC, Tibet, Egypt, and Persia before coming to Europe. It was practiced in Greece by Anaxagoras.
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Palm reading is still common in cultures worldwide. In Western cultures, palm reading is usually performed by psychics or fortunetellers inside their divination shops. Often, palm readers also perform tarot card readings and other techniques. Many skeptics still do not feel the practice is rooted in any accuracy that is verifiable. In fact, most people who advocate the analytic qualities of palm reading are palm readers themselves.
- Palm reading relies on carefully analyzing the lines on a person's hand. Usually, it is the dominant hand that is analyzed; the dominant hand being the one that is written with and used the most. The act of palm reading takes into account the shape of a person's hand. These hand shapes are separated into categories based on the elements air, wind, water and fire. Then, the three major lines (the heart, head and life) of the hand are analyzed as well.
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The function of palm reading is to tell about a person's character and future. People receiving a palm reading by a professional palm reader usually are seeking some insight into what the hand can tell him about what the future holds. Palm reading functions to offer the customer some information about who they are as a person, what the owner will accomplish later in life, or how the owner will fail or succeed.
- Palm reading techniques may vary across cultures, but the practice of the act goes back thousands of years. Those who believe in the power of divination will request a palm reading because they believe in the power that knowledge of the future will give. Others seek a palm reading for entertainment or because they want to "test" the knowledge of the palm reader.
