When you come across the term ‘palmistry,’ you picture a scenario where a palm reader holds your outstretched hand in a semi-lit room, analyzing the lines on your palm. And you are not far from the truth. But did you know that you can read the lines of your hand yourself?

Reading the lines of the palm, which are creases and folds, can provide lots of information about a person, and are therefore used as a divination technique. So, by definition, palmistry is the practice of reading and analyzing the characteristics and features of the lines on the palm to interpret personal traits and obtain guidance.

Palm Reading Guide ✋

The art of reading lines of the palm is called palmistry or chiromancy. In its modern-day, Western practice, it is focused on personality and character assessment of the individual.

🖨️ Print this palmistry guide. This PDF version comes with a transparent background so you can print it on any kind of paper you want and add it to your own Book of Shadows.
Log in to download it or find more printable grimoire pages.

Why do we have lines on our hands?

Palm lines are where your hand bends, making them essentially wrinkles. The reason why our hands have lines is so that when we squeeze our hands, the loose skin is folded into the creases instead of dangling out like sagging skin.

Which hand should be read: right or left?

Lines in both hands are valuable and can be read during a palmistry session. However, if you only have time for one, usually it is the dominant hand — the hand that you use the most. Some believe that because we use our dominant hand for more things, the lines will change over time and show our ever-evolving, current traits, while the non-dominant hand will show the traits we were born with.

The concept that the right hand is read in men and the left hand is read in women is very ancient and based on traditional male and female roles, so today we can be consider it outdated.

Can you read someone’s future from hand lines?

In modern palm reading (cheirology), the hand lines are not used for predicting someone’s future. Today, the hand lines are recognized as ‘energy flows’ reflecting processes in the body and the brain which are related to the various aspects of an individual, including temperament, personality and interpersonal functioning.

There are many traditional palmists who work with hand lines for foretelling (predicting) events and situations. However, in general, the claim that one’s hands can predict the future with any degree of certainty is not accurate.

The Lines

The meanings of each line are determined through the analysis of their thickness, length, curvature, sharpness, and depth. It’s also important to understand that for some palm readers, the process of reading hands is a highly intuitive activity.

a. Life line

The life line gives the reader insight into a person’s life journey. You will find it sitting just under the head line; it gives information about your enthusiasm, desires, and vitality. Life lines should not be interpreted to mean the duration of a person’s life or when a person will die. You will not only instill fear on the person, but it is also grossly unprofessional and it never gives an accurate prediction of anyone’s lifespan.

Palm Reading Lines Guide: Life Line — Palm Reading: Life Line

Life line guide:

Short life line: self-sufficient, independent
Long life line: sound health, healthy lifestyle
Broken life line: retrogression, disappointments, unhealthy childhood
Faint life line: low energy
More than one life line: full of life and energy
Missing life line: uncoordinated, lack of direction
Straight life line: extremely outgoing and brave

b. Head line

The mind is critical to attaining success and reaching our potential, and the head line tells a lot about each of our intellectual pursuits and ambition. The head line occupies the center of the palm – starting between the thumb and index finger and then extends to the other side. It suggests the lessons we are likely to learn during our life journey. The depth of the line depicts the complexity of the person’s aspirations.

Palm Reading Head Line — Palm Reading: Head Line

Head line guide:

Broken head line: mental struggles and strife
Wavy head line: innovative, progressive thinking
Straight head line: a conventional approach to doing things
Long head line: full of ambition
Chained head line: confusion
Big curved head line: richness in creativity

c. Heart line

The heart line sits just above the head line, and it’s the longest line on the palm of many people. It’s also commonly referred to as the love line. It deals with all matters relating to the heart, including relationship commitments, romance, friendship, and sexuality. It’s important to observe the heart line closely and note where it begins and ends, as well as its other attributes.

Palm Reading Guide: Heart Line — Palm Reading: Heart Line

Heart line guide:

Heart line starting below the index finger: contentment and stability in relationships
Heart line starting below the middle finger: potentially restless relationship
Broken heart line: infidelity, multiple partners
Long heart line: prolonged partnerships
Straight heart line: strong emotions and feelings
Faint heart line: emotional instability, sensitive person
Missing heart line: stone-hearted.

d. Fate line

This is often also referred to as the destiny line. The fate line is a vertical line sitting at the center of your palm. It shows the degree to which an individual’s life will be shaped by events and circumstances beyond their control. Out of all the lines on the palm, the fate line is the one that’s most likely to change often during our lives. So, when next you are going through a tough time or witnessing a massive shift in your life, take a look at your fate line. Has there been a change or shift? There’s a general belief among palmists that itchy palms are indications that significant changes are about to take place in your life.

Palm Reading Guide. Fate Line — Palm Reading Guide: Fate Line

It is also worth mentioning that some palmists believe the fate line does not change and that it depicts the destiny of a person. So, they believe destiny is already written.

Fate line guide:

Broken fate line: major loss, bad luck
Double fate line: a successful career
Faint fate line: disappointments, backwardness
Missing fate line: predictable life

e. Health line

There has been very considerable discussion about this line, which grows across the hand and “attacks” the Life line, as it foreshadows the development of illness. Keep in mind that this is not scientific or medical advice and you should always consult with a doctor in case of severe symptoms. It is believed that the degree of health issues is shown by the weakness or strength of this palm line. The absence health line normally shows that health isn’t a concern.

Health line guide:

Broken health line: Monetary concerns or losses
Wavering health line: Multiple health concerns
Forked health line: Chronic or debilitating diseases
Criss-Crosses: Possible accidents (clumsiness, ungrounded)
Circles: Hospital confinements, Surgeries
Missing health line: health is not an issue.

f. Sun line

Also widely referred to as Apollo’s line, the sun line is a vertical line sitting close to the base of your palm, on the same side with the pinky finger. It depicts fame, public image, and legacy. The line can vary in length, depth, and position, and like the fate line, it provides insight into when a person is likely to attain success.

The sun line is mostly read with the fate line. So, if the sun line runs parallel to the fate line or intercepts it, it’s an indication that the person’s life will be significantly influenced by external factors that are beyond their control. And if the fate line and sun line are far apart, it shows that the person’s life and legacy will be independent of any external influence.

g. Girdle of Venus

This line is found in a few hands only. It is an arched line surrounding the middle finger and the ring finger. The Girdle of Venus reflects to sensuous side of the subject which intensifies the emotions. Persons with this line in their palm are more mentally sensual than physically so. It can indicate that the person is charismatic, romantic and restless.

If you have the girdle of Venus in your palm, you may be an empathetic person who can feel the emotions of others as well as your own, but you may suffer from anxiety or be very hot-tempered.

m. Bracelets

Although bracelet lines do not appear on the palm, they provide crucial information on the balance between a person’s spiritual, mental, and physical self. The lines are located on the wrist and just outside the base of the palm. There are usually three bracelet lines, although some people have been found with four lines. In this case, the fourth line is a strong indication of a potentially long life.

Bracelet line guide:

Deep, bold bracelet line: healthy and prosperous life ahead
Missing bracelet line: grave circumstances ahead

Palmistry FAQ

What is the Marriage Line on the palm?

The Marriage Line is usually a mark or marks found on the side of the mount under the fourth (pinky) finger. The number of marks doesn’t indicate a number of marriages and their presence doesn’t guarantee that one will get married.

To determine the age of marriage according to palm lines, you need to see how close the first line is to the pinky finger. The closest the mark is to the finger, the younger the person will be when they get married or engaged.

These are also known as “commitment” lines as they indicate the strength of the relationship and not necessarily an actual wedding. The deeper the marks, the more intense the relationship will be.

What are the Children Lines on the palm?

The Lines relating to children are those finely marked vertical lines found immediately above the Line of Marriage. To know the number of children anyone will have, it is necessary to count these lines from the outside of the hand in towards the palm. Vertical lines that only touch the marriage line are children lines.

What does it mean to have a short Life line?

A short life line doesn’t mean a short life or an early death. A short life line is very rare and it can point to a person who is self-sufficient and independent.