Western Palmistry (IV). The Lines of the Hand.

We've discussed the shape of the hand, fingers, and mounts in previous articles. Finally, we turn to the most well-known aspect of palm reading: the lines of the palm.

As with the previous aspects, both palmists and palmists are wary of a one-size-fits-all analysis. Not only are there disputes about how pronounced the lines are, depending on a person's dedication to and use of their palms, but there are even various versions of how many lines are truly relevant or what aspect of life they refer to. One thing is clear to everyone: the lines show one's entire life, past-present-future, and do not focus on any aspect related to personality. In short, it is pure divination.

Before analyzing each line separately, a series of guidelines applicable to all of them will be presented. It is up to the diviner to later recognize the meaning of each of the marks at the specific moment; however, we believe that the analysis throughout the article will be more convenient with this basis.

Types of Lines:

- Irregular Line: This is the name given to lines that, depending on the area, are deeper or more superficial. Normally, the lines have a similar thickness and depth throughout their length, but when they appear weaker or much more sunken, an important personal event or change can be identified: if it is deeper, the meaning of the line is enhanced at that time or place; if it is weaker, the characteristics of that line were not predominant at that moment.

- Lines with threads: These are lines that appear to fray, although there is usually a main line from which the "loose threads" emerge. These "threads" or thinner lines are considered deviations from the main attitude or path indicated by the original line. Depending on the length of these threads, these deviations will last a lifetime or be occasional attempts, and their scope will depend on the mountains or fingers toward which they are directed.

-Islands: Lines with threads are called this when one of these threads "returns to the main line." They indicate how long a change will last in the subject's life.

-Twin Lines: Similar to threads, but one of them grows until it becomes a line in itself. These lines should be analyzed separately, especially considering the mountains through which they move.

-Clumped Lines: These are lines that originate very close together and eventually clump together; however, they can still be distinguished. They are usually understood as negative aspects of the mountain or the lines on which they appear.

-Interruptions: These are lines that are cut off and represent drastic changes with serious consequences. Sometimes they don't continue, other times they are "repaired," either by other weak lines that somehow reconnect them, or because the interruption isn't real, and is simply a very strong deviation (for example, a line that is almost always straight and suddenly curves sharply before returning to its normal state).

- Hairpins or tassels: This is the name given to the ends of lines that divide into two or more thin lines. They usually symbolize the end of what that line evokes, or at least, of what is usual in them.

- Braids or chains: These lines appear to be made up of small links or interconnected circles, rather than a single line. It's difficult to find the main line in them, which is why they are different from thread lines or islands. These lines denote imbalance, lack of self-control, doubt, and, according to some palmists, also mental illness or periods of stress, depression, and anxiety.

To be as "fair" as possible, we'll begin by analyzing the three lines on which most traditions agree, probably because they are the three most pronounced. The top line: the love line, and one of the most questioned throughout history.

The middle line, the knowledge line, or in other words, the study and work line. And the largest and most rounded line, which spans half the palm and ends near the wrist: the life line.

> The love line.

There are multiple ways to analyze this line. The main one is to look at the love line of the non-dominant hand (usually the left) and compare it with that of the dominant hand (usually the right). Remember that the hand we use the most is considered to show changes throughout life, while the other hand shows the "natural state."

Due to the evolution of palmistry toward divination and toward chirology and physiology, the emotional aspects of this line are studied in parallel with cardiovascular health. For this last part, all normal line shapes translate to heart problems or related diseases. However, this is not usually the most requested analysis.

There are also palmists who join both hands with the palms facing up to look at both lines and compare them or they focus on the lateral part of the palms, where they analyze the similarities to see how much of the predestination has remained and how much will change. The line of the dominant hand is usually considered the "improvement or deterioration" of the line on the other hand.

The love line begins on the palm and ends on the side. The times and ages on this line are measured in this order, and its divisions depend on the system followed. One system measures it in 5-10 year increments, calculating an average of 70-80 years. This is how important events, both emotional and health-related, are calculated. The other system directly considers how long or short the line is and, based on that, considers whether the person will have and give love or not, as well as their quality of life.

The love line is usually analyzed in six basic aspects:

- Length: a long love line predicts continued affection, while a short one denotes a lack of interest in romantic and sexual matters. It is said that depending on the fingers where it originates and whether it branches, it indicates the most predominant aspects (see the article about fingers). Similarly, it is analyzed with the mounts, whether it blatantly leads to one or ends there (see the article about mounts). This is especially common with the mounts of Mercury and Mars.

- Birth and branches. Most heart lines begin with a series of branches or lines before joining into a single one. It is believed that if it begins without these branches, the person will be selfish and careless. The more previous separations there are, the more affection the person will show toward others.

- Distance from other lines. This is primarily considered with the line of knowledge/intelligence, which is the one below. The closer they are, the more rational the love will be, and the more distant they are, the more passionate and emotional the love will be.

- Union with other lines. If a heart line is so short that it "seems to join" the intelligence or life line, it is still considered long, but with a great loss or disappointment related to the line where it disappears. Similarly, if we are unable to distinguish between the heart line and the intelligence line, most fortune tellers believe its length should be interpreted as intelligence and its signs as heart. Something similar can happen with a thin line above the heart line, called the Girdle of Venus.

- Depth. The deeper the line, the more affectionate or even dependent the person is. This may seem contradictory to certain personalities, but it isn't, because a very aloof person can feel very deep affection even if they don't show it. On the contrary, if this line is shallow, it will reveal a volatile, light, conditional love, although this isn't necessarily bad if the person truly doesn't want to be tied down. Its width should also be taken into account. A shallow but wide line implies that someone shares some of what they have, while a deep and narrow line may indicate a person who keeps all their thoughts to themselves.

- Crosses, knots, lines, etc. All shapes that appear above or along the love line are indicative of important moments. Crosses are often thought of as encounters, knots as traumas or arguments, and sharp lines as marking a before and after. Lines on the left or non-dominant hand are usually associated with childhood, relationships with family, or friends. Lines on the right or dominant hand are identified with adult love life.

> The Intelligence Line

As with the love line, the intelligence line also has two aspects of analysis: psychological and intellectual. The first focuses more on mental issues, the second on intelligence, interests, knowledge, and logic.

With this line, it is also common to compare the dominant and natural hands. Thus, the natural line considers the predisposition to good intellectual development, while the dominant line might identify the obstacles and interests that modify this evolution. To achieve this, some people divide the intelligence line into smaller periods divided by years (similar to the love line), or into stages of childhood, adolescence, maturity, adulthood, and old age.

The basic aspects of the intelligence line are the following seven:

-Depth. A deep line indicates firmness in goals and a good memory, while a shallow line indicates fickleness and lack of self-control. Depth can vary along the line, which is often compared to health or age divisions.

-Length. A short line will denote basic intellectual development or little interest in it. A longer line will denote curiosity and intellect. This should not be confused with academic or professional success, as these involve many other economic and social factors. The length is also associated with health, as it can be seen along the line if there are marks or gaps that highlight minor problems such as headaches or impulsiveness and confusion. Depending on the marks and other factors of the intelligence line itself, a very short line can symbolize laziness and parasitism, as well as life-threatening risks due to carelessness.

- The mount toward which it leans. The intelligence line can be kept straight along the palm, or lean upward or downward. If it remains completely straight, it is considered a bad omen because there are no external motivations; there will be success, but at the cost of selfishness and trampling on others.

If it leans upward, it will usually be at the height of the Mount of Mars. It is also not a good omen because they will use violence and power to impose their ideas. However, if it has a slight curve toward Mercury (the little finger), there will be a high capacity for adaptability. Health-wise, there will be anxiety and anger issues.

If it leans downward, toward the mount of the Moon, they will be imaginative and decisive; however, if the inclination is too pronounced, this imagination will not find practical application.

- Distance from other lines. As seen with the love line, the closer they are, the more rational the love will be, and the more distant they are, the more passionate and emotional the love will be.

- Connection with other lines. This line originated connected to the Life line. It is generally assumed that the longer they are connected, the longer it will take the person to become independent at the family level (left hand) and at the level of critical thinking (right hand). If the person is born directly without touching the life line, they will be ambitious and unconcerned with emotional ties. If they are born below the life line, starting near the Mount of Mars, this person's learning will be problematic, with a tendency toward procrastination and frustration.

- Crosses, knots, lines, etc. All shapes that appear above or along the intelligence line are indicative of important moments. Crosses and stars have been interpreted as moments of insanity, madness, and loss of control. If a line arises from these encounters, then a brief review of that line will be necessary, as it will alter the mental direction as a result of this event, toward the areas it is headed. Islands are mental illnesses that last as long as they occupy the line (if this system is followed). Undulations would indicate a lack of focus on goals and could be analyzed by considering vertically which mount or finger they meet.

- End and branches. Except for those who perform a purely "medical" analysis, the end of the intelligence line does not usually indicate the end of mental activity. Most palmists and palm readers consider the "branches" into which the line divides at the end to be indicative of its variety of applications. When it ends in two branches, their length determines the balance between practicality and inventiveness. When it ends in three branches, the tallest one measures adaptability.

> The life line.

This is probably the most comprehensive line in terms of analysis. It begins on the edge of the hand, above the thumb, and usually ends below the mount of Venus. The pink color (not red or too pale) and depth are especially important on this line. These factors are key for palm readers, who thus see the first signs of a good and healthy life.

Most palmists use this line to divide the life line into years, from top to bottom, and there they see all the afflictions, which they then look for and specify in the other lines.

The comparison between hands is based on the natural hand as the life expectancy and the dominant hand as the "real" life. Sometimes they are similar and sometimes different, since the dominant hand reflects the conditioning circumstances and contexts. It is also vital in the analysis of this line to check the firmness or softness of the palms, to determine whether the strength or weakness of the life line is due to firm or soft habits, hard work, or dependency.

The comparison between lines is done primarily to find parallel marks, signs that mirror each other on both hands, at the same height, and that would indicate key "predestined" events in the person's life.

The life line requires a much more meticulous analysis when it comes to health, naturally. Therefore, the points to be reviewed will focus much more on the physical than the emotional or psychological aspects, with few exceptions.

We will divide the basic aspects into:

- Extension. The most visual aspect of this line. Its length has normally been associated with the number of years one will live; the longer it is, the more years. However, various schools and practitioners have come to deduce that it is not so much a matter of length as of the number of events that take place. Thus, a sickly childhood could manifest itself in a life line with a very wide arc, but because it is "necessary" for all the notable events to occur. Or, for example, a very short life line may be completely vigorous, not indicating an early death, but rather without major health complications.

- Depth. The deep areas indicate good times and good health; the more superficial areas imply problems of all kinds that are analyzed with the rest of the signs. Normally, the line tends to become thinner and more superficial as it approaches its end.

- Interruptions. Just as with the other lines, it has been mentioned in passing that an interruption or cut symbolizes a significant moment. In the case of the life line, it is considered an accident or serious illness, and the rest of the line is analyzed from this point on, bearing in mind what happened. Any separations or bridges that exist until the line is retraced will indicate the duration of that situation or how it affects you from then on, which does not always have to be negative, as will be seen in the following sections.

- Curve and inclination. The life line is curved by nature; however, this can be more or less pronounced. It is generally considered that the closer it is directed toward the center of the palm, the happier and brighter that period of life will be, while a line too close to the thumb would indicate restlessness and discomfort. These inclinations can be natural or due to an interruption/repair of the line, so it would be that event that would produce the change for better or worse.

- End and twigs. Regarding inclination, it can also be deduced whether the end of life will be better or worse depending on where it ends. However, in some hands, parallel lines can be observed near the final parts, which leads the main line to be interpreted as health and the parallel line as spirit. On the other hand, it is important to consider which of the two is the main line, as there may be an interruption and a crossing, and the distant one may be the main line and the one that seems to continue may be the secondary line. Regarding the final branches, this is believed to represent the dispersion of energies; the more branches there are, the more noticeable the progressive loss of vitality will be.

-Union with other lines. As seen with the line of intelligence, these two are usually born together. It is generally assumed that the longer they are united, the longer it will take for the person to become independent at the family level (left hand) and at the level of critical thinking (right hand). As for the intersection with other lines, it will depend on whether they are small bars or attached lines, such as the lines of destiny, success, or travel. With the lines themselves, the goal will be to determine their influence.

If they are single bars, it seems established among palmists that they influence by their direction and origin: that is, if it's a bar pointing to the Mount of Apollo, it will refer to heart problems, as that is the part of health identified with that mount; or, for example, it may point to the Mount of Apollo, but the bar actually originates and intersects the Mount of the Moon, so it should be interpreted that the illness or condition has more to do with the kidneys, menstruation, fertility, etc.

- Crosses, knots, dashes, etc. Just as bars have a meaning based on their position or directions, other signs hold a meaning in themselves. These marks, as will be seen in future articles, have their own meaning and one associated with each line or mount. However, since the life line is the longest and the one in which the most signs have been analyzed over time, we'll be a little more specific in this section of the life line. White or colorless spots mean nothing, but if they're red, they indicate a fever; the darker they are, the more serious they are. Crosses indicate accidents, while stars indicate drastic changes ranging from sudden death to insurmountable emotional and psychological loss. Bars are indicative of specific illnesses depending on the type of person (Saturnian, Mercurian, etc.), or depending on the area of ​​the line where they occur (either by the mounts they are on or by looking vertically at which fingers they occur under). For example, bars at the beginning of the line can refer to circulatory diseases because they are on the mount of Mars, or, if we're dealing with a Jupiterian type, to stomach illnesses because they occur in the area of ​​the index finger.

Islands are similar to interruptions, in that they describe a specific period of discomfort or illness, or even a specific situation (work, travel, crisis, etc.), which can be analyzed in comparison with the two hands and the secondary lines, which will be discussed in subsequent articles so as not to make this one longer than necessary. Squares are considered "patches" that cancel out the effects of a repair or interruption; that is, they no longer affect the vital line. This could be the case of a successful one-off operation or the overcoming of an inactive illness such as measles. An exception to this is if they appear alongside (not above), which speaks of an "imprisonment," which can be literal, physical, or mental. Chains or braids indicate periods of instability, but they usually focus on mental and nervous aspects.

Pietro V. Carracedo Ahumada - pietrocarracedo@gmail.com

Bibliography:

-Caro Baroja, J. Historia de la physiognomica. El rostro y el carácter. Istmo Editions, Madrid, 1988

-Fadh. T. The Arab divination. Études religieuses, sociologiques et folkloriques sur le milieu natif de l'Islam. E.J. Brill, Leiden, 1966

-Lawrence-Mathers, A., Escobar Vargas, C. Magic and Medieval Society. Routledge, London & NY, 2014.

-Servier J. (ed.) Diccionario Crítico de  Esoterismo, Akal. 2006

Related articles:

> Western palmistry (I). The shape of the hand

> Western palmistry (II). the fingers

> Western palmistry (III). The mountns

> History of palmistry (notes)