How to decipher signs and lines on a hand

Palmistry may have scientific principles behind it but it is actually an art
Practicing palmistry is more of an art rather than a science. There are certain rules to follow but actually deciphering signs and lines is a matter of judgement. The same or similar lines or signs on two different hands invariably means two separate things. More important, no one sign on the hand or line on a palm can be important enough to tell you about the person's character or future. Hands and palm prints have to be read in combination with each other.

The shape of the hand is important
One has to find out if the hand is long or short, narrow or broad (yes, these are two different things), what the texture of the hand is (it is possible to see this from photographs, particularly of the back of the hand), the consistency of the hand (yes texture and consistency are two different things) and the size of the hand (as compared to the size of the person). The relative length and position of the fingers and thumb is also critical.

Once one is sure of all of the above, then one can proceed to interpret the
other signs (keeping in mind the overall hand).

Fingers look very different from different angles and positions, and the right way to check their right position is to ask the person to hold his hand in a  natural position. Even then one can get a wrong position and one has to ask the person to do this several times. Otherwise one's reading can be wrong. Besides, there is the question of the position of a finger (whether lowset or high set) and this can misguide the palmist as to the actual length of the finger.

Then there are important questions like: If a finger is highset and long, is the finger really long or or normal length? Do the qualities of an excessively long finger apply? Another question that can confound one is: Is the finger bent laterally or is it twisted? All this takes practice to decipher. At times the overall shape of the hand and the position of the other fingers can give a clue.

If this sounds complex, that is because it is! Unfortunately, amateurs tend to come to conclusions by looking at one sign and not taking into account the type of hand and the combination of signs, and this has made palmistry lose some of its credibility.

What would you think of a doctor who told you had measles or smallpox because you had a rash on your body? 
You know that a doctor has to take into account all the physical symptoms, as well as the medical history before making the diagnosis. I have compared a palmist to a doctor in this post of mine and to be more specific I would compare the art of diagnosis to the art of reading hands. A good doctor has mastered the art of diagnosis. He has done this not only through his knowledge but also through his observation over the years and the correct and intelligent interpretation of symptoms, giving some symptoms more weightage and some less.

The art of palmistry can also be compared to the art of psychiatry. Here too the psychiatrist does not condemn a patient by telling him or her that he has schizophrenia because his family tells you that he acts in a contradictory manner. Or you don't say a man is insane because he suffers from road rage. Again, it is the person's background and history which is taken into account before pronouncing a verdict. Also, various symptoms need to be considered.

In the same way in palmistry one looks at different signs, and in combination. One also takes into account the past (which can be seen from the hand), as well as the person's background to make the right diagnosis.

Mounts need to be read in conjunction with the type of hand
A mounts should not be read by itself. Each individual mount needs to be compared to the strength of the other mounts. The mounts also need to be compared to the strength of the fingers.

And one has to always know whether it is the lower, the middle of the highest part of the mount is developed. There is a different meaning attached to each. At times it is difficult to make out what part of the mount is developed or whether the development is medium or high, and in this case checking the  apex of the each mount helps. One needs a high resolution photograph of the hand to find this out but an apex leaning towards another mount gives its mount strength to the other.

Once one has read the type of hand, the mounts, and the lines, it helps to know whether the subject moves in the higher or mental world, the middle or material  or the animal or lower world of physical desires. It will be unusual to find a person who falls into one category neatly and in these cases one needs to apply the qualities in a moderate way. For example even if there is a sign telling you that the person has artistic tendencies it will be totally erroneous to tell this to a person who moves in the basic or lower world. Therefore it is important to find out which world the person moves in.

The Lines
To read lines the principles outlined above are to be used. At all times check to see the relative strength of the lines. A thick headline on flat, pale hand with other thick lines has an entirely different meaning from a thick headline on a line with other lines deeply etched. Or a thin line on a fleshy hand with other thin lines. The readings will be completely different! No two hands will be the same because no two people are the same.

Reading lines does tell you something about future trends, but lines tend to change the fastest. A person's future changes according to the way he/she changes, and this happens by reactions to circumstances or by the strength of one's will. The shape of the hand, the fingers and the strength of mounts can also change, if a person is able to change a particular trait. The future then is bound to change, for the better or for worse.

Related Reading:
Palmistry Myths and Misconceptions and how palmistry can help you lead a better life
Palmistry Explained