Palmistry - What is Cheiromancy?
However, Cheirology really means the study of the lines of the palm, without any kind of divination involved. Chirognomy and Chirosophy are related subjects - the former is the study of the shapes and bumps of the fingers and hands, and the latter is the study of the philosophical and esoteric aspects of palmistry.
Dermatoglyphics is another related area, which is the study of the skin ridge patterns found on the fingertips and in the palms to detect diseases. This is now mainly used in the identification of people through their fingerprints. Some believe palmistry's origins to be in ancient Egypt. Even the Bible mentions palmistry as early as in the book of Exodus. The earliest known records of palmistry are in ancient scriptures found in India, where it developed into its present form.
Arab traders helped in spreading palmistry to far-off lands, and eventually to Europe, where the name 'Cheiromancy' was coined. The Romany gypsies, famous for their skills in this art, also helped to spread it from India and the Middle East to Europe.
Chinese and Japanese palmistry have their roots in Cheiromancy, although many interpretations are somewhat different. For example, Chinese palmists can read a person's whole character just from examining the thumb alone. Another facet of Chinese palmistry is that the right hand is read for men, and the left hand for women.
In the 19th century, two Frenchmen, Casimir D'Arpentigny and Adrien Desbarrolles, separately carried out definitive studies on finger and hand shapes, and the lines of the palm, respectively. They are considered to be the co-founders of modern hand analysis, as Cheiromancy is now called. "The Practice of Palmistry", published in 1897, was written by someone called Comte De Saint-Germain, a name adopted by various persons during the last few centuries. This prodigious work is packed with drawings and explicit meanings, and well regarded in some circles.
The most famous and colourful palmist we know of is Cheiro, who named himself after Cheiromancy. He started practising in the late 19th century, was very skilful and popular, and was patronised by the rich, the famous and the royal. He wrote several books on palmistry which are still used today as the basis of palmistry, such as "Cheiro's Language of the Hand".
William G Benham conducted extensive and detailed research on palm lines and wrote the 'bible' of palmistry, "The Laws Of Scientific Hand Reading". First published in 1900, it has been reprinted as "The Benham Book of Palmistry: A Practical Treatise on the Laws of Scientific Hand Reading", and is used by many in the profession.
Palmistry as practised today is not pure Cheiromancy, as it routinely incorporates principles of other schools of palmistry, as well as elements of the individual palm reader's interpretations. Many palmists also use various other new age skills in their palm readings, such as psychic sense, astrology, numerology, and holistic healing.
The basis of Cheiromancy, however, remains the same - reading the lines in the palms of our hands is the key to understanding ourselves so we can live happy and fulfilling lives.
Related Tags: palmistry, analysis, palm reading, hand, cheiromancy, chiromancy, chirology, kirology, chirognomy, chirosophy
Pat F. does palm readings for individuals as well as for events, and runs Palmistry World, a website with lots of info, data, articles, reviews and resources on palmistry: http://www.palmistryworld.com
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- A Guide to Astrology Signs and Their Meanings
Astrological signs are often consulted by most people whenever they have problems about life and lo - Chinese Astrology Elements and Your Life
The elements of Chinese astrology are believed to be associated with the five planets in the Solar - Love Horoscopes and Your Love Life
Are you out in the quest for love? -- When this happens, it is very important for most people to ha - The Importance of Asking Good Questions During a Tarot Reading
Tarot cards are one of the most popular ways that psychics tell the future. As we all know, every t - Basics of the Chinese Horoscope and Your Compatibility With Other Signs
Chinese astrology has become one of the aspects that most people have a fascination for nowadays. A - Psychic Readings - Astrology and Kumalak Readings
Psychic clairvoyants often use a variety of tools to aid in their readings. Some are commonly known - Chinese Astrology - the Origins
Chinese astrology existed ever since the Qin dynasty when astrologists would gaze and analyze the s - Psychic Chat Online - Remarkable Online Communities
The idea of having psychic abilities is something everyone is in awe of. To be able to predict th - Reading Tarot Cards - a Comprehensive Approach
Reading tarot cards is a pastime that has been done centuries ago, which determines possible outcom - Pet Horoscopes - Crucial Information About Your Pet
People consult the horoscope section of the newspaper to determine what's in store for them in the
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Radiesthesia - Dowsing
Radiesthesia is the present day term for the ancient art of dowsing. According to the British Societ - Signs of Psychic Addiction
We seem to be living in an 'addictive' society. People are addicted to substances, sex, and people. - Astrology Sign Compatibility - 2007 Astrology Forecast
Astrology Sign Compatibility - Can it really help to find the right partner? Will it help me conne - Why Pay for a Psychic Reading?
If a person can really address the innermost needs of another human being, why charge a fee? If the - Palmistry - Can Hand Analysis Predict the Future?
The practice of using palm reading to predict the future dates back thousands of years, and continu - Vedic Numerology I
In the West Pythagorus discovered the the Law of Vibration. This Law states that each number has a p - Expectant Mother's January Horoscope
What to expect from carrying each of these soon-to-appear signs:CAPRICORN (December 23 - January 20) - Indian Marriages and Astrology
Most of the Indian marriages are arranged in accordance with the astrological match making scale. Th - Preparing for a Psychic Reading
So, you want a 'psychic' reading and of course, you want a good one! Hopefully you have carefully c - Cancer (horoscope)
If you're a Cancer you most likely already know that you are defensive and probably materialistic. Y