Some Palmistry History

Palmistry began about the same time the human species stood upright, and began walking on two legs. Gestures made with hands to explain the wonderful story of the hunt gave question to the changing structure of the hand. This fascination with the shape of the hand lead to clues for self-understanding.
Among the early references to palmistry is a page from Captain George Warton's translation of Joannes Rothmann's Chiromantiae, dated 1651.
The earliest mention of palmistry can be found in:
Bible references to palmistry:
Proverbs 3:16, Job 37:7, I Samuel 26:18.
East Indian reference to palmistry predating the Bible:
Vasishtha Rule 21.
Even though India and Egypt have both been credited as the seat of palmistry, speculation has honored India as the actual cradle for Western Palmistry.
Around 350 BC, legend claims that Aristotle, who was Alexander the Great's teacher, sent Alexander to India to learn as much as possible about this fascinating subject.
This claim, as well as the one where Aristotle found an ancient Arabic document on palmistry, written in gold, on an altar to Hermes, and gave the document to Alexander, may have been purely fiction.
In truth, Aristotle does mention the meaning of the length of lines in the hand in De Historia Animalium. This early reference is the most often cited as Aristotle being a supporter of chiromancy for many future manuscripts.
This reference to Aristotle began with the published Cyromancia Aristotelis cum Figuris in 1491, but its authenticity is questionable. A possible reason for this manuscript may have stemmed from the witch-hunts at the time. It presents an argument for the art of chiromancy by showing that it could not possibly have a predilection for witchcraft, since Aristotle practiced it.
During the middle ages, terminology for the various parts of the hand was based on astrological theory, and the hand must have been regarded as a miniature zodiac reflecting the horoscope of each individual. Here we gain traditional terms from the new study of astrology assigned to the older study of the palm.
Stepping ahead a few centuries: When the Gypsies arrived at the gates of Paris about 1427, the Church warned that the Gypsies were inspired by the Devil. Gypsy fortune-tellers explained that the Devil was afraid of silver and the sign of the Cross. If you made the sign of the Cross over their hands with silver, you would be perfectly safe. Naturally, the Gypsies kept the silver.
After 1437, gypsies formerly used as spies for the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismundi, were condemned and treated with contempt without Sigismundi's protection.
The belief that palmistry is solely a recreational and profitable resource for gypsies is without foundation. There was previously a practicing chiromantic tradition two hundred years before the gypsies appeared. The reputation, which the gypsies transplanted into the art of palmistry, caused it to degenerate and almost die out. (To this day, palmistry is misrepresented in film and folklore as a gypsy thing to do).
Then, two hundred years later, about 1650-1730, we learn from Julius Spier (disciple of Jung) that palmistry was part of the curriculum of the German universities of Leipzig and Halle.
In his preface to Spier's book, The Hands of Children, (published in 1944), C. G. Jung wrote:
...(the) rise of the Natural Sciences and with it of rationalism in the eighteenth century were responsible for the contemptible treatment and defamation of these ancient arts (astrology and hand reading) which could pride themselves on a thousand years of history.
In the early 1800's, hand reading again gained stature through its use by Napoleon, Balzac, Dumas, etc. Each had his own favorite hand reader.
Alexandre Dumas, both father and son, were behind Adolphe Desbarrolles, who became known as the father of modern palmistry. He included in his system of hand reading some conclusions of his friend Stanislas d'Arpentigny, who had spent years studying the shapes of hands.
Later, Carl Gustaf Carus, personal physician to the King of Saxony in the mid-19th century thought that evolution accounted for the purposeful hand, best adapted to grabbing or holding on, and the expressive hand that uses the sense of touch to explore and learn.
Near the end of the 19th century, Katherine Saint-Hill, Ina Oxenford and Charles F. Rideal began the Chirological Society. Their aim was to incorporate further advances for Palmistry, including scientific research, and to ward off the charlatans. Unfortunately, their good intentions merited only a few inconsequential books on the subject.
About this time, Count Louis Hamon, more commonly known, as Cheiro became a popular palm reader. His book Cheiro's Language of the Hand is currently available in bookstores.
There is nothing in his book that cannot be found in any other book on palmistry, except for several prints of famous celebrities of his time, which he deliberately changed to suit his needs. Even though he was an excellent palmist, his ego was preposterous, and his self-adulation resulted in the name of Cheiro being well known to this day.
An excellent way to step into the 20th century is The Laws of Scientific Hand Reading by William Benham. This book, originally published in 1900, is available at most bookstores, and is quite a substantial piece of reading material.
Today, the medical and psychology fields have turned to palms for certain types of diagnosis and research. The medical society is still learning that the hand can foretell where and what is the cause of many medical situations that require immediate attention.

NOTE: Unfortunately, the medical profession continues to study the medieval written word.
For example, a textbook required by the medical profession to pass the exams given is NCLEX.
Here is a quote from NCLEX:
"FETAL DEVELOPMENT, 1)Down's syndrome....short, broad hands with inward curved little finger, transverse simian palmar crease, mental retardation."
This follows the mind of the medieval period. It is incorrect.
As an expert in the study of hands, 1 in every 15 to 20 people have the transverse simian palmar crease (aka the simian line).
To the people of the medical profession, please correct your textbooks.

The hand is like a graph that reflects the emotional and physical changes of the body. Lines change as you change; some disappear, some new ones appear, but all tell a story that is uniquely your own, just as your hands are uniquely your own.
This is the new millenium, and a new understanding is awakening in our culture. Although, many individuals are rooted with incidents that occurred over 500 years ago (when the Gypsies entered Paris), those ideas clouded with fear and superstition are becoming more and more transparent, making room for a new age--a new millenium.

Back to:
Mystical Madness