Palm reading: Can the lines on our hands really reveal your future?

Between the multiple variants of Covid-19, the war in Ukraine and global warming, the future seems uncertain, to say the least. It does seem tempting to look into the palm of one's hand to find one's future in these foggy times, doesn't it?

This often contested practice is called palmistry. Part of the divinatory arts, this practice consists of predicting a person's future by interpreting the lines on the palms of their hands. It originated in Europe in the 12th century.

The length of your life in the palm of your hand

As popular as ever, some computer programs even offer to analyse and interpret your own lines. According to this pseudo-science, a popular theory tells us that the length of the lifeline could determine how long we have left to live on earth. Also known as the 'earth line', the lifeline runs from the left side at the top of the hand, along our thumb and down the palm.

According to this theory, there is a link between the length of a person's lifeline and their longevity. In an article on Oldtowncrier.com, Peggie Arvidson, a professional palmist, describes the lifeline as follows:

A lifeline begins between the index finger (Jupiter) and the thumb and wraps around that fleshy pad under the thumb. It can be long or short, it can be wide or curved near the base of the thumb.

Many palmists, including Arvidson, have rejected claims that the lifeline is an indication of lifespan.

No correlation

In a 2019 study published in Anthropological Review, researchers measured the total hand length and lifeline length of 60 people who had already died and found 'no significant correlation'. In particular, the team concluded:

Since no significant correlation was found between longevity and lifeline, all efforts to produce more reliable and automatic means of reading these lines are futile. This study puts to rest any debate about the use of the lifeline in palmistry as introduced by Newrick and colleagues.

Although it cannot predict how long you have to live, the lifeline in your palm could say something about your physical health and vitality, according to China Highlights.

This article was translated from Gentside FR.

Sources used:

-China Highlights: Lifeline palm reading guide

-Oldtowncrier.com: Can my life tell me how long I’ll live?

-ResearchGate, Anthropological Review: Predicting longevity from the line of life: is it accurate?

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