The actual origin of palmistry is not known.  It is believed to have begun in China or India as far back as 3000 B.C. and then to have spread west into Greek and Roman cultures.  In earlier times, it was known as cheiromancy or chiromancy.

Palmistry has always been a serious art in the East.  In the West, during the Middle Ages, it was considered a scientific discipline, infrequently used and tolerated by the Church.  With the arrival of the Gypsies in Europe in the 15th century, palmistry, one of the Gypsies' most common forms of divination, grew in popularity.  Its widespread use, and the rising deception that accompanied its growth, caused palmistry to be condemned by the Church by the end of the 15th century.

By the early 17th century, palmistry had fallen into disrepute as lowly occultism and had been discredited by both the Church and science.  It survived as a parlor art; among its adherents was Napoleon Bonaparte, who was mightily impressed by Mlle. M. A. Le Normand, the palm and card reader of his first wife, Josephine. Beginning in the 1960's, palmistry enjoyed a revival of interest in the West, along with other forms of divination.

Palmistry is closely related to astrology; the signs and aspects of the heavenly bodies are assigned locations on the hand.  A palmist examines the shape and size of the hands and digits, the fleshy mounts and the lines of the palms, wrists and digits.  The reading reveals the person's character, life expectancy and destiny.  The left hand shows what is intended for a person at birth, and the right hand indicates how that blueprint has been altered by decisions and actions.  If the subject is left-handed, the reverse applies.

There are several major lines and innumerable small ones.  The major ones include the line of life, the line of the heart (emotions), the line of the head (intellect), the line of Saturn (fate) and the line of health.  Among the smaller lines are those of marriage, and the wristlets or bracelets, which denote happiness in life.  the mount of Venus, at the base of the thumb, indicates compassion and warmth.  The mount of the moon, on the outer palm, reveals psychic ability; a triangular mark there indicates the presence of natural psychic talent.  Each digit is associated with a Zodiac sign: Thumb = Venus; index finger = Jupiter; middle finger = Saturn; ring finger = Sun; and small finger = Mercury.

Like other forms of fortune-telling, palmistry reveals a portrait and direction at a given time.  Choices made through free will may alter these, and palmists say choices will physically change the hands over time, within certain limits.