A Summary of Judgment.
(1) Observe the kind of hands from the front or inside.
Short hands denote an impulsive judgment without analysis.
Smooth hands denote impression, ability, inspiration, intuition.
Hard, firm hands denote great energy and perseverance.
Soft, loose hands denote a kind of debility or laziness, a disinclination to work.
Knotted hands denote reflection, order, success.
(2) Observe the fingers.
Pointed.—Forefinger (first), intuitive; middle finger (second), frivolous, light-hearted, gay; ring finger (third), artistic, testy, nice, refined; little finger (fourth), eloquent.
Square.—Forefinger (first), truthful, cautious; middle finger (second); grave, thoughtful; ring finger (third), reasonable, a thinker; little finger (fourth), judicious.
Spatulated.—Forefinger (first), mystic, delighting in occult studies; middle finger (second), morbid, fanciful; ring finger (third), dramatic, sympathetic; little finger (fourth), mechanical.
(3) Look at the nails on the hands.
1. Narrow, indicate an irritable temper or aspiring spirit.
2. Round and full, indicate learning and liberal views.
3. Small, indicate pride, stubbornness, narrowness and bigotry.
4. Broad and flat, indicate a mild and timorous disposition.
5. Filbert-shaped, indicate refinement and courteous manners.
Note.—When the hand is allowed to open freely, the space between the first and second fingers, farthest apart, denotes independence of thought; third and fourth, independence of action, and if both are very wide apart, originality and self-reliance.
If the thumb inclines inward, avarice; outward, generosity.
(4) Observe the length and depth of the lines.
(5) The quality, whether they are crooked or straight.
(6) Observe whether they touch or cut other lines.
(7) Observe whether they are touched or cut by other lines.
(8) Their place and position.
Note.—The lines are sometimes lengthened until certain years of our life, while others are shortened. At one time they may become pale, at another they become notably clear and red. The minor marks, such as are found on the mounts, sometimes quite vanish, and at other times they will assume different shapes and colours. Therefore the most studious in palmistry cannot attain a complete knowledge of the events of a life at once, because they come and go as nature, or the circumstances of life, change and twist, but can only read for a year or so in advance. These changes are caused, as before stated, by the progressions and changing of the laws relating to nature, of which we are a part.
The Hand to Examine.
The general rule in the East is that the right palm of the male and the left palm of the female ought to be examined. In either case take the hand in which the signs and lines are clearly shown. If they concur in both hands and appear clear and nicely marked they declare a constancy of fortune and health, etc. In the male generally the right hand is the fate hand or the positive hand, that is, events about to happen; while the left denotes the negative or those events which have come to pass or been accomplished by the person, or those just passing away. Judge the converse in the female hands.