Palmistry
Alternatively known as Cheiromancy, Chiromancy, Palmomancy, Chirology, Cheirognomy and Chirognomy.
An ancient divination technique, consisting of prediction and character analysis by interpreting the lines of the hand and palm bumps and mounts, as well as by the shapes of hands and fingers.
This method of divination was very popular in the Middle Ages, practitioners believing that the lines in the hand were stamped by occult forces and would reveal character and destiny. The lines, digits and bumps on the hands allegedly all have astrological correspondences, which suppose to indicate such factors as longevity, general health, intellect, love, money, and so on.
According to the ancient Tuscan legend of the 'Queen of the Witches', Aradia — daughter of the moon goddess Diana and Lucifer — was dispatched to Earth in order to introduce Witchcraft to mortals and to bestow upon them the ability to "know the secret of the hands," palmistry.
The art and practice of hand analysis is divided into two aspects: Cheiromancy (Chiromancy) and Cheirognomy (Chirognomy and Chirology). Cheiromancy is divination of the past, present and future from what a palmist reads in the lines of the palm, fingers, and wrist, while Cheirognomy reveal's a person's personality, character and potential.
Palmistry is believed to have originated in either China or India around the year 3000 BC, and was introduced in Europe in the 15th century by the nomad Gypsies. Subsequently the Church banned the practice, and after the Enlightenment palmistry became little more than a parlor trick.
Modern palmistry differs from ancient methods in concentrating on interpreting the character, the psychological type and the inclinations of the person (Cheirognomy) at the expense of the other aspect, prediction and divination (Cheiromancy).
See Divination, Astrology, Acutomancy, Agalmatomancy, Coscinomancy, Cleidomancy, Augur, Stoichomancy, Dowsing, Tarot, Heptameron, Demonology, Sortilege, Idolomancy, Demonomancy, Tephramancy, Anemoscopy, Eromancy, Austromancy, Chaomancy, Roadomancy, Capnomancy, Pyromancy, Meteormancy, Ceraunoscopy, Zoomancy, Mystic Gifts and Charms - New Age Gift Shop & Wicca and Pagan Supplies, Love Spells -- Use these powerful love spells to help you find and keep your true love, The Tarot Store, The Chakra Store, Divination & Scrying Tools and Supplies, Unique Amulets, Talismans, Good Luck Charms, and Love Tokens, Powerful Witch Doctor Spell Kits, Powerful Spells - Cast by Andreika the Witch, Webmasters Make $$$, AzureGreen - Celebrating All Paths to the Divine, ISIS - Tools for Your Soul's Journey, and The Pyramid Collection - Myth, Magick, Fantasy and Romance.
Sources: (1) Dunwich, Gerina, A Wiccan's Guide to Prophecy and Divination, Carol Publishing Group; (2) Spence, Lewis, An Encyclopedia of Occultism, Carol Publishing Group; (3) Dictionary of the Occult, Caxton Publishing.
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