Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Loralei. Loralei Wonders, “What is the history on palm reading?” Thanks for WONDERing with us, Loralei!

Before we dig into today’s Wonder of the Day, take a look at your hands. No, not the back of your hands—you already know those pretty well! Instead, look closely at your palms. What do you see? 

No two human palms are exactly alike. In fact, your own right palm might look quite different from your left palm. Your palms might have all kinds of different features. Do you see blisters? Scars? How about lines? Are the lines on your palm short or long? Are they deep or faint?

Believe it or not, these features might mean a lot. For people who practice palm reading, each line sends its own message. Palm reading is the practice of interpreting the human palm. Palm readers believe this helps them learn about the character of a person or even tell their future

Palm reading, also called palmistry, has a long history. No one is quite sure where it began, but some think it was in ancient India. It is also common in Roma culture. People in ancient China, Tibet, Persia, Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece also read palms. 

Palm reading became less popular during the Middle Ages. Many people believed they could identify witches by features on their palms. This gave the practice a bad reputation. However, palm reading became more common during the Renaissance. It even surged in practice during the 19th Century.

So what exactly does palm reading consist of? Palm readers often pay attention to the shape and size of the hand and fingers. But it’s the lines of the palm that often tell them the most. 

Looking at your own palm, you may see lots of lines. Most people have too many to count! But you may quickly notice three lines that are easier to see than others. In palmistry, these are called the major lines. They are the life, head, and heart lines.

The life line is usually a crescent shape near the thumb. It is used to learn about a person’s health. The head line is often just above the life line. It’s supposed to tell the reader about a person’s intellectual abilities. Finally, the heart line is typically above the head line. It tells about the person’s emotional state. It is also used to learn about a person’s relationships with others. 

Is there any truth to palm reading? Many people are quick to write it off as trickery. However, the lines on your palm do have a special purpose. They help your skin stretch and squeeze to grab and grip objects. 

Experts have also linked some palm features to real medical conditions. For example, some babies are born with only one palm line. This can tell doctors about their development in the womb. Additionally, some ratios in finger length have been tied to heart disease, athletic talent, and even self-control.

What do you think? Is there any truth behind palmistry? Or is it just a fun way to pass the time? Either way, it can be a fun topic to learn more about. And even if you don’t believe your palms tell the future, they certainly tell the past. Look closely for old cuts, calluses, and scars. What stories about your life do they tell?

Standards: C3.D2.His.2, CCRA.R.4, CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.W.1, CCRA.W.9, CCRA.W.8, CCRA.L.1, CCRA.L.2, CCRA.SL.1, CCRA.SL.2, CCRA.R.10

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