How to read palms: a simple guide to the lines on your hand
Palm reading (palmistry, called hast rekha in Hindi) looks at five major lines: the heart line (love and emotions), the head line (how you think), the life line (energy and life direction), the fate line (career) and the marriage line (relationships). A reader looks at each line's length, depth, curve, and where it starts and ends.
Where the 5 major palm lines are
- Heart line: the highest horizontal line, just below the fingers, running from the little-finger side toward the index finger.
- Head line: below the heart line, starting between the thumb and index finger and running across the middle of the palm.
- Life line: curves around the base of the thumb toward the wrist.
- Fate line: a vertical line from near the wrist up toward the middle finger. Not everyone has a clear one.
- Marriage line: one or more short horizontal lines on the edge of the palm, below the little finger.
Which hand should you read?
In Indian tradition, a woman's left hand and a man's right hand are read. In Western palmistry, your dominant hand (the one you write with) shows your present and where you are heading, and the other hand shows your natural tendencies.
A simple rule: read your dominant hand first, then compare it with the other. Differences between the two are read as signs of change.
What to look for in each line
- Length: a longer line shows more range in that part of life.
- Depth and clarity: a deep, clear line is read as strength in that quality.
- Curve: a straight line is linked with practical thinking, a curved one with imagination.
- Branches and breaks: branches rising upward suggest growth, and a break is read as a change or a new turn.
How to take a good palm photo
Photograph your open, flat palm in daylight, fingers slightly apart, with the whole palm in the frame. The Palmkara app reads the photo on your phone and draws all five lines on your palm like mehendi.
Get a free reading from a photo of your palm
AI reads all five of your lines in 30 seconds and estimates your age of marriage from the marriage line. Free, no sign-up, and the photo never leaves your phone. In English and Hindi.
Read my palm freeFrequently asked questions
What is palmistry?
Palmistry is the centuries-old practice of reading the lines, mounts and shape of the hand to describe personality and life direction. In India it is part of Samudrika Shastra and is called hast rekha shastra.
Is palm reading scientific?
There is no scientific evidence for palm reading. It is best enjoyed for entertainment and self-reflection, not for big decisions.
Do palm lines change over time?
Yes, minor lines can change over the years. The major lines are usually more stable, though their depth and branches can shift.
Can AI read your palm?
Yes. AI finds the hand in a photo, measures each line's length, position and curve, and then applies traditional palmistry rules. Palmkara does this entirely on your phone.