Palmistry is an ancient art and one that has many systems of interpretation. It is also an intuitive art that is easily learned just by learning a few basics about the symbolism that is represented by the lines that run across the palm, the mounts (or fleshy parts) of the palm and the structure of fingers.

In some systems, the right hand represents who you are today and the left hand, everything that you were born with when you came into this world. For "palmistry on the run" though it is best to read the hand that the person writes with, as that would be considered to be dominant hand.

In palmistry, the hand as a whole is divided into three different sections. The Fingers represent the mind and the higher self. The middle of the palm represents day-to-day life and the conscious mind. The lower half of the hand represents primal instincts, health and basic drives of the subconscious. Palmistry is all about proportion, symmetry and distortions of what would be considered to be a perfectly formed hand.

You can tell a lot about a person by looking at their thumb and fingers. The thumb has three phalanges. Its tip represents will power. A club shaped thumb indicates criminal tendency. Pointed or long tips indicate creativity and intelligence. The middle phalange represents logic. The longer the phalange, the more efficient and strategic the person. The fleshy part at the base of the thumb is called the Mount of Venus, which represents empathy, emotion, grace and compassion. The fatter and fleshier this part of the hand is, the more sensitive and compassionate the individual.

The index finger correlates to the planet Jupiter and indicates good fortune and career. The middle finger is related to Saturn and limitations and restrictions in life. The ring finger is called the Apollo. It relates to self-expression and intelligence. The pinky finger belongs to the planet Mercury, which is about your ability to communicate with others and sustain relationships. The longer and straighter the finger, the more good fortune a person can expect to have in these areas. All these fingers have their own mounts, which are located on the palm right below each one. The more developed or pronounced these fleshy mounds are beneath the finger, the more developed that trait is in a person.

The Mount of Jupiter below the index fingers represents ambition, leadership, religion, honor and love of nature.

The Mount of Saturn below the middle finger represents sanity, sobriety, wisdom, introversion and karmic events such as good or bad luck.

The Mount of Apollo below the ring represents confidence, creativity, impulsiveness and extroversion.

The Mount of Mercury below your little finger has to do with ability to sell yourself, communication, quickness, connection as well as writing and mathematical abilities. Sometimes the Mount of Mercury will be feathered with short vertical lines that are called Lines of Affection. These sometimes indicate the number of deep emotional connections or significant relationships in a person's life.

Right below the Mount of Mercury (below the little finger there are two more mounts. About half way down is the Mount of Upper Mars, which reflects your temperament: if this mound is fleshy then the person tends to be more courageous or war-like. Below that, near the base of the hand is the Mount of Luna (also known as the Mount of the Moon). This mound reflects such qualities as generosity, warmth and imagination. If it is over pronounced it can indicate a tendency to madness.

Below the Mount of Jupiter (follow the index finger downwards) lies the Lower Mars, which deals with aggression, hostility and capacity for evil. The center of the palm is called the Plane of Mars. If the plane has a dip in it you are calm, cool and collected. If it is raised or flat you are more likely to display a bad temper.

The Heart Line cuts laterally across the upper palm between the mounts of Jupiter and Mercury. Loops, bubbles, cuts and breaks in this line indicate relationships and episodes occurring in a person's love life.

The Head Line is normally positioned and can cut across the palm or curve downward. It is an indicator of intelligence and mental health. An optimum Head line runs straight, is deep and has a long extension almost to the other side of the palm. This more the headline curves downward towards the list, the less control the individual may have over his or her emotions.

The Life Line usually circles the thumb and begins under the mount of Jupiter and extends to the wrist. It encircles the Mount of Lower Mars and Venus and in most cases ends at the base of the hand. This line indicates major life events as well as the health of the subject. The longer this line is, the longer the individual will live.

The fourth main lie on the palm is called the Line of Fate (also known as the Line of Faith. This line runs vertically from the middle of the base of the palm and up towards the middle finger. It is an indicator of material and financial strength. The deeper, stronger and less broken the line, the more likely the person is likely to be successful. It also indicates a serious, business like nature.

The line of Apollo is a vertical line that is found on the upper part of the Mount of the Moon. It has been called the line of the Sun, and the line of Brilliancy, and to it has been ascribed the gift of great artistic talents, wealth and fame. Not every hand possesses this line.

The line of Mercury has been variously called the line of Health or the line of Liver. It is found either on Mount of Mercury or the Plain of Mars. If there is no line you are probably blessed with excellent health. Strong markings in this area indicate troubles with health.

There are many Minor Lines that don't appear in every hand but one of the best known is the Girdle of Venus that starts between the Mounts of Jupiter and Saturn and ends around the little finger. This line looks like a loop circling three of your four fingers and its presence is supposed to indicate beauty and luck in romance. The hand is filled with all kinds of markings, lines, feathers, stars, and crosses --each with particular meanings.

As a rule of thumb (no pun intended) any time you find a marking on a mound, it usually indicates that something special is going on in that department of your life. Next month's New Age Notebook will go into more detail about the meanings of these symbols in the hand.