This document discusses the history and principles of handreading (cheiromancy). It explains that handreading views the hand as a microcosm reflecting the macrocosm of the universe. The hand is divided into three worlds - the elemental world of the palm reflecting the physical body, the celestial world of the lines reflecting emotions, and the intellectual world of the fingers reflecting mental faculties. Different parts of the hand like mounts and phalanges are associated with astrological symbols like planets and zodiac signs to aid interpretation.

1. Dylan Warren-Davis has been involved in the study of handreading for
over 25 years, as well as being a practicing medical herbalist and
astrologer. Many of the ideas raised in this article are explained at
greater length in his book The Hand Reveals - A Complete Guide to
Cheiromancy, The Western Tradition of Handreading.
or many centuries, the idea that mankind is made in the image of
the heavens has been the essence of European culture. This idea is
embodied in the numerous depictions of zodiacal man, where the
sequence of the zodiacal signs is connected to the different parts of
the body, starting with Aries ruling the head and concluding with
Pisces ruling the feet. Perhaps the most beautiful example in European
art is the depiction of zodiacal man in De Duc De Berry's Les Trés
Riches Heures, (see below). Here the central figure is unusually
surrounded by the ovoid shape of the vesica piscis. Analogous to a
vulva, the vesica piscis is a powerful symbol of the Universal Mother.
Within the labia or lips of the womb are found the zodiacal signs in the
heavens.
The placing of zodiacal man at the centre of the vesica piscis, provides

2. a potent symbolic image of mankind quite literally being born from the
universe. Furthermore, the zodiacal signs in the heavens can be seen
to correspond with the different zodiacal parts of the body,
demonstrating the Hermetic principle of 'As above, so below'.
In particular the hand has long been regarded as a microcosm of an
individual's creation, and its interpretation is invaluable for revealing a
person's inner potential. As the bible says:
"God has placed signs in the hands of all the Sons of men, that all the
Sons of men may know His work." - Job 37:7
This is the basis of 'cheiromancy' which, deriving from Greek, literally
means divination through the hand. The underlying premise of hand-
reading is that the shape, structure and features of the hand are a
symbolic expression of a person's innate psyche.
Astrology and hand-reading are sister disciplines that have explored
this macro/microcosmic relationship from opposite poles; astrology

3. illuminating the macrocosm of the planets in the heavens, and
cheiromancy revealing the microcosm within the hand. As a
consequence, the cosmology and symbolism of the elements, planets
and zodiacal signs are common to both disciplines and a number of
astrologers in former times were also known to read hands. It is likely
that they used cheiromancy to refine their interpretation of natal
charts, and to see how the chart was specifically acted out in the life of
the individual.
In European culture cheiromancy is integrally linked to the spread of
Hermetic teachings. Appropriately enough in zodiacal man, the two
arms and hands are ruled by the double-bodied sign, Gemini. In turn
the hands are also connected to the planet Mercury, reflecting their
importance for translating ideas into action. Mercury is also linked to
Hermes Trismegistus, the philosopher/sage reputed to be the source of
Hermetic teachings. Cheiromancy has therefore been used as a
mnemonic for communicating Hermetic teachings, in a similar way to
the ritualised hand positions, called mudra, being used to express
spiritual principles within the art of oriental religions.
The Hermetic philosophers visualised the universe as having four
distinct realms, in accordance with the four elements: Fire, Air, Water

4. and Earth respectively. Their cosmology is based upon the Three World
View, whereby existence consists primarily of a Realm of Light (Fire)
or God, from which the Three Worlds are created. Out of the Light the
Intellectual World (Air) is generated. Next the Celestial World (Water)
descends From the Intellectual World. Finally the Elemental World
(Earth) precipitates from the Celestial World.
Each world has its own rulers; The Intellectual World - or heaven - is
ruled by angels and archangels, the Celestial World is ruled by the
planets, and the Elemental World - or Mother Earth - is ruled by the
elements.

5. Figure 1: Robert Fludd's Three World View
as perceived within Hermetic philosophy is
shown by Robert Fludd's illustration of The Three World View in figure

6. 1 above. The spiral pattern describes the descent of Light from God
(Deus) into matter. In this descent, three distinct Worlds are formed.
Commencing with Mens, the universal mind, the spiral leads down
through the Intellectual World indicated by the various angels and
archangels: Seraphin, Cherubin, Dominationes, Throni, Potestates,
Principatus, Virtutes, Archangeli, Angeli. Below the Caelum Stellatum-
'the stars in the heavens' - the spiral leads down through the Celestial
World indicated by the planets: Saturnus, Jupiter, Mars, Sol, Venus,
Mercuri and Luna. Finally the spiral leads down through the Elemental
World indicated by the elements: Ignis, Aer, Aqua and Terra. In the
spiral, Fludd also connects the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew
alphabet with each of the rulers of the Three Worlds as the spiral of
Light descends to Earth. The rulers of the worlds are used as symbolic
tools for understanding matters corresponding to that particular
World.
When this cosmology is transposed into Man:
 the Elemental World corresponds to the body
 the Celestial World corresponds to the soul
 the Intellectual World corresponds to the spirit

7. This is reflected in cheiromancy as the three aspects of hand reading.
The palm embodies the Elemental World, the lines encapsulate the
Celestial World and the fingers reflect the intellectual World, as
shownn in Figure 2 below. At first glance, the outline of The Three
Worlds - Elemental, Celestial and Intellectual - may seem somewhat
medieval in conception. However, when seen in terms of physical,
emotional and mental experience respectively, they are just as valid
today as they have been in former centuries.
Figure 2: The Three Worlds in the Hand

8. The Elemental World
The palm, embodying the Elemental World, is divided up into four
areas called quadrants corresponding to each element: Earth, Water,
Air and Fire (see fig. 3 below). Assessment of the relative size and
development of each quadrant shows how a person is utilising each
element within their temperament. In conjunction with elements
reflected in the hand shape and skin texture, a picture of a person's
basic constitution is generated. Without going into detail here, if the
Earth element predominates then they would be physical and practical.
If the Water element predominates then they would be sensitive and
emotional. If the Air element predominates then they would be
nervous and intelligent. If the Fire element predominates then they
would be energetic and dynamic. The Elemental World can be
considered as reflecting the type of vehicle they are born into.

9. Figure 3: The Allocation of the Elements to the Palm
The Celestial World

10. The palmar lines describe how a person experiences the Celestial
World, which encompasses the whole realm of emotional experience.
The lines are formed by the vital force flowing across the palm, in the
same way as a river erodes a channel as it flows across various
terrains. The filth element Ether and the planet Mercury are both used
to symbolise the vital force which, while sustaining the structure of the
physical body, simultaneously constitutes the medium of emotional
experience. It is variations in the flow of the vital force that we
experience as different emotional states.
The Etheric vital force also constitutes the substratum of mental
experience, for all the ideas and images within the mind are generated
out of its substance. Since the vital force is linked to the animation of
the body, the flow of emotions and the formation of ideas, the lines
intimately describe the consciousness of an individual. In order to
ascribe meaning to the lines and thereby describe the consciousness of
an individual, the planets Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury
and Moon - rulers of the Celestial World - are used. Originally in
cheiromancy all the planets were allocated to the palmar lines;
however, only Saturn, Mars, Sun (Apollo) and Moon (Lunar) are found
in palmistry today.

11. Figure 4: The Traditional Rulership of Lines and Mounts

12. This allocation of planetary rulership to a line was done by considering
its location and orientation of flow. Through the centuries particular
regions of the palm - called mounts - have been linked to the planets,
so when a line passes through or towards a certain mount it partakes
of this energy in its flow. Figure 4 (above) shows the traditional
rulership between lines and mounts. Thus the Mars line, for example,
flows through the Mars active mount.
With the decline of cheiromantical knowledge in the last 300 years,
other names like 'head line' and 'heart line' have crept into palmistry.
However the planetary symbolism can be seen in these palmistic
names. For example the 'vitality line', which curves around the base of
the thumb, rarely has its Venusian rulership mentioned yet its flow
clearly circumscribes the mount of Venus. On contemplation of the
relationship between traditional Venusian correspondences such as
love, mother, womb, birth and life, it is easy to see how the energy
flowing through this line describes the 'vitality' that sustains the body.
Similarly, the two lines ruled by Mercury can be found disguised as the
'head' and 'health' lines. Their identity is revealed when the Zodiacal

13. rulerships of Mercury, Gemini and Virgo are noted - Gemini, the Air
sign, links Mercury to mental experience, hence the 'head' line. Virgo,
the Earth sign, links Mercury to the flow of vital energy within the
body, hence the 'health' line.
The relative length, width, degree of presence, markings, degree of
curvature and orientations are all taken into consideration when
interpreting the lines. In particular the clarity of a line describes how
the energy present is flowing in their consciousness, whether
harmoniously or disharmoniously. These observations are then
considered in relation to the planetary rulership of the line. For
example, if the 'head' line (Mercury) is clearly defined, free from
markings and disturbances, then that person expresses their ideas
with directness and clarity. On the contrary, if it is ill-defined and
marred with islands, breaks and bars, then a person has many
difficulties in mental expression.
If the Elemental World describes the type of vehicle a person is born
into, then the Celestial World of the palmar lines describes the driver
of the vehicle. Where they have come from, where they are currently
at and where they are heading.

14. The Intellectual World
Here it is important to clarify and describe what is meant by
Intellectual World, since the term is likely to invoke the inappropriate
idea of academic life at a university. To the Hermetic vision, the
Intellectual World is synonymous with heaven, the source of all
knowledge; additionally implying that a person can only gain
knowledge in so far as their hearts are open and receptive to the
inspiration from the heavens. From Fludds illustration of The Three
Worlds, in Figure I, the Intellectual World can he seen as ruled over by
the angels and archangels. Between the Intellectual and Celestial
Worlds is found the name Caelum stellatum or the 'stars in the
heavens', which referred to the constellational patterns that were
originally seen to constitute the Zodiacal signs. In contrast to the
contemporary dry and static astronomical conceptions, the light from
the stars was seen to mediate the different types of Intelligences (the
angels) from the Intellectual World. Thus the stellar patterns were
regarded as 'living beings' of light. The word Zodiac comes From the
Greek kylos zodiakos meaning 'circle of animals', again reflecting that
the star patterns were seen as 'living beings' rather than inanimate
objects.

15. With the Intellectual World symbolically connected to the fingers, the
Christian prayer position can now be seen as particularly significant.
For as the supplicant prays for knowledge, guidance, inspiration and
illumination, their hands are clasped together in front of the heart with
the fingers pointing upwards to the heavens - the source of
knowledge. If the Elemental World describes the type of vehicle a
person is born into, while the Celestial World describes the driver of
the vehicle, then the Intellectual World of the fingers provides the
knowledge, skills and understanding for the driver.
In accordance with the connection of the Intellectual World with the
fingers, the twelve signs of the zodiac are used to interpret them. One
sign is allocated to each of the twelve phalanges, as shown in Figure 5
below.

16. Figure 5: The Zodiacal Signs and the Phalanges
This allocation of signs to phalanges is generated by a cross-ply of the
elements connected to each digit and the quality connected to the

17. three phalangical levels: The index finger is ruled by the Water
element, the middle finger by the Earth element, the ring finger by the
Fire element and the little finger by the Air element.
Of the three phalanges present in a finger; the upper
phalangesconnect to inspirations that spark off new ideas, initiate
new actions and projects. It is a realm of ideals, goals and
aspirations. The cardinal [moveable] signs are applied to the upper
phalanges.
The middle phalanges correspond to a realm of action, where ideas
are expressed and applied. It is linked to disciplines, skills and
practical abilities. The mutable [common] signs are connected to
these phalanges.
The lower phalanges correspond to ideas made manifest, concrete
and assembled into fixed structures. It is a realm of material concepts,
pleasures and sensual experience. The fixed signs are connected to
the basal phalanges.
There is not the space here to outline the significance of all the
phalanges; however by looking at one in detail, a glimpse of what all

18. the phalanges encapsulate can be attained. The upper phalanx on the
Water - or index - finger is ruled by Cancer and is traditionally
connected to religious ideals, personal goals and intuition. Water is an
element of connection (and religion in its deeper sense coming from
the Latin religio which means 're-joining', implying the idea of rejoining
with God or one's spiritual source. The Cancerian aspect is well shown
in the tenacity people have for their religious ideals and how
vehemently they will defend them if challenged. It also reflects how
birth into a particular set of family values colours a person's religious
ideals and the way they see themselves. The clannish behaviour of
religious sects that dogmatically hold specific points of view, can he
seen in the ruthless way that a crab defends its own territory. The
Moon ruling Cancer with its connection to the imagination, emphasizes
the importance of visualisation in developing intuition and thereby
perceiving the spiritual world.
Energy from the palmar lines can he seen to flow in the fingers; so
that the energy from the Sun (Apollo) line flows into the ring finger,
energy from the Saturn line flows into the middle finger, energy from
the Jupiter (heart) line flows into the index finger and energy from the
Mercury (health) line flows into the little finger, as in Figure 6 below.
In modern palmistry this underlying idea has become lost with the

19. consequence that the planets have come to be ascribed to the fingers
and known as the Apollo, Saturn, Jupiter and Mercury fingers
respectively, highlighting the gross inconsistency between the number
of fingers and the seven traditional planets.

20. Figure 6: Lineal Energy flows to the Fingers

21. The flow of energy through the phalanges is indicated by the lineal
markings on the phalanges, shown in Figure 7 (below), which reveals
how a person is drawing upon the knowledge in the Intellectual World.
Up to three longitudinal striation lines on a phalanx shows a utilisation
of knowledge from that particular phalangeal area. The intensity of use
increases as the lines multiply in number. Six or more striation lines
suggests stressful over-use of the phalanx. Horizontal bar lines
running across the phalanx obstructs the energy flow along the finger.
The bar lines indicate fears, limitations and obstacles that prevent a
person from freely drawing upon that phalangeal area of knowledge.
Grills are a composite pattern of both striation and bar lines. They
indicate conflict wherever they are present on the fingers. The pattern
shows the struggle to derive knowledge despite blockage and
limitation.

22. Figure 7: Markings on the Phalanges
The wearing of a ring upon a particular finger is symbolically significant
when seen in terms of the energy flowing through the finger. The
metal of the ring enhances its conduction so 'amplifying' the energy
present in the finger. The wearing of the wedding ring upon the ring
finger is particularly illustrative. The ring finger receives Solar energy
from the Sun (Apollo) line. The Sun rules the heart which in former
times meant not only the physical organ but also the seat of the soul -

23. the source of light and vitality. There is a strong nervous connection
between the heart, and this finger. This is illustrated when people
suffer angina: a classic feature of the syndrome is the radiation of pain
down the left arm to the hand, specifically to the ring finger.
Traditionally wedding rings are made of gold, the metal of the Sun, so
their mutual wearing symbolises a union of souls.
The Latin name for this finger is annularis, from anulusmeaning a ring,
which also recalls the annular movement of the Earth around the Sun,
giving rise to

24. Dylan Warren-Davis has been involved in the practice of
handreading for the past 25 years, as well as being a practising
Medical Herbalist, (qualifying as a prize-winning student with
the National Institute of Medical Herbalists in 1982), and an
astrologer. He originally became interested in the subject through its
diagnostic potential while a student of herbal medicine. Dylan teaches
Cheiromancy as well as giving handreadings and lecturing widely in
the UK and overseas. He may be contacted by email
at dylanwd@norex.com.au
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