Alissa
The Life line ... this is the line that almost everyone associates to the art of palmistry, no matter how much or how little they know of the art itself. It is the first line formed on the palm, appearing on the embryo at approximately 8 weeks old (which is followed quickly by the Heart line, and then the Head line).
The Life line most often originates from the mount of Mars (the area just above the webbing of the thumb) and "embraces" (to use Cheiro's word) the mount of Venus (the padded, fleshy mound of the thumb on the palm side).
First and foremost ... a short Life line does not indicate a short life. A major, and common, misconception. I *do* believe that it sometimes indicates a personality that will view their time on earth as "too short" no matter what age they live to be.
The Life line indicates one's vitality and interest in life. A deep line is indicative of one who embraces life fully, and a shallow line speaks to one who shies away from life and does not live life to the fullest.
Another measure of vitality is how far across the palm the life line archs. A small arch, say arching not further than the vertical axis below the first finger (Jupiter), would indicate a listless and lethargic person. A wide arch, travelling to the center of the palm or beyond, is indicative of a great zest and zeal for life (to the point that they may become risk takers in order to satisfy that aspect within themselves). An average arch is one that travel anywhere from the axis below the first (Jupiter) and second (Saturn) fingers.
When attempting to estimate time along this line, although I've often been quite accurate, I don't like doing it. It makes me squirmy. Remember, the lines on our palms do change, and speak to the changing nature of our own personal future, as we continue to craft that future by our actions in the here and now. For this reason, "future-casting" when palm reading is extremely tricky, and not recommended as the primary focus for doing a palm reading in my opinion (I say, get your Tarot cards you'll likely yield much more helpful info there!)
However, having issued my caveat, the best way to estimate time along the Life line is to first travel your eye vertically down the middle (Saturn) finger to see where the axis meets up with the Life line's arch. That point along the line is extimated to be 35 years old -- and you'll see it is indeed a point that's just about half-way through most folks' Life lines. Guesstimate your way up and down the line from there, folks.
Breaks (or gaps) in the Life line are signs of major changes, possibly being health related issues (but not necessarily).
Branches along this line are tricky for me to read. Here is my own experience reading branches on the life line.
Branches that point downward most often come across as major physical health-related issues. If the branch reachs *up* from the Life line towards the Head line, it is indicative of a brain/mental condition. The greater the branch, the bigger the problem.
"Worry lines" will sometimes cross the Life line as well. Worry lines are smaller lines that streak horizontally across the mount of Venus (between the Life line and the thumb). The deeper and more prevalent these lines are, the more this person worries.
Worry lines that cross the Life line indicate times when stress was severe enough to cause health problems. When worry lines are primarily horizontal, (and especially if they are faint) they indicate worries that are "on their way out" -- the energy leaves from the mount of Venus and out the thumb. *Vertical* lines in this area I read as worries that are not quick to leave (like family, or those kinds of always-around issues).
"Pits" in the worry line area, or sunken little dimples, indicates a deep source of pain for this person which is sucking their energy from them (essentially, going down the pit/hole). Folks who have pits will often have reddish blotches around that area, indicative of hot-pain (anger, rage) that the person may be feeling as well.
A "sister line" can sometimes be found just along the inner edge of the Life line, towards the thumb side. This line I read as the presence of a guardian spirit, or guide, who walks with this person in life. It is a *sorta* common line to see (I'd say about 35-50% of the palms I've seen have these lines). The deeper the line, the stronger that presence has made itself known for the person. However, I would add lastly, that this is my own unique interpretation for a sister line, and I hope others will post their views on it's interpretations as well.
"Feathered," and sometimes "chained", Life lines indicate a multitude of small health problems that may have a cumulative, debilitating effect for the person.
Islands on the Life line indicate times of deep emotional withdrawal, perhaps to the point of depression. In severe cases (usually evidenced by larger-sized islands) a person with this line may have had to be hospitalized to treat the condition.
A square on the Life line indicates a time of either voluntary (elective hospitalization, for example) or involuntary confinement (incarceration).
The Life line most often originates from the mount of Mars (the area just above the webbing of the thumb) and "embraces" (to use Cheiro's word) the mount of Venus (the padded, fleshy mound of the thumb on the palm side).
First and foremost ... a short Life line does not indicate a short life. A major, and common, misconception. I *do* believe that it sometimes indicates a personality that will view their time on earth as "too short" no matter what age they live to be.
The Life line indicates one's vitality and interest in life. A deep line is indicative of one who embraces life fully, and a shallow line speaks to one who shies away from life and does not live life to the fullest.
Another measure of vitality is how far across the palm the life line archs. A small arch, say arching not further than the vertical axis below the first finger (Jupiter), would indicate a listless and lethargic person. A wide arch, travelling to the center of the palm or beyond, is indicative of a great zest and zeal for life (to the point that they may become risk takers in order to satisfy that aspect within themselves). An average arch is one that travel anywhere from the axis below the first (Jupiter) and second (Saturn) fingers.
When attempting to estimate time along this line, although I've often been quite accurate, I don't like doing it. It makes me squirmy. Remember, the lines on our palms do change, and speak to the changing nature of our own personal future, as we continue to craft that future by our actions in the here and now. For this reason, "future-casting" when palm reading is extremely tricky, and not recommended as the primary focus for doing a palm reading in my opinion (I say, get your Tarot cards you'll likely yield much more helpful info there!)
However, having issued my caveat, the best way to estimate time along the Life line is to first travel your eye vertically down the middle (Saturn) finger to see where the axis meets up with the Life line's arch. That point along the line is extimated to be 35 years old -- and you'll see it is indeed a point that's just about half-way through most folks' Life lines. Guesstimate your way up and down the line from there, folks.
Breaks (or gaps) in the Life line are signs of major changes, possibly being health related issues (but not necessarily).
Branches along this line are tricky for me to read. Here is my own experience reading branches on the life line.
Branches that point downward most often come across as major physical health-related issues. If the branch reachs *up* from the Life line towards the Head line, it is indicative of a brain/mental condition. The greater the branch, the bigger the problem.
"Worry lines" will sometimes cross the Life line as well. Worry lines are smaller lines that streak horizontally across the mount of Venus (between the Life line and the thumb). The deeper and more prevalent these lines are, the more this person worries.
Worry lines that cross the Life line indicate times when stress was severe enough to cause health problems. When worry lines are primarily horizontal, (and especially if they are faint) they indicate worries that are "on their way out" -- the energy leaves from the mount of Venus and out the thumb. *Vertical* lines in this area I read as worries that are not quick to leave (like family, or those kinds of always-around issues).
"Pits" in the worry line area, or sunken little dimples, indicates a deep source of pain for this person which is sucking their energy from them (essentially, going down the pit/hole). Folks who have pits will often have reddish blotches around that area, indicative of hot-pain (anger, rage) that the person may be feeling as well.
A "sister line" can sometimes be found just along the inner edge of the Life line, towards the thumb side. This line I read as the presence of a guardian spirit, or guide, who walks with this person in life. It is a *sorta* common line to see (I'd say about 35-50% of the palms I've seen have these lines). The deeper the line, the stronger that presence has made itself known for the person. However, I would add lastly, that this is my own unique interpretation for a sister line, and I hope others will post their views on it's interpretations as well.
"Feathered," and sometimes "chained", Life lines indicate a multitude of small health problems that may have a cumulative, debilitating effect for the person.
Islands on the Life line indicate times of deep emotional withdrawal, perhaps to the point of depression. In severe cases (usually evidenced by larger-sized islands) a person with this line may have had to be hospitalized to treat the condition.
A square on the Life line indicates a time of either voluntary (elective hospitalization, for example) or involuntary confinement (incarceration).