Palm reading is believed to have originated in India as long as 5000 years ago. It spread to China in 3000 BC and Chinese palm reading took shape. It extended to Europe and other parts of the world. People have spent years in finding out what the lines on the palm read. They have been studying on how to interpret the palm lines. There lengthy research has led to the development of palm reading as a technique. Chinese palm reading believes that hands, feet and head present a person's profile and that the appearance of a person's hand can be an indicator of his destiny. They think that the lines on a person's palm provide hints about his/her future. Palm line reading is about the lines and patterns found on the palm. It is linked to the shape and structure of your hand and the surface texture of the palm. Let us begin with the type of the hand. Look closely at the back of your hand. Is the skin smooth or is it worn? Soft skin indicates that you have a good taste and enjoy a luxurious lifestyle. Worn texture is indicative of people who take risks, like to accept challenges and always fight till the end. Now look at your fingers. If they are smooth, you are instinctive and self-confident. If not, you are creative and thoughtful. Chinese palm reading associates an element with each type of the hand. Slender palms are linked to wood and it is said that wood and water industries suit best to people with such palms. Square-shaped palms are associated with metal and metal and earth industries suit people with such palms. Heavy palms are linked to the earth element and people with such palms do well in the earth and fire industries. Elongated palms are associated with fire and fleshy palms with water. Observe the tips of your palm and your nails. Long nails say that you are artistic. Spoon-shaped nails say that you always choose the best in life. Uneven nails warn you of a difficult time in the future and prompt you to learn from your mistakes. If your index finger is longer than the ring finger, you are a leader. In the other case, you are creative. You market yourself and want people to praise you. The Life Line, Head Line, and the Heart Line are the main lines of your palm. Palm line reading revolves around these lines and those branching from them. The Life Line starts between your thumb and index finger and encircles the base of your thumb to reach the wrist. The Head Line is above your Life Line and runs horizontally across the palm. Your Heart Line starts at the left end of the palm below the little finger and slants towards the middle and index fingers. Your head and heart lines have a significant relationship. If they touch, it means you are sensitive and appear mild to people. If they are tied together, your personality might undergo changes. A large gap between them indicates selfishness. Look at your palm again. Your Life Line is indicative of your lifetime and health. A wide curve indicates you love traveling while a narrow curve says that you cannot live away from home. Lines branching out upward from the Life Line indicate a person who puts great effort in work. A smooth and long Life Line talks of a smooth and long life. Splits in the line are indications of illness. Take a look at your Head Line now. In case your Head Line is short, you should not take risks in life. In case you have a long Head Line, it means that you have a very good intellectual ability and common sense. Wrinkles crossing the Head Line indicate that at times you have difficulty in concentrating and you cannot make up your mind. The Head Line thus represents your personality and emotional behavior. The Heart Line rules the emotional and romantic side of your personality. It is linked to your marriage. If your Heart Line has a split that points upwards, you will have a happy marriage but if its split end points downward, you will take to short romances. Breaks in this line indicate that you won't stay for long in one relationship. The length of your Heart Line is directly proportional to your emotionality. There are certain symbols on the palm that bespeak success or failure in life. Fish symbolize prosperity and triangles symbolize success. Feathery lines indicate anxiety. Islands are believed to be inauspicious. While looking at my palm with the perspective of reading lines and symbols on it, I wonder if my palm really says so much about me. I don't know if the lines really spell my destiny.