The Art of Palm Reading

Legitimacy of the pseudo sciences is debated from person to

person.

Right around Oct. 31, people all over the United States have a

great excuse to dress funny, eat junk food and act out of the

ordinary. But behind all the crazy costumes and holiday

celebrations are strange traditions and rituals that are especially

pertinent during the Halloween season.

The pseudosciences, some of which include fortune telling and

psychic readings, are theories, methodologies or processes that are

considered to be without scientific foundation, according to

dictionary.com.

One aspect of pseudoscience is the art of reading palms, also

known as chiromancy or chirognomy, to interpret one’s future by the

lines on the hands

Palm reading dates back to ancient Greece, it grew so popular

during this time that palmists had the same status as

physicians.

Larry Rodrigues, author of palmistry book, “It’s All in Your

Hands,” writes that character traits of an individual are picked up

by noting hand “colors, textures, tight or relaxed areas … line

structure and finger condition.”

When the left hand is analyzed, the palmist is meant to be able

to discover how the person functions within her or his private

world. The right palm supposedly reveals how one deals with the

outer world of coworkers, acquaintances and the public. Rodrigues

states in his book that the original intent of this art was to give

assessment and counseling for one’s life, but it has been used for

many other things, such as foretelling the future.

Local practicing palmist Psychic Kay does not rely on a physical

hand analysis. Using oils and a meditation candle, she places a

crystal Chakra wand in her customers’ palms to get a feel for their

inner workings.

“I see vision angels and guides to talk to me and guide me

through your readings … I am very spiritual … Everything is

possible,” she said.

Some CSU students agreed.

“I kind of believe in psychics,” said junior Vanessa Nielsen, a

social work major. “I’ve read some cool stories and been told stuff

that makes it seem true.”

Others agree that palm readings, along with fortune-telling and

horoscopes, are fun but not always true.

“I read (horoscopes), they could be true, but it is not always

100 percent,” said sophomore open-option major Curtis Trujillo.

For some, finding out about the future and reading horoscopes is

a key part of the day.

“I don’t always go by (horoscopes) exactly,” said junior Kipp

Powell, a biological science major. “But I am curious about

them.”