Palmistry was first practiced in ancient China and India, where it appeared over 3,000 years ago. Like other forms of divination, it originally had other uses—ancient sages used palm reading to make character and personality assessments and to provide counseling. Some professional palm readers still use this method today.

Just about anyone can learn how to read palms—you don’t even need to have psychic ability or powerful intuitive skills. Once you learn the combinations of lines, sections of the hand, and other essential details, you can read any hand (including your own) and make a valid interpretation. And when you start getting good and have some experience, you might even come up with a few new theories of your own.

The most important thing to remember about palmistry is that, like other forms of divination, it’s meant to show you opportunities and possibilities available to you in your lifetime. It won’t tell you exactly the way things are supposed to go. In fact, all professional hand analyzers agree that the lines in your hand change according to life decisions you make along the way. Remember free will? We make our own destiny.