I suppose it was inevitable...

For the first time ever, I was stood up by a client tonight. The event was already booked and an additional reader hired. I got to the location and was told by the client that we weren't needed anymore to do palm and tarot readings. I don't believe it's just me when I think that she could have let me know in advance by returning the phone message left with her sister yesterday, even if she didn't receive the 2 confirmation emails send previous to that.

Oh, well - A couple hundred dollars I'm out of pocket, not to mention the hours put in. Time for a policy change. From here on in I guess I'll have to take a non-refundable deposit for private parties and events where another reader is also booked.

Laws Regarding Palmistry

Palmistry is one of those grey areas when it comes to its governing laws and regulations in most countries. Normally it's the municipal laws and by-laws that you really have to look at. To read palms in one city may require nothing - Not even a business license. In another area you might need a business license and then have to make applications for additional permits as well, all prior to doing any paid palmistry work.

For example, in Santa Barbara California you have to look at Chapter 5.40 of their municipal code. There you'll find that palmistry is specifically listed as one of the "fortunetelling" practices that requires an "appropriate business tax".

The Santa Barbara Independent: We’ve all seen the signs for Madam Rosinka’s fortunetelling businesses, but other than that, we’re no Salem. Or so it seemed before reading Chapter 5.40 of the Santa Barbara Municipal Code.

Not that such practices are discouraged — rather, they’re perfectly permissible, so long as the magician pays the appropriate business tax. Among the professions for which a permit is required are astrology, palmistry, phrenology, life reading, fortunetelling, cartomancy, crystal gazing, and clairvoyance. You think that’s a comprehensive list? No. There’s also clairaudience, magic, necromancy, psychism, psychometry, mind reading, mental telepathy, automatic writing, spirit writing, trance mediumship, and sandgazing. If you’re reading this and asking, how could they have forgotten potion making in this list, rest assured — they didn’t. They also included materialization, ballot reading, conducting trumpet séances, prophecy, augury, divination, and the making of “magic articles.”

For anyone considering palmistry as a profession, it's just one more example of why you need to carefully check out the laws and licensing requirements in your exact area ahead of time.

Featured Hand Analyst for Autumn 2007

For several years I've been selecting featured palm readers and posting their names on the International Directory of Professional Hand Analysts (The Palmistry Directory). Featured for Autumn 2007 is Edward Campbell, for his continuing work on hand analysis and biometrics. His IBMBS 2007 Conference took place on August 19-21 in Budapest, Hungary.

Free Palmistry Readings Offer Now On Hold

Some deals are too good to last, and Steven Galarnyk's generous offer for free palmistry readings has just been put on hold indefinitely. In an email to me today he wrote:

"I'm going to have to stop giving out free readings. I simply cannot provide decent readings with so many different requests coming in. I'll eventually start giving out readings again but for the time being I must put the offer on hold indefinitely. Those who have already submitted their prints to me will eventually get a reading in their email but only if they have already met the requirements. I'm currently busy trying to catch up on all the different readings but with more and more requests coming in I simply do not have the time to address all the emails."

So for now Steven's offer is on hold. I'll be sure to post when/if his offer starts again, and any other new ones I can find.

Free Palmistry Reading Update

Steven Galarnyk is still offering free palmistry readings, but there are now a few requirements if you'd like him to to read your hands.

Steven says: "If you are going to ask me for a palm reading please tell me a bit about yourself and your experience with palmistry (none is fantastic!). In addition if you would like to know about what your future MAY hold I require your age and your permission to tell you if you want to know what your future MAY hold. Please be patient about your readings as they are free. I'm working hard and for free. I also require that you give me YOUR WORD that you will tell me percisely how accurate I was in the reading. I REQUIRE this because I wish to grow in the skill."

Send your hand images and info to JohnnyFett@hotmail.com

Free Palmistry Reading From a Real Person

Steven Galarnyk is one of the youngest people to complete a Palmistry International course. He is now offering free palmistry readings to everyone who asks.

An offer like this is unlikely to last for long, so request your free reading now or you'll probably miss out. Send your palm image(s) to him at JohnnyFett@hotmail.com.

Click here for a list of other sites that also offer free palmistry readings.

Palm Reading by Telephone?

How do you get a palm reading over the telephone?

The Daily Record: Bosses at Orkney Islands Council discovered workers had been ringing adult and other premium rate lines.

One even called a palmistry line while others rang competition prize lines.

Now measures are being put in place to bar any calls to inappropriate numbers by the council's 2000 workers.

Councillor Alistair Gordon added: "I am not 100 per cent sure about how you can get your palm read over the telephone but it must have been a pretty low Monday for that person."

Splitting Fingernails & Osteoporosis

One early warning sign for osteoporosis is vertical splitting of the fingernails. This usually indicates a long-term calcium deficiency. My mother has osteoporosis so it runs in the family, and I have also had these fingernail splits a few times over the past decade. Each time I (eventually) added calcium supplements to my diet and the splitting disappeared in a few months.

These images were taken today, and show my own middle fingernail on the left hand. It was difficult to get a good photo of the fingernail split, so I played with the image color a bit so you can see it better.



Starting today I'm again taking calcuim supplements. The one that works best for me is "Mega Cal" soft chews by Jamieson. 650 mg twice per day.

I'll add new photos every once in a while so you can see the changes to the fingernail over time.

What is the Meaning of Palmistry in Dreams?

So what does it mean if you dream about getting a palmistry reading? Dream dictionaries seem to disagree. Compare these 2 interpretations:

Palm Reading: To dream that you are having your palms reads, represents your life goals and ambition. The dream shows how you want to live your life and where you want to be headed.

Palmistry: If you dream of having your palms read then you are in danger of becoming an object of suspicion and ridicule over some matter that you may have gossiped about.

Perhaps the dream meaning depends on whether you view palmistry as a serious science or as something to ridicule.

Is This a Typical Palmistry Reading?

Even though I see it all the time, I still have a bit of a hard time believing that this is the typical kind of palmistry readings that people receive. If it is, then no wonder hand analysis is disregarded by most scientists and scholars. Does anyone really take readings like this seriously? (Hopefully the palm reader was just having an off day.)

Mystery of the Leadership Triangle: Batya Meets and Reads Coleen Rowley:
“Here, in the very center of your other palm, a leadership triangle hasn’t formed yet. But I do see all these writers’ crosses; three to be exact. So perhaps you could perceive yourself as taking leadership in that respect, in thought and education of the public with what you write.”

- Leadership triangle? - Sounds like a good example of the "Forer Effect" and "Subjective Validation" in action...

“Next item of interest, I see, is that your life line is crossed many times. This indicates that you are very influenced by current events.”

- Who isn't?

“And here,” I added, bending her fingers back gently. “See how easily your fingers bend back? That shows you have psychic potential.”

- Everyone has "psychic" abilities and potential.
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Is this really the standard for professional palmistry today? If it is, then no wonder skeptics have such an easy time ridiculing it. What are your thoughts and experiences?

Welcome to the New Palmistry and Hand Analysis Web Log

This blog seems like a great way to share some of my day-to-day experiences and discoveries relating to hand analysis and palm reading. It seems like every day I'm finding cool new websites and observing fascinating tidbits on people's hands and palms, but so much so fast that I wasn't able to share most of it.

I'm also asked frequently what I do on a "normal" day, so this blog should give you a good idea. Please feel free to comment on any of the posts here or suggest new topics, but no link spamming in the comments please!

I recommend that you subscribe to this Palmistry and Hand Analysis blog so you don't miss anything.