The Four Hand Types: Earth, Air, Fire and Water Hands

Hold your palm in front of you and look at two things:

• The shape of the palm: Compare the length from the wrist to the base of the fingers with the width of the palm. If the two are about the same, the palm is square; if the length is clearly greater, it is long.
• The length of the fingers: Compare the middle finger with the length of the palm. If the finger comes close to the palm’s length, the fingers count as long; if it falls well short, they count as short.

This gives four combinations: a square palm with short fingers is an Earth hand, a square palm with long fingers an Air hand, a long palm with short fingers a Fire hand, and a long palm with long fingers a Water hand.

You do not need a measuring tape for this; judging by eye is enough. If you like, take a photo of your palm and look at it on the screen, where the shape is easier to see. If your two hands differ a little, tradition gives more weight to the hand you write with.

A square palm, short and sturdy fingers, and often few but deep lines. Tradition links this hand to practicality, a dependable nature and down-to-earth thinking. It is also linked to an interest in solid work, making things with your own hands and standing by your word.

A square palm and long fingers, often with clear, fine lines. Tradition links this hand to curiosity, conversation, new ideas and a hunger to learn. It is also linked to an interest in making sense of the world through books, questions and talking to people.

A long palm and short fingers, often with clear, deep lines. Tradition links this hand to zest, initiative, enthusiasm and the courage to start new things. It is linked to a nature that would rather try something out than think it over.

A long palm and long, slender fingers, often with many fine lines. Tradition links this hand to sensitivity, imagination, understanding the feelings of others and an interest in art. It is linked to a nature that feels deeply and quickly senses the mood of a place.

A great many hands do not fit neatly into any one type. If the palm is a little long but not very, or the fingers are of middling length, that is entirely common. Tradition sees the qualities of two elements together in such a hand, and it is no less interesting than a hand of a single element.

Your hand type is a way of reflecting on your temperament, not a box to shut anyone in. No type is better or lesser than another, and it sets no limit on anyone’s work, studies or relationships. A hand type has nothing to do with anyone’s background, gender or identity.

Tradition reads the hand type together with the lines and mounts. For example, if a Water hand has a straight head line, tradition links this to sensitivity joined with practical thinking.

Look at your hand and think about how well the element tradition gives it matches you. Sometimes the match is surprising, and sometimes not. Either way, it is a fun reason to reflect on yourself. Next time, compare palms with a friend, and the conversation will start all by itself.