The Art of Western Astro-Palmistry or Occidental Palm Reading
Palmistry has a long history and goes back to ancient times. Most people think it comes from India. This may be right, because some sources and traditions point back to the Punjab. However, the oldest European roots of palmistry can be found in ancient Greece. This is proven by a Greek manuscript that the well-known German astrologer Regiomontanus copied in Rome in the 15th century. It shows that palm reading has been linked to the planets (gods) and astrology even further back. The connection goes back to the Old Babylonian period, as evidenced by cuneiform texts that provide information about various illnesses, their cures and omens.
It is almost nearly unknown that there has been a chiromantic tradition in Europe since the Middle Age. Astrology and chiromancy were particularly popular during the Renaissance. Both were taught at some German universities and doctors used them for diagnosis.
At that time, most of the astrologers and even the Italian painters had a thorough knowledge of chiromancy. One of the most well-known astrology scholars in Germany was Professor Doctor Melanchthon, the best friend of Dr. Martin Luther. For a while, astrology and chiromancy were even tought at the university of Wittenberg. Johannes Rothmann also studied there. In 1595 he wrote a widely used book about the connection between astrology and chiromancy, which we would call astro-palmistry today.
At that time, they used what we now call classical astrology, which, in constrast to Indian astrology, works with the tropical zodiac. In my own work I follow this tradition and combine it with modern spirituality and psychology. This results in a technique that enables deep insights into the personality for good advice, because palmistry and astrology shouldn't suggest decisions to someone. They helps us make intelligent decisions for ourselves.
The hand and the horoscope are not the same. The hands do not reflect the full blueprint of the natal chart, but how it works. They show us a view of the same person as the natal chart, but from a different perspective, as we look at the same tree from different sides. The hands express which area of the natal chart are currentliy activated in real life. In addition, our physical basis is reflected in the hands and they mark times for important life events.
Nevertheless, palmistry and astrology complete each other in an extensive way. You'll find more about astropalmistry and how to work with it in my book (in German): "Hand und Horoskop - Was Handlesen mit Astrologie verbindet". The book "Traditional Handlesen" by J. Rothmann, translated into modern German, was widespread in the Renaissance period. It was located in William Lilly's library and shows how classical astrology was combined with chiromancy in those days. References to it and information about my articles are in Books about how to combine Palmistry with Western astrology
The part entitled Astro-palmistry basics contains articles "From palmistry to a revised chirology" and "Dominant planets in hand and horoscope". You also find analyses of the hands and natal chart of Michael Jackson and Albert Einstein. Read and translate more about astropalmistry on the German version of this website.
If you are interested in a personal consultation, click on... Palmistry and astrological consultation. Events and lectures are posted under... calendar of lectures. About me gives you more information about myself.
Hand lines, palm mounts, fingers and planets: My experiences with palmistry, an interview
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“”ETTY" Hillesum and Julius Spier at Biennale Cinema 2025 in Venice
© Komplizen Serien
"ETTY" (Hillesum), biographical episodic film, short series: Airing in Germany on ARTE on May 21 and 28, 2026, available in the ARTE media library from May 14, 2026. The film premiere in Germany is still being planned. I provided chirological consultation to the lead actor, Sebastian Koch, who plays the Psycho-Chirologist Julius Spier in the film, and adapted parts of the script with him.
