The life line speaks of vitality, not of years

The life line starts at the edge of the palm below the index finger, curves around the base of the thumb and runs down towards the wrist.

William Benham, author of The Laws of Scientific Hand Reading, read health and reserves of strength in it: whether a person draws on a robust body or lives on nervous energy. He was clear that a short life line does not mean a short life.

Science has looked into this too. Two studies, from 1974 and 2019, found no link between the length of the line and age at death.

Read your own palms from a photo. The short reading is free, no account needed.

How it is read

A deep, even line points to sound health. A thin, pale one belongs to someone who tires more easily and runs on nerves. A line made of small links, a “chain”, shows energy that comes and goes.

A break settles nothing on its own. Benham advised looking at what the line does next. If it runs deep again, the hard stretch passes.

A wide curve that sweeps out into the palm suggests a warm, open nature. A curve that hugs the thumb suggests someone reserved and careful.

What the photo needs to show

A second, inner curve sometimes runs beside the life line. It is easy to mistake for the fate line if the thumb is cut out of the picture, so photograph the whole palm.

Photograph both hands as well: the line is often deeper on one than on the other.

Related reading

Read your own palms from a photo. The short reading is free, no account needed.