HAND POSTURE, GESTURE & BODY LANGUAGE in Chirology: Part 1

Reading the gestures, positions and posture of the hand is as revealing as some of the markings. In terms of communication, hand gestures are tantamount to verbal expression. Most of our hand gestures are unconscious, although we can consciously use them to summon, disapprove, celebrate, show excitement, fear, joy or anger.

Body language accounts for approximately 55% of communication, far more than the verbal message of tone of voice, and hands play a huge part. Body language experts place massive emphasis on the hands. Politicians, royalty and presidents are taught how to use hand gestures and postures down to the finest detail. Give the wrong hand movement and people can see right through you!

A Chirologist looks even deeper into the unconscious meanings of hand postures.

Hand Positions and Personality Types: Expressive, Introvert, Cautious or Open

To classify someone as an extrovert or an introvert is complex and of course requires more than finger posture. In these examples notice the different ways the fingers are held: tightly held fingers show caution, someone who is wary of giving away information. They might feel tense and a bit nervous. Compare that with the spread fingers of a person who is open – ready to give and receive information freely. This person is less likely to be sceptical and more likely to look for that which is agreeable. But hand postures can change.

I took the hand print of the ‘closed fingers’ person two years later and his fingers had relaxed a lot. He now knew what to expect in having a hand analysis and was not apprehensive, as he had been with the first reading. Finger postures can change in a matter of minutes and can be very circumstantial. However, in general, they are a good indicator of someone’s underlying perceptions and attitudes.

Understanding Thumb Positions

I could write for pages on the importance of thumbs in hand analysis (but I won’t, don’t worry!). Everything you implement in your life comes from the thumb. Here we have a closed and open thumb. The open angle shows strength, confidence, dominance, drive, power and independence. The closed thumb angle shows timidity and possible anxiety. There is less control over oneself and less manipulation of life. Someone with a wide angle can get to the top quicker, they can manipulate life the way they want and get what they desire with drive and assertiveness. A closed thumb is a passive gesture showing lack of confidence. Now remember this is a posture, it’s not a fixed trait. If you find you naturally hold your thumbs tightly in, then consciously start holding them out. It will give greater confidence and self-control. You will feel more empowered and have a stronger drive to succeed. If there was one hand posture I would say to adopt it would be this one. It is as meaningful as standing with your chest out and shoulders back, rather than sunken and collapsed. Look at thumb size, strength, flexibility, phalange size, tip shape for a full download of information on the thumb.

Reading Finger Positions: Signs of Compromising Oneself

The individual fingers give a lot of information. Think how we use the index finger for meaning and expression. To the left we can see a finger pattern found on someone whose sense of enjoyment and fun is restricted. The third finger is bending in toward the middle. The Middle finger is bending toward the third. This is someone whose work or responsibility is compromising their sense of creativity and enjoyment. They are often playing the martyr in some form in their life. This can be a postural position or it can run deeper and the fingers actually grow and bend more permanently in this way.

The hand on the right shows a different pattern of restriction. Similar in meaning to the martyr, this is a sign of being overwhelmed with duty. The fingers are all leaning toward the thumb, showing a lack of freedom and expression. As with the martyr posture, it shows a person with not enough time for enjoyment and leisure. It differs from the martyr, however, in that when the fingers are leaning like this the restriction is not a choice. Usually there is a pressure or duty, such as looking after family, a sick parent, or just working to survive that causes this hand posture. With the martyr it is not necessarily straightforward though – there is often an element of self-sabotage in the pattern (hence the name). Both types need to organise time for themselves where they can relax and have fun.

There are dozens of gestures to watch out for. I will be looking at more finger patterns in part 2.