My exposure and experiences with astrology and Palmistry ND

My exposure and experiences with astrology and Palmistry

Dr Nihal D Amerasekera 

Palmistry or Cheiromancy originated in ancient India more than 5000 years ago and spread to China, Greece and Rome. Now, Palmistry as an art is practised worldwide. At present, there are three types of Palmistry, Indian, Western and Chinese.  The Western and Chinese Palmistry now show a significant divergence from the original Indian Palmistry. The Indian Vedic astrology is closely linked to the notions of karma. Palmists believe Palmistry is both a science and an art. Astrology originated in Babylon far back in antiquity around 2400 years ago. 

I grew up with my grandparents, both of whom were excellent palmists and astrologers. Friends and family got them to cast horoscopes and got their palms read. For them it was a hobby for which no money changed hands. When I was born at the Kandy hospital my grandma, was there with her watch recording the time of birth with accuracy. The local time in Ceylon was changed during World War II to what was called ‘War Time’. This caused enormous upheaval in the astrology community in getting the time correct for casting horoscopes. 

I grew up in a milieu with great belief in the ability to predict the future. We all had our astrological charts on rolled-up ola leaves.  My grandparents were well aware of its difficulties and shortcomings and also how, when and what information to divulge. My grandfather was a fine palmist and even when I was a young kid I was told that I will be a doctor and my future lies in another country. In retrospect, I am amazed how accurately he summed up my future. He predicted the lives of all my cousins, and in the fullness of years, I can acknowledge now, was done with remarkable accuracy.  I had a cousin who was my age and attended the local school with me. When I asked my grandpa about her future he never said a thing and never did. It brought us great sadness when she died tragically age 35. Were his predictions perfect? Not at all. He did get things wrong. Like all professionals, he had his own explanations for his mistakes. His clientele was family and friends. These errors came to light many years later and no one came to any serious harm. 

My grandfather did tell me that I had the perfect chart to be a good palmist. I did learn the basics from him. He often said “practice makes perfect” and that I should read palms regularly. I never had the inclination, the desire nor the time for it. There were too many other interests and distractions while growing up. Nevertheless, my interest in Palmistry never waned and lurked in a secure corner of my brain. I took it up again briefly after retirement just as a hobby. On a Mediterranean cruise I discovered Palmistry was a good ‘party trick’. The mere mention at the dinner table that I could read the palm generated great interest despite my disclaimer of being a novice. This indeed got the ladies lining up for their futures to be revealed. 

When I was a 1st-year medical student we visited a family friend in Kollupitiya. There was a large gathering. Amongst the crowd was a professional palm reader. They asked me if I want my palm read. Without much thought, I agreed and realised later that was a huge mistake. As there was an audience the palmist played to the gallery. Some very personal events of my future life were bared for all to hear causing me great embarrassment and distress. Much of the past was incorrect and in retrospect, the future predictions were a load of rubbish. In those days I wasn’t vocal enough and suffered in silence. I still blush when I think about it. This is an excellent example of how NOT to read the palm. There are many such unscrupulous quacks and rogues that hoodwink the people to earn a living. 

All palmists should learn the trade as an apprentice to a true professional who should teach them the art, obligations and the “bedside manner”.  Like in the Hippocratic oath they should be taught "primum non nocere ( first, do no harm). In my childhood I recall the village astrologers and palmists who frightened the people with impending doom and gloom and extracted money to counteract the forces of evil. Perhaps with increased literacy and learning these practices have now disappeared. It is my belief that like in every profession, for astrology and Palmistry too some have the special gift of instinct or intuition that set them apart from the rest. I have met a few of them who were brilliant professional astrologers and palmists who have made a name for themselves and make an honourable living. 

The art of predicting the future has always fascinated people all over the world. For a young person with all his/her life before them, there is that inevitable desire to know what is in store. Even In the 21^st century that desire still exist. There are some who would say “why know the future, just get on with life”.  As a septuagenarian knowing the fragility of life I agree with that sentiment completely. Que sera sera - whatever will be will be. 

On a personal level, my future has been predicted with great accuracy and I have good reason to believe in both Palmistry and astrology. The accurate time of birth and proper casting of the horoscope is the key to its reliability. Even with all that the predictions are neither fool-proof nor flawless. Finding a genuine bona-fide palmist or astrologer is like searching for a needle in a haystack. 

There is a conflict between my scientific background and those imprecise and unregulated business of astrology and Palmistry. As a medical professional, I am trained only to trust evidence based information and have some cynicism and scepticism about matters I cannot prove logically. 

I never allowed my decisions to be guided by astrology or Palmistry. Those predictions have no guarantee of accuracy although it gave me a fairly clear picture of what the future held for me. I have lived my life as I wanted, making much of the decisions on the hoof. In the main I have no regrets. I have always believed that what happens to us in life is governed and influenced by the awesome forces of destiny.