Before reading any lines, a palmist looks at the overall shape of the hand. Modern palmistry groups hands into four types named after the elements.
The four hand types
| Type | Palm | Fingers | Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earth | Square | Short | Practical, steady, dependable |
| Air | Square | Long | Curious, analytical, communicative |
| Fire | Long | Short | Energetic, bold, action-oriented |
| Water | Long | Long | Intuitive, sensitive, imaginative |
The palm is "square" when its length and width are similar, and "long" when it is clearly longer than wide. Fingers are compared to the length of the palm.
What the fingers add
- Index longer than ring finger: confidence and a drive to lead (Jupiter qualities)
- Ring longer than index finger: creativity and comfort with risk (Sun qualities)
- Little finger reaching past the top joint of the ring finger: persuasive communicator, good at business
- Long thumb: willpower and logic
- Shorter, flexible thumb: adaptable, guided by feeling
How Rekha measures this
Rekha's palm scan measures your hand shape and finger lengths on your phone, using 21 points on the hand. Only the measurements are used, and they are the same every time you scan the same hand, so your hand type does not change randomly.
How to check your own hand shape
- Measure your palm from the wrist crease to the base of the middle finger.
- Measure its width across the knuckles, below the index to little finger.
- If the length is clearly greater than the width, the palm is "long"; if they are close, it is "square".
- Compare your middle finger with the palm length. Fingers about three-quarters of the palm length or more are "long".
Put the two together: square palm with short fingers is Earth, square with long fingers is Air, long palm with short fingers is Fire, and long with long is Water.
Mixed hands
Many hands sit between two types. A palmist then reads the dominant traits of each. For example, a hand between Earth and Fire might belong to someone practical who also enjoys taking charge.
Indian hand classification
Classical Indian palmistry (Samudrik Shastra) also describes hands by texture, colour, flexibility and the shape of fingertips. For example, soft, flexible hands are linked with adaptability, and firm hands with determination. Rekha's scan uses measurable proportions only, so results stay consistent between scans.
Hand shape and career
Palmists often relate hand types to work styles: Earth hands to hands-on and steady work, Air hands to communication and analysis, Fire hands to leadership and entrepreneurship, and Water hands to creative and caring roles. These are tendencies, not limits.