Beyond the hand shapes, friends and partners can test compatibility by looking at the major lines of their palms to find differences and similarities in their characters and the ways they approach life. The three major lines are a good place to start:

• The life line: Life lines can show if two people share vitality and energy, important in determining whom to spend time with. A life line with a broad sweep shows a passion for life and others, while a narrower one shows greater inhibition.

• The head line: Two people who share a straight head line will also share practicality, and those with curved lines will be more imaginative.

• The heart line: Look at the length of the heart line and the direction it takes across the palm to search for compatibilities. Those with straight lines think logically, while those with curved lines react emotionally to stimuli. This is one place where differences can add strength to a relationship, as both responses are needed in life.

Look also at the other aspects of the hand for areas of mutual interest, hobbies, and ideologies. Do you both like to travel? Garden? Are you interested in sports or crafts? And do you have political or religious similarities?