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After watching Paul's great performance at Oxford last night, I have the palm reading bug now. I quite like the sound of Julian Moore's ebook, Palmistry In Your Own Words, and know that some of you rate it highly. Apart from that, are there any other books that would be worth looking at? Bear in mind that I am a complete beginner to palm reading. Ta very muchly.

I can heartily recommend a wonderful little book called "Palmistry - from Apprentice to Pro in 24 Hours" by Johnny Fincham. It really is all you need if studied correctly. Should be available from Amazon, or Blackwells or Waterstones often carry it in their larger stores - look in the new age type section.

My palm readings tend to be totally genuine with just a little "extra" thrown in here and there for good measure (you know what I mean). Of all the methods of reading, I honestly find palmistry to be the most accurate. Plus there's no gimmicks or cards or anything to carry around. You're ready to work anytime, anywhere!

If you go over to MEVPROSHOP.com they now have the re-release of Ron Martin's rare Palm Reader's Notebook which is similar in format to his Tarot Reader's Notebook, either lending to you more of a "real world" feel to things vs. what you will find within the magic world.

I'll likewise recommend everything on this topic by John Riggs (a.k.a. St. Germain within the shut-eye market) and Richard Webster.

Palmistry and Tea Leaf Readings are making a slight bit of reprise these days when it comes to the Reader's market. Seems the laity do not view these things in the same light as they do the Tarot or Playing Card Readings.

I like the look of Fincham's book, especially at that price (just £6.49 at Amazon). Thank you for that, Paul; I think this will be my first purchase on the subject.

Craig, thanks for bringing Ron Martin's ebook to my attention. Wow. It sounds great and looks very comprehensive. Those bonus files look very helpful, too. I don't know whether to go for this or Julian Moore's ebook; perhaps I will see how I get on with Fincham's book first and take it from there.

A few people have asked me recently if I can read their palm, which is what first interested me in the subject. There certainly seems to be some interest out there so I thought I would try my hand (sorry) at learning about palmistry and doing some readings. I like the fact that I can travel light when doing palm readings and that the participant brings their own props!

I have a good beginners' book called "The Hand Book" by Elizabeth Brenner. It dates from 1980 and seems to be out of print now, but still fairly widely available second-hand.

As well as discussing the basic hand shapes, mounts, lines, etc. Brenner also discusses medical things to watch for, and how to give a reflexology hand massage. She describes the aim as being "palm listening" rather than "reading": sharpening the senses and opening the subconscious to impressions.

my advice is to buy books that have good illustrations that you can copy yourself.

palm reading is easy to learn if you use the hand as a mnenomic device, but slower from books. make your own drawins.

importantly, do the whole hand and wrists. learn some focal points to save you if you get stuck such as the bracelets meaning health, and the position of thumbs meaning sexual liberation

dont move to well know lines too early in reading

note, lines can and do move

dont bother learning really complicated pictures that tell you the meaning of what you can see - you'll never rememeber pattern

learn basics and add it all up yourself

(by the way, which tom robbins is the magic quote from - i like it)

I am the way, the truth and the light in these matters. I can recommend my own DVD on the subject.

Palmistry - from Apprentice to Pro in 24 Hours" by Johnny Fincham

Mr Bell reccomended me this a couple of weeks back, Im already doing killer with it on people, its a very good book and I spent all of friday eve at a party doing no magic and just palms, it was ace...very very good book, concise and practical, easy to understand aswell, could pictures for dum dums like me who cant read lol

Yes, a great recommendation from Paul. The Fincham book is rather splendid. And for a mere £6.50, also cheap and cheerful. Not unlike myself in that respect.

I too have been working through the Fincham book and it is very good. Its claim of being one of the easiest palmistry courses is spot on. Does anyone know whether his other book "the spellbinding power of palmistry" is worth getting on top of apprentice to pro?

Jobasha, I would say that the other book is more advanced but probably worth getting once you've worked your way through the first book. It has certainly got some very favourable comments and reviews on Amazon UK and US.

I love the fact that the Apprentice to Pro book takes the scientific approach to palmistry, dispelling the esoteric mumbo jumbo that is traditionally associated with reading palms.

So on taking the day off sick today, I found myself sniffing and examining the gorgeous Carnie Tarot cards from Outlaw Effects.

I have to admit, yes, they look great, but as with many magicians flirting with the idea of bizarre magick, found myself envisaging an environment in which I'd realistically use them: would I really follow up the production of a spectator's folded and signed playing card from my shoe to a dramatic change of pace to Tarot? Even stating "And now for something completely different...." would be at odds.

So on this point, and feeling the need to read a text related to magic, as well as being inspired by the Naked Mentalism 3 ethos of propless magic, as interesting these visual Tarot cards are, they are fundamentally a back drop to cold reading. Therefore, for it to be truly propless, holding and examining a spectator's hand would take it to the next level.

How have people got on with Johnny Fincham's Apprentice To Pro? It looks to be the cheapest option. As a beginner, does it have everything I need to give readings, and when coupled with cold reading techniques? In short, I envisage using some terminology, but really the palmistry is back drop to a reading, and being a segue into portable mentalism. I probably don't see myself getting too focused on the spiritual side like a fortune teller, but giving a clear reading.

Our own Paul's palmistry guide is the quickest and easiest I've read. Since seeing him performing a palm reading a few months back I've been using it a lot more. It has enough easy to remember detail for a 5-10 minute reading without exerting too much effort. His book reader of minds also covers the palmistry info, plus a lot more. Worth getting as he has mentioned taking it off the market.

http://www.readerofminds.co.uk/palm_reading_16.html

The Fincham is good and probably the best and most usable I've read not from a magic background. His approach and explanations of palm reading will give you excellent background for questions that get asked.

Julian Moore's palmreading in your own words is another good option from a magic/mentalism background. It gives enough info in the first few chapters to give a reading. Or if you work through it all a very detailed reading.

http://thecoldreadingcompany.co.uk/read ... techniques

Thanks Jobasha, I did consider Paul's work, but have just ordered the Fincham book off eBay for £8 all in. Having read some Amazon reviews it seems to eschew the mystic fortune telling perspective and give a more scientific and rational approach, which would match my performing style more.

Hopefully this one book should be enough as a text. I am excited how some reviews point out to how you can use the esotoric knowledge to develop an understanding of yourself, and that how a short "life" line doesn't necessarily mean an early death. It's one of those things I've always had a lurking interest in, and thought it high time to get clued up.

Coming from a magic perspective, and on a superficial level, "effects" hint at this idea of having a secret or super human power, such as the ability to bend coins or produce smoke at fingertips. With palmistry, I love the premise of being able to provide guidance and look deep into someone's life, as a stranger, and reveal a wonderful system. I am hoping to be enlightened!