Chinese palmistry, known as shou xiang, is part of a broader tradition of reading the body that also includes face reading. It is one of the three traditions Ozzy draws on.

The five elements

Many Chinese readers describe hands through the five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. A hand’s shape, proportions, and texture suggest which elements are strong, and the reading looks at how they balance.

What it looks at

  • Hand shape, read through the five elements.
  • Areas of the palm, which some readers map to the eight trigrams of the Bagua.
  • The lines, with meanings that overlap with, but are not identical to, Western readings.
  • The whole person, since the hand is traditionally read together with other features.

How to approach it

Chinese palmistry places a strong emphasis on balance. Rather than looking for a single fixed answer, it invites you to notice which qualities are strong and which might need more room.

As with every tradition, these are symbolic ideas for reflection. They do not predict events or diagnose health.