The mounts of the hand
The mounts of the hand are the soft raised pads of the palm, and palmistry names seven of them after planets: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, the Sun, Mercury, the Moon and Mars. Each is read as a part of your character. A full mount is read as that part being strong, a flat one as that part being quiet.
| How many | Seven in most books, with Mars often split in two |
|---|---|
| Where | Under each finger, at the base of the thumb and along the outer palm |
| Read by | How full, firm and clear each is |
Where each mount sits
Under the index finger is Jupiter, under the middle finger Saturn, under the ring finger the Sun (also called Apollo), and under the little finger Mercury. The base of the thumb is Venus, inside the life line. Opposite it, on the outer edge of the palm near the wrist, is the Moon. Mars sits in two places: one between the thumb and index finger, and one on the outer palm above the Moon.
What each is read as
Jupiter is read as ambition and confidence. Saturn is read as patience and a serious turn of mind. The Sun is read as creativity and wanting to be seen. Mercury is read as quick wits and a way with words or trade. Venus is read as warmth and a love of pleasure. The Moon is read as imagination, and Mars as courage: the upper part for standing your ground and the lower part for going after things.
Full, flat and too full
Press each mount gently and compare it with the others. A firm, rounded mount is read as that quality being well developed. A flat one is read as that quality being less called on. One that is very large against the rest is read as too much of a good thing: Jupiter tipping into arrogance, for example, or the Moon into daydreaming.
How to read your own
Look at your palm from the side, at eye level, so the shape shows up. Pick the highest mount and the flattest one first. Those two tell you more than trying to score all seven. Most hands have one or two that clearly stand out, and that pattern is what a reader works from, along with where the main lines start and end.
The mounts of the hand: questions people ask
Which mount is the most important?
There isn't one. Readers look for whichever stands out on your hand, since that's the quality you tend to lead with.
What does a big mount of Venus mean?
It is read as warmth, affection and a strong appetite for life. Very full, it's read as someone who finds it hard to say no to what they enjoy.
Why are the mounts named after planets?
Palmistry borrowed the planets from astrology many centuries ago, and gave each finger and pad the same meaning as its planet. It's one reason the two are so often read together.
Keep exploring
- Palm and hand shapes: earth, air, fire and waterThe four hand types, from palm width and finger length.
- Finger length meaningLong and short fingers, and the ring and index compared.
- How to read your palmFive steps, from the hand's shape to the four main lines.
- An X on your palmWhat a cross or X on a line or a mount is read as.