The thumb is of excellent significance when reading hands; you can glance at a person’s hand and quickly get a general idea of their energy, drive, and basic temperament. So, reading the thumb is a crucial part of character awareness, particularly when one meets someone for the first time. In this article, I explain the meanings of thumb angles and settings. The complete thumb reading is available in my mini ebook here.

The Thumb is the Main Character in Reading the Fingers
In most business or personal circumstances, people shake hands to introduce themselves. What a perfect opportunity to glance at the thumb! The thumb reveals the most about you of all the digits on the hand. There’s not much you can hide; it still means something, even if you hide your thumb.

Look for Balance in Proportion to the Rest of the Fingers and Palm.
As with most features, it is finding balance in proportion to itself, and its appearance on the hand is ideal—nothing too crude and nothing too small. The first thing that might stand out when looking at the thumb is set high or low on the palm.
Low-set Thumb
When reading the thumb that is low-set, it shows a manually able, practical person and a high-set thumb belongs to someone more of an intellectual type. Of course, it shows a physical and mental balance if neither high nor low.

A Rigid or Flexible Thumb
Another feature to check from the thumb is whether it is flexible. A stiff/rigid thumb shows a fixed, less cooperative mindset, and a flexible thumb reveals a more accommodating manner.
READING THE THUMB ANGLES
AVERAGE ANGLE SETTING OF THE THUMB
We measure the thumb angle between the thumb’s inside and the palm’s edge. When the thumb angle is average, it is approximately between 45 and a 70-degree angle to the palm. A low-set thumb usually has a wide angle, and a high-set thumb has a narrow one. The average angle shows a healthy, responsible attitude with positive leadership qualities. It shows a relaxed, forthright, generous and self-confident character. The subject is neither secretive nor overly open.
NARROW-ANGLE SETTING OF THE THUMB
When the thumb angle is 30 degrees or less and close to the palm rather than opening away from it, it suggests a much quieter, untrusting or guarded personality. They can be inclined to be selfish and narrow-minded. When looking at compatibility in relationships, someone with a narrow-angle thumb would not appreciate the recklessness of a very broad-angle thumb. They are somewhat timid and introverted. Mostly intellectually inclined, often a specialist in their field. They are naturally secretive. The thumb tucked into the palm is a sign of apathy or depression. The narrow-angle thumb traits can be offset if the thumb is flexible (bending backward).
WIDE-ANGLE SETTING OF THE THUMB
When the thumb opens to a wide angle, it is mainly found in the low setting, which suggests a more open, generous, and giving nature. However, an angle of 90 degrees or more denotes an overly flexible or reckless nature. They are confident, down-to-earth, and adventurous. While they can be very enthusiastic about matters, they may be so carefree that they become negligent or irresponsible. The wide-angle thumb shows less mental staying power and more physical energy. A rigid thumb challenges these qualities, as does an unmarked head line and a broad, long life line.
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