This is not on the basics of handwriting analysis but on some of it's uses. Even if you never get into it deep enough to go for a certification it can be useful. I used to do the handwriting of my daughter's friends at school and later her co-workers and they seemed to enjoy it and it helped them understand each other better. When it comes to the different uses for the study of handwriting it amuses me how each discipline tries to claim no relation to graphology or handwriting analysis as if it were demeaning. This is largely because of the universal opinion that it is a fraud or pseudo science used by charlatans in carnivals. In fact, it took about 8 years of lobbying the National Library to get graphology out of the occult section. Since handwriting analysis is used in job placement, document examination, jury selection, and grapho- therapy you can see why they were afraid of any connection to the occult. Handwriting has been used since Socrates noted that a man's character could be seen from his writing with similar notations throughout the centuries. In order to do any of these jobs it is essential to examine the writing in great detail and thereby form opinions on the person to whom the writing belongs. While they may not tell the client about the personality of the writer they do tell of the traits revealed. I made a listing of 277 traits and missed some but my Trait Directory lists indicators for each and room for a drawing of the examples for reference. With job placement a client would be interested in knowing how focused the writer is, would they be loyal, does the job description fit the prospect, would they be reliable and honest, can they take stress if it comes with the job, can they communicate readily with others or are they a loner. This is just a fraction of what an employer may want to know. Often in a big case a lawyer will go to a person who works with the jurors writing to see if they would be sympathetic or not, are they racist, can they be swayed easily or only with a determined effort. Any thing that could effect their case. Grapho-therapy is another area which should only be done by an expert and it must proceed slowly. Too much too soon can be worse than nothing at all. Also they need to work on the right things not just what the client might think needs worked on. Analysis first then discuss and make suggestions. Document examination requires a lot more training because you are asked to verify writing that may be of a person who was ill or is now deceased as well as a verified writing and it is up to you to determine if it is legitimate.

Now that the baseline or line of reality has been explained we move on to the slant of the writing. You can find this by using a protractor on the baseline under your writing and checking several letters from the place it touches the line to the top of the letter. What is the angle of this slant? An analyst uses a similar tool but with only a few slant lines to make it easier to read. Of course, the center line is straight up and down and we also use the slant lines on the left side of this center line as well though most writing is right slanted. The person whose writing is up and down or up to 15 degrees to either side is very much a head over heart person. They may even seem cold because emotions do not sway them in their decisions. To them rules are rules and they toe the line and expect you to do the same. Most people write in the 20 to 50 degree right slant. They are more outgoing and friendly. The more the slant the friendlier they will be but once it goes beyond 50 degrees you have a person whose emotions rule him. They invade your personal space with an in your face attitude or lose their temper at things you find funny or normal. These are manic reactions so be very careful in dealing with them. We don't see left slant as often but the same rules apply unless it is the really heavy slant over 50 degrees. Then the slant reaches into hysteria, paranoia and psychosis.

To really start with the basics your handwriting has a baseline which can be the line of the paper you are writing upon or lacking that seen by drawing a line from the bottom of the first letter to the last ignoring if it goes through any of the letters written. This we refer to as a baseline or line of reality. You will find many variations in just this one thing. If the writing clings to this line even between letters the writer is exercising supreme control or on rare occasions actually uses a ruler to direct their writing. This used to be done by people with really bad eye sight especially when learning to write. A young persons writing may look like it was written by a drunk rising off the line and then falling below. Their emotions are all over the place and often their hand and arm control are lacking. A mature baseline normally keeps close to the line with small variations because of the letter forms. However, a baseline that angles downward indicates a problem. It may be temporary depression, tiredness or just pessimism. On the other hand one that angles upward is enthusiastic, spontaneous and upbeat.

I am really in a snit over Common Core and just generally the education of American children today. For one thing We are told that cursive writing is not necessary because of computers and technology. Well when computers came into vogue we were told it would eliminate the use of so much paper. Has that happened? NO! Computers may fail but paper and pencil don't. Cursive has so many things it imparts to the writer and in some countries it is done before printing. Why? Look at a child's scribbles. They do angles, loops, crossovers, waves. humps. All the forms they need to write. At an early age they get that words flow across the paper and some even break it into groups like words. Doing these forms in penmanship class not only taught control of the hand, wrist, arm and fingers but there were subliminal messages as well. To close the ovals, the letters of communication as well as the mouth. The open e loop also meant to open the ears and listen, practicing the forms of v's and w's to focus as well as to stay sharp with angles and change of direction. To make propeller f's just a loop above the line as well as below the line is relaxing. So which would you do before a test? When a class is rowdy? A line of u's is like a wave a line of humps like a catapillar. Mixing these forms try memememe. Then tell a small child to break it into me me me me and that they have just written ME! This can spark an interest in learning to write their individual name in cursive. So don't tell me cursive is a waste of time. I used soap chalk in the bath to let my grandchildren write on the tub and wall for practice as well as fun but nursery schools can write in a thin layer of sand on a cookie sheet. If using paper just use unlined because it doesn't matter if it is a straight line or not that comes later with lined paper.

Sorry I haven't written anything in years due to family life and health but still alive and kicking and interested in handwriting. Ask question, send writings, and we can get it going again.