It is easy to assume that a left handed person would have a back slant to their writing but this is not necessarily true. In fact, the only clue we may have that the writing belongs to a lefty is the right to left T bar. Just notice how you place your paper to get the slant you like. Each of us finds the placement that works best for us. A left handed person has more trouble finding a comfortable pen grip and paper slant and having to write in a notebook or spiral book has to be h***. At least now with gel pens they no longer have to drag their hand through wet ink.
When it comes to the analysis the basics are the same for everyone. Allowance will be made for that backwards T bar because it is a stroke taken for convenience.The rest of the strokes we make are because of our mood, personality and character not because of which hand we use to write.
Showing posts with label handwriting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label handwriting. Show all posts
Monday, August 2, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
LOOPS
It's been quite awhile since I last wrote on my blog so I have decided to address one component of writing Loops.
Loops are important an component in your writing. Any loops out of place (such as at the bottom of the lines forming the m or on the first part of a cursive y) are called worry loops. My mother's writing had so many loops I once told her "you would worry if you thought you had nothing to worry about".
Loops in the upper zone (above the writing that sits on the baseline) indicates imagination. This can mean fantasy, daydreams, unique ideas, or interest in many philosophies and ideas. Depending upon which letter the loop is part of it can also indicate being fearful, being too open to the influence of others, or of being paranoid or manic.
Loops dropping below the baseline are going into the sub-conscious where they can indicate sexual fantasy, desire for physical activity, a love of art, color and textures, or a desire for material possessions. Incomplete loops here often indicate frustration, thin loops a lack of trust, small loops show clannishness and lack of a loop altogether show determination and a desire to go forward.
Odd, damaged or twisted loops also have meaning but these must be carefully considered according to which area of the writing occurs.
Loops are important an component in your writing. Any loops out of place (such as at the bottom of the lines forming the m or on the first part of a cursive y) are called worry loops. My mother's writing had so many loops I once told her "you would worry if you thought you had nothing to worry about".
Loops in the upper zone (above the writing that sits on the baseline) indicates imagination. This can mean fantasy, daydreams, unique ideas, or interest in many philosophies and ideas. Depending upon which letter the loop is part of it can also indicate being fearful, being too open to the influence of others, or of being paranoid or manic.
Loops dropping below the baseline are going into the sub-conscious where they can indicate sexual fantasy, desire for physical activity, a love of art, color and textures, or a desire for material possessions. Incomplete loops here often indicate frustration, thin loops a lack of trust, small loops show clannishness and lack of a loop altogether show determination and a desire to go forward.
Odd, damaged or twisted loops also have meaning but these must be carefully considered according to which area of the writing occurs.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Is handwriting analysis universal?
This past year I have had a chance to work with a lady in India as well as a gentleman in Indonesia who are fairly new to graphology. So I can say from experience this has held true. I had a chance to cruise as a guest-lecturer one spring and was worried about running into foreign writing and if I could correctly interpret it. Luckily I did not run into any at that time but after working with these graphologists I have seen first hand that the rules do work even for foreign writing as long as it is based on the Latin alphabet.
The writing in other countries may have more upright slants but this is becoming true in the USA as well. As people print more than they use cursive the whole world is becoming a place of disconnection to one another. People try to hide their feelings in an effort to not be hurt or hide themselves in work often shutting out family as well as the world.
My great grand daughter's school has a big sheet hung in the hall and each year all of the children and teacher's write their names upon it. I love looking it over as you see the personality of so many of the children just in the placement of the name. There is Victorio whose parents have made practice his handwriting so it is very clear and legible but to be different he wrote in such a way his name is upside down. Or Elizabeth who managed to be near the very center of the sheet. She's the one who wants to be a rock star and the center of attention. Then there is timid little Karrie Ann who signed in the corner. So even with this big sheet you get a feel for how placement of your writing on a page can say a lot about your personality.
The writing in other countries may have more upright slants but this is becoming true in the USA as well. As people print more than they use cursive the whole world is becoming a place of disconnection to one another. People try to hide their feelings in an effort to not be hurt or hide themselves in work often shutting out family as well as the world.
My great grand daughter's school has a big sheet hung in the hall and each year all of the children and teacher's write their names upon it. I love looking it over as you see the personality of so many of the children just in the placement of the name. There is Victorio whose parents have made practice his handwriting so it is very clear and legible but to be different he wrote in such a way his name is upside down. Or Elizabeth who managed to be near the very center of the sheet. She's the one who wants to be a rock star and the center of attention. Then there is timid little Karrie Ann who signed in the corner. So even with this big sheet you get a feel for how placement of your writing on a page can say a lot about your personality.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Grapho-therapy
Lately there has been much discussion on the use of grapho-therapy. This is a very serious topic because while you can make some changes to yourself through graphology it can be hazardous as well. To change things willy nilly can make you jumpy, anxious, argumentative and a host of other things depending upon what you are changing. For example: we often tell a child with low self esteem or very timid to underline their name every time they write it even if they only write their first name. A child who was aggressive with excess pride or vanity would be even more nasty because they would be enforcing in their mind that they are as great as they think.
Handwriting can identify the defences in the writing as well as the fears that create these defences. It is the fears that need work. Once they are addressed then the defences will disappear or alter. Like psychoanalysis it is a balancing act of finding a fear, realizing why it exists and working to get rid of it. Do the wrong thing or go too fast and the fear might surface elsewhere or get worse. So grapho-therapy should only be done by someone with credentials and knowledge of psychology or psychiatry. Even then therapy should go slowly with weekly checks on progress and problems and the only time to change slant would be if the writer's slant was all over the place. The best thing at this point would be to see if one slant was prevelant and if not pick a slant that would be positive for this person. Are the connections garland? Then a slight right slant would fit. Angle connections, then an upright slant would allow them to be logical and analytical.
One change should be done at a time for 30 days writing an affirmative message that would apply to this person's goals. This should be written for 15 minutes a day and if they only finish 1 or 2 while another person writes 4 or more in the same time, fine. It wouldn't hurt to write 2 lines of a focusing pattern before starting. A focusing pattern would be one that rhythmically changes direction like a series of u's connected with a straight line or a wave pattern.
The personal pronoun I also should not be changed except under special circumstances. Then usually it will be changed to a Roman numeral I for independence.
Handwriting can identify the defences in the writing as well as the fears that create these defences. It is the fears that need work. Once they are addressed then the defences will disappear or alter. Like psychoanalysis it is a balancing act of finding a fear, realizing why it exists and working to get rid of it. Do the wrong thing or go too fast and the fear might surface elsewhere or get worse. So grapho-therapy should only be done by someone with credentials and knowledge of psychology or psychiatry. Even then therapy should go slowly with weekly checks on progress and problems and the only time to change slant would be if the writer's slant was all over the place. The best thing at this point would be to see if one slant was prevelant and if not pick a slant that would be positive for this person. Are the connections garland? Then a slight right slant would fit. Angle connections, then an upright slant would allow them to be logical and analytical.
One change should be done at a time for 30 days writing an affirmative message that would apply to this person's goals. This should be written for 15 minutes a day and if they only finish 1 or 2 while another person writes 4 or more in the same time, fine. It wouldn't hurt to write 2 lines of a focusing pattern before starting. A focusing pattern would be one that rhythmically changes direction like a series of u's connected with a straight line or a wave pattern.
The personal pronoun I also should not be changed except under special circumstances. Then usually it will be changed to a Roman numeral I for independence.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Psuedoscience or not? What do you think?
Once again I have been reading about graphology being a pseudoscience and my biggest question is how would you "scientifically" prove what we term the signs in writing. For one thing, one sign may change the meaning of another making the second sign more or less likely to be acted upon. Also your writing is affected by the way you feel. Do you have a headache today, is your health good, did you sleep well, are you angry with the person you are writing to, angry about a product they make, etc. Did you start out angry and then calm down and become more reasonable. All of these will make changes to your writing so how do you "scientifically" prove anything about handwriting?
There is a handwriting recognition program that is supposed to be quite remarkable but I do not believe it analyzes handwriting for personality or character. Though I believe it has been deemed able to detect forgery. I also knew of one graphologist who was working with a computer programmer to measure many points of the writing in an attempt to be more consistent and accurate. Accurate at what? There also is a professor in the Phoenix AZ area working with a program and a computer tablet to analyze writing. I have seen samples of how the tablet works and it even will show the air strokes when the pen is moved above the tablet. These air strokes can be amazing at times. One man who had to sign his legal name actually wrote Bill in the air between his first and last name and it showed on the tablet. It is scientific but what is it proving about graphology?
Graphologists through observation and sharing of experience have found that certain letters relate to different aspects of a person's life and personality. The slant of the writing and types of connections used indicate the openness and friendliness or if you will how outgoing they may be. Open ovals how talkative, though you may be talkative and have closed ovals. It's been found that the upper zone relates to the mental activity, middle zone to the day to day, baseline to the line of reality and the lower zone to the physical, sexual, instinctual and material. When the writing is messy, tangled, and varies in size, pressure and letter shape the writer is as confused as you are. They either don't know what they want or don't know how to go about getting it. They may want friends but are so intrusive they push people away. Want education or a better job but feel everyone looks down upon them so they act negatively. If they do get a chance they may not take full advantage because they feel unworthy. Humans are complicated and by-products of their individual life, personality and experiences that's why I ask how do you prove graphology scientifically?
There is a handwriting recognition program that is supposed to be quite remarkable but I do not believe it analyzes handwriting for personality or character. Though I believe it has been deemed able to detect forgery. I also knew of one graphologist who was working with a computer programmer to measure many points of the writing in an attempt to be more consistent and accurate. Accurate at what? There also is a professor in the Phoenix AZ area working with a program and a computer tablet to analyze writing. I have seen samples of how the tablet works and it even will show the air strokes when the pen is moved above the tablet. These air strokes can be amazing at times. One man who had to sign his legal name actually wrote Bill in the air between his first and last name and it showed on the tablet. It is scientific but what is it proving about graphology?
Graphologists through observation and sharing of experience have found that certain letters relate to different aspects of a person's life and personality. The slant of the writing and types of connections used indicate the openness and friendliness or if you will how outgoing they may be. Open ovals how talkative, though you may be talkative and have closed ovals. It's been found that the upper zone relates to the mental activity, middle zone to the day to day, baseline to the line of reality and the lower zone to the physical, sexual, instinctual and material. When the writing is messy, tangled, and varies in size, pressure and letter shape the writer is as confused as you are. They either don't know what they want or don't know how to go about getting it. They may want friends but are so intrusive they push people away. Want education or a better job but feel everyone looks down upon them so they act negatively. If they do get a chance they may not take full advantage because they feel unworthy. Humans are complicated and by-products of their individual life, personality and experiences that's why I ask how do you prove graphology scientifically?
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Printing
Recently I asked a friend what she needs help understanding in graphology. The reply was printing. It really seems as if more and more people are printing around the world. While some educators worry that not only will handwriting (cursive) become a lost art there may come a day when only a few specialists will be able to read cursive. I certainly hope this is not true because it would be a shame to regress as human beings.
Technology has brought many changes that, in my opinion, are not good. People have good hand-eye coordination from video games but little finger and wrist dexterity needed for writing. As well as new repetitive motion injuries. Spelling has been trashed by texting especially among the younger generation. Each stroke costs money so either any letter considered unnecessary is left out or only initials are used. You must learn the code to participate frustrating many parents I must add. Changes are coming about so fast products are obsolete by the time they hit the market. It has been said there have been more changes in the last twenty years than in the hundred years before.
But I digress, the first thing you know if your subject is a printer is they will not reveal as much in their writing as a cursive writer would. Also printing should be vertical so give more credibility to any slant they may have.
Next consider the style of the printing. There is block printing where all letters are capitals, manuscript where they look like typewritten letters and finally a mix of upper and lower case letters. Luckily you do not often see the manuscript style because the few I have seen were so tiny and precise they almost looked machine made. The mixed style will give you more information than the block printing or manuscript.
As with any writing the first thing to do is hold it at arms length. Is it pleasing to the eye? If not, why not. Does it seem rigid and inflexible, inharmonious in some way, have heavier pressure in some areas making it darker, or maybe it bounces along the baseline. Does anything stand out? Do the letters touch? If so how much? Does one letter connect to another in some way but not lean into it? Do they appear to hold each other upright? Is there a slant to the writing? Does the slant vary? Is there a lead-in stroke that doubling of the first stroke that is really not necessary to the letter. Feel the back of the page. Was there enough pressure used to feel the letters on the paper? These are all questions you would ask if the writing were cursive so you can now see there is much to be learned from printing.
With block printing notice where the center of letters such as A, B, E, F, H, K, P, R, touches the stem. If it is in the center of the stem the writer is balanced, not placing more emphasis on any one part of their life. When the stem is touched high up the stem making the lower portion largest you will find the writer lives for the day to day world. They normally have no long term goals and prefer instant gratification. While the joining to the stem lower than center creates a larger upper portion. This printing belongs to the individual who is the thinker and planner. They intellectualize to the cost of the every day world.
Technology has brought many changes that, in my opinion, are not good. People have good hand-eye coordination from video games but little finger and wrist dexterity needed for writing. As well as new repetitive motion injuries. Spelling has been trashed by texting especially among the younger generation. Each stroke costs money so either any letter considered unnecessary is left out or only initials are used. You must learn the code to participate frustrating many parents I must add. Changes are coming about so fast products are obsolete by the time they hit the market. It has been said there have been more changes in the last twenty years than in the hundred years before.
But I digress, the first thing you know if your subject is a printer is they will not reveal as much in their writing as a cursive writer would. Also printing should be vertical so give more credibility to any slant they may have.
Next consider the style of the printing. There is block printing where all letters are capitals, manuscript where they look like typewritten letters and finally a mix of upper and lower case letters. Luckily you do not often see the manuscript style because the few I have seen were so tiny and precise they almost looked machine made. The mixed style will give you more information than the block printing or manuscript.
As with any writing the first thing to do is hold it at arms length. Is it pleasing to the eye? If not, why not. Does it seem rigid and inflexible, inharmonious in some way, have heavier pressure in some areas making it darker, or maybe it bounces along the baseline. Does anything stand out? Do the letters touch? If so how much? Does one letter connect to another in some way but not lean into it? Do they appear to hold each other upright? Is there a slant to the writing? Does the slant vary? Is there a lead-in stroke that doubling of the first stroke that is really not necessary to the letter. Feel the back of the page. Was there enough pressure used to feel the letters on the paper? These are all questions you would ask if the writing were cursive so you can now see there is much to be learned from printing.
With block printing notice where the center of letters such as A, B, E, F, H, K, P, R, touches the stem. If it is in the center of the stem the writer is balanced, not placing more emphasis on any one part of their life. When the stem is touched high up the stem making the lower portion largest you will find the writer lives for the day to day world. They normally have no long term goals and prefer instant gratification. While the joining to the stem lower than center creates a larger upper portion. This printing belongs to the individual who is the thinker and planner. They intellectualize to the cost of the every day world.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Relationships
There are ten clues to what a person is like that you should pay attention to when entering a relationship be it personal or business. I will give you five of them today.
1. Jealousy or envy - two sides of the same coin. Envy shows best on the letter c when it starts with a tiny circle. While jealousy shows mainly in a tight circle on the lower loops of the letters g, j, y. This is also considered to be a clannish person who has few close friends but that is because they do not trust others. Are jealous of what others have and fearful of losing what they have. They do not share.
2. Dual personality - the slant of the writing changes even within a word. Their mood can change in a heartbeat. They are insecure so always on the defensive and quick to take offence at little or nothing but an imagined slight.
3. Excessively sensitive - this is shown in looped T's and D's. The bigger the loop the bigger the sensitivity. If the loop also leans to the left they can become paranoid and if it leans to the right be manic and out of control.
4. Hot temper - quick to lash out at others be it physically or verbally. This is seen in slashed i dots and punctuation and in t bars starting at or right of the stem. If it narrows to a point like a javelin they will be sarcastic and cutting. If it ends with a club like thickness they may get physical when mad.
5. Domineering - this shows in downward drawn t bars. If the bar ends in a point they are very sarcastic but more likely to be a whiner while if it ends with a thick, solid look they are the ones who can become physical.
We all may have some of these ten traits because we are human with all sorts of emotions and problems. It is when too many show up in the same writing or in excess that you should be aware there will be a rocky road in the relationship and maybe you should keep on looking.
1. Jealousy or envy - two sides of the same coin. Envy shows best on the letter c when it starts with a tiny circle. While jealousy shows mainly in a tight circle on the lower loops of the letters g, j, y. This is also considered to be a clannish person who has few close friends but that is because they do not trust others. Are jealous of what others have and fearful of losing what they have. They do not share.
2. Dual personality - the slant of the writing changes even within a word. Their mood can change in a heartbeat. They are insecure so always on the defensive and quick to take offence at little or nothing but an imagined slight.
3. Excessively sensitive - this is shown in looped T's and D's. The bigger the loop the bigger the sensitivity. If the loop also leans to the left they can become paranoid and if it leans to the right be manic and out of control.
4. Hot temper - quick to lash out at others be it physically or verbally. This is seen in slashed i dots and punctuation and in t bars starting at or right of the stem. If it narrows to a point like a javelin they will be sarcastic and cutting. If it ends with a club like thickness they may get physical when mad.
5. Domineering - this shows in downward drawn t bars. If the bar ends in a point they are very sarcastic but more likely to be a whiner while if it ends with a thick, solid look they are the ones who can become physical.
We all may have some of these ten traits because we are human with all sorts of emotions and problems. It is when too many show up in the same writing or in excess that you should be aware there will be a rocky road in the relationship and maybe you should keep on looking.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Directional pressure or not?
Sorry, I've been gone so long but about 4 months ago my personal world fell apart and there is no sign of real improvement in the near future. Most days I have little or no time for what I want to do.
Today I want to talk about directional pressure seen in the writing. One of the groups I belong to have been discussing this topic and splitting hairs on what constitutes directional pressure. This type of pressure is seen when any normally straight line like the stem of a b, d, f, h, l, p bends instead of being straight it is an indication of pressure from either the past or family or of the future. One of our disagreements was on the bent t-bar. Technically when the t-bar is convex or concave it is directional pressure but I was not alone when I said I did not consider it as such because the pressure is placed upon the individual by himself and not by outside sources.
When you see a stem that bows to the right it indicates some pressure the individual feels from the past or family. Maybe they have always been unfairly compared to a sibling, feel they do not measure up to what their parents expect, or feel they failed in the past and are afraid of repeating the experience. If it bows to the left it would mean pressure from the future or fear of the unknown. They may be starting school, a new job, or something they have never done before and have cold feet. As always you would search the rest of the writing for clues to what caused this displaced pressure.
In contrast, the convex t-bar would look like an umbrella and it is a self-protection. It was argued this was pressure from authority but I argued it was an attempt at self control. Pressure from authority would normally be seen in writing that crawls along the baseline like it was afraid to stand up straight, to stick out the neck for fear of getting hurt.
The concave t-bar can take on the look of a crucifix, a badly formed Y, or in rare cases a pitchfork. These people feel they are always the victims, the outsider, or the martyr. Nothing that happens to them is ever their fault and they will continue to make the same bad choices and wonder why things keep happening.
Today I want to talk about directional pressure seen in the writing. One of the groups I belong to have been discussing this topic and splitting hairs on what constitutes directional pressure. This type of pressure is seen when any normally straight line like the stem of a b, d, f, h, l, p bends instead of being straight it is an indication of pressure from either the past or family or of the future. One of our disagreements was on the bent t-bar. Technically when the t-bar is convex or concave it is directional pressure but I was not alone when I said I did not consider it as such because the pressure is placed upon the individual by himself and not by outside sources.
When you see a stem that bows to the right it indicates some pressure the individual feels from the past or family. Maybe they have always been unfairly compared to a sibling, feel they do not measure up to what their parents expect, or feel they failed in the past and are afraid of repeating the experience. If it bows to the left it would mean pressure from the future or fear of the unknown. They may be starting school, a new job, or something they have never done before and have cold feet. As always you would search the rest of the writing for clues to what caused this displaced pressure.
In contrast, the convex t-bar would look like an umbrella and it is a self-protection. It was argued this was pressure from authority but I argued it was an attempt at self control. Pressure from authority would normally be seen in writing that crawls along the baseline like it was afraid to stand up straight, to stick out the neck for fear of getting hurt.
The concave t-bar can take on the look of a crucifix, a badly formed Y, or in rare cases a pitchfork. These people feel they are always the victims, the outsider, or the martyr. Nothing that happens to them is ever their fault and they will continue to make the same bad choices and wonder why things keep happening.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Books I have written
I have done two books for newcomers to graphology. The first The Trait Directory shows as many indicators as I could find for nearly 300 personality traits and has room for the reader to write them in as well. This allows the reader to fix the indicator more firmly in mind. The book is most useful when you have to decide among several traits which one fits the writer best.
My second book is The Alphabet Speaks and each letter is shown with the different stabs, loops, shapes associated with the letter with an explanation of what this indicates.
These books are available through me. I can mail a printed copy already bound for:
The Trait Directory........................$15 plus postage or as an e-book you can print for............$10
The Alphabet Speaks.....................$20 plus postage or as an e-book you can print for...........$15
I can accept payment thru PayPal or money order.
My second book is The Alphabet Speaks and each letter is shown with the different stabs, loops, shapes associated with the letter with an explanation of what this indicates.
These books are available through me. I can mail a printed copy already bound for:
The Trait Directory........................$15 plus postage or as an e-book you can print for............$10
The Alphabet Speaks.....................$20 plus postage or as an e-book you can print for...........$15
I can accept payment thru PayPal or money order.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Fears, Defenses, Resistances, and Escapes
The fears that show in handwriting are mainly fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of ridicule, fear of success. There are nuances for each of these fears but they mostly boil down to these four.
Once you have found the fears in a writing you must try to identify why it exists. Then what are the defenses for this fear. What are the resistances and escapes. To give you an example I will use myself. My writing shows I have a fear of loss or rejection. My defense is to be a people pleaser. The resistance is to avoid conflict at all costs and my escape is to manipulate others to fight my battles.
I had a very happy childhood and found the fear of loss or rejection puzzleing. My teacher Ron told me it stemmed from very early childhood. I said my parents divorced when I was 3. Instead of being told about the divorce we were told our mother had died. I do remember the anger I felt when told my mother had died. I don't even remember how old I was when we learned the truth that she didn't die until I was nearly 7. In the last few years I have learned what I thought were recurring dreams were memories. One was of myself trying to reach a baby bottle under the bed while a baby cried. The other was of 2 women coming to the house and being turned away and one of the ladies crying. But I was about 25 when I learned I had a half sister. To make a long story short in todays world she would have been charged with child endangerment and it was one of the things that led to the divorce.
To go on my defense became to be a pleaser while my stubborn German background threw in some "silent rebellion" in the form of backwards formed capital I's and lower case f's. My avoidance of conflict has made it hard for me to say NO and even now that causes me to take on more than I should.
As for the escape I find I hint at what I want or need done and hope others will take care of it for me.
At least I am aware of these things and to know yourself so well is a valuable lesson. Through my studies of graphology and writing the Alphabet Speaks I have made some changes. Becoming a bit more analytical, a bit more reserved, and I can actually say NO now and mean it.
So look at your writing. Did you identify your fear? Do you understand what your defense is and the resistance and escape? If not lets get together.
Once you have found the fears in a writing you must try to identify why it exists. Then what are the defenses for this fear. What are the resistances and escapes. To give you an example I will use myself. My writing shows I have a fear of loss or rejection. My defense is to be a people pleaser. The resistance is to avoid conflict at all costs and my escape is to manipulate others to fight my battles.
I had a very happy childhood and found the fear of loss or rejection puzzleing. My teacher Ron told me it stemmed from very early childhood. I said my parents divorced when I was 3. Instead of being told about the divorce we were told our mother had died. I do remember the anger I felt when told my mother had died. I don't even remember how old I was when we learned the truth that she didn't die until I was nearly 7. In the last few years I have learned what I thought were recurring dreams were memories. One was of myself trying to reach a baby bottle under the bed while a baby cried. The other was of 2 women coming to the house and being turned away and one of the ladies crying. But I was about 25 when I learned I had a half sister. To make a long story short in todays world she would have been charged with child endangerment and it was one of the things that led to the divorce.
To go on my defense became to be a pleaser while my stubborn German background threw in some "silent rebellion" in the form of backwards formed capital I's and lower case f's. My avoidance of conflict has made it hard for me to say NO and even now that causes me to take on more than I should.
As for the escape I find I hint at what I want or need done and hope others will take care of it for me.
At least I am aware of these things and to know yourself so well is a valuable lesson. Through my studies of graphology and writing the Alphabet Speaks I have made some changes. Becoming a bit more analytical, a bit more reserved, and I can actually say NO now and mean it.
So look at your writing. Did you identify your fear? Do you understand what your defense is and the resistance and escape? If not lets get together.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
To change or not to change
I have been thinking a lot about grapho-therapy lately. My original teacher did quite a bit of grapho-therapy and was especially successful with anorexics and bulimics who had no success with the traditional medical approach. He wanted to have one of his more promising students learn about medical signs in handwriting and to do grapho-therapy but she was too busy and then he became too ill.
First the writing has to be analyzed thoroughly. The analyst must decide what traits if any should be changed in the writing. Some people are happy as they are. Others don’t want to change because it would bring on too many changes in their lives. And remember a negative trait is not always a negative when it is tempering another trait.
Next does you client have things they want to change in their personality? Do you agree with the changes they think they want? You need to find out more about your client. What do they like and dislike about themselves. Not about their writing but themselves personally. It may be silly or trivial. the color of their eyes, length of their nose, they bite their nails, the shape of their ears who knows what they will some up with. You will be getting more of their writing to look at and may learn some fact that will help in the therapy.
Each trait has to be looked at to see if it is a fear, defense, resistance or escape or if it fits several of these categories. If it is a fear what is it’s defense? What are the resistances and escapes in play. What would be the first thing to change in the writing to cause the least damage? Once you have decided upon a change to recommend what do you expect to happen? Will this change be positive or negative? What about any peripheral changes? What might also change? Is this good or bad?
The first thing generally advised for grapho-therapy, and that is usually not one to cause problems, is to underline the name because things you underline are important. But what if your client is an adult with very high t and d stems (pride bordering on vanity)? To underline their name could make them obnoxious. Especially if they are aggressive and argumentative to begin or if their t and d stems are taller than the capitals (conceit).
Look at the t and d stems are they looped? Looped stems would mean a sensitivity to criticism. Is this acting like a brake on the aggressiveness? Then you don’t want to remove the sensitivity right away.
What about the e? Is it open or closed. If closed you could have them open the e so they are able to listen to others. To at least consider another’s ideas and opinions.
What if they have a looped t (fear of failure) and y that does not come back to the baseline (fear of success). Which should you change first? It depends up on the rest of the writing.
No matter what you decide is the change to make it is important to keep a close eye on what else is changing and if the changes are having any physical effect on the client. Headaches, tremors, nervousness etc. It may be necessary to stop or change the therapy in this case.
First the writing has to be analyzed thoroughly. The analyst must decide what traits if any should be changed in the writing. Some people are happy as they are. Others don’t want to change because it would bring on too many changes in their lives. And remember a negative trait is not always a negative when it is tempering another trait.
Next does you client have things they want to change in their personality? Do you agree with the changes they think they want? You need to find out more about your client. What do they like and dislike about themselves. Not about their writing but themselves personally. It may be silly or trivial. the color of their eyes, length of their nose, they bite their nails, the shape of their ears who knows what they will some up with. You will be getting more of their writing to look at and may learn some fact that will help in the therapy.
Each trait has to be looked at to see if it is a fear, defense, resistance or escape or if it fits several of these categories. If it is a fear what is it’s defense? What are the resistances and escapes in play. What would be the first thing to change in the writing to cause the least damage? Once you have decided upon a change to recommend what do you expect to happen? Will this change be positive or negative? What about any peripheral changes? What might also change? Is this good or bad?
The first thing generally advised for grapho-therapy, and that is usually not one to cause problems, is to underline the name because things you underline are important. But what if your client is an adult with very high t and d stems (pride bordering on vanity)? To underline their name could make them obnoxious. Especially if they are aggressive and argumentative to begin or if their t and d stems are taller than the capitals (conceit).
Look at the t and d stems are they looped? Looped stems would mean a sensitivity to criticism. Is this acting like a brake on the aggressiveness? Then you don’t want to remove the sensitivity right away.
What about the e? Is it open or closed. If closed you could have them open the e so they are able to listen to others. To at least consider another’s ideas and opinions.
What if they have a looped t (fear of failure) and y that does not come back to the baseline (fear of success). Which should you change first? It depends up on the rest of the writing.
No matter what you decide is the change to make it is important to keep a close eye on what else is changing and if the changes are having any physical effect on the client. Headaches, tremors, nervousness etc. It may be necessary to stop or change the therapy in this case.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
My speaking engagement
Recently I was asked to do a class for a group of singles. Of course, what they really wanted was to find out about themselves through their writing. This group was an older group with some widows and widowers and really balanced people. One had a learning disability which she shared with the group and when I mentioned having done the writing, on a cruise, of a man with essential tremors another lady said she suffered from them as well.
One of the men told us before his wife would date him she insisted on getting his handwriting. He laughed and said he must have passed because they had many happy years together before she died.
Only one person had a totally illegible signature and wanted to know what that indicated. I told her it could be that she signed a lot of papers so just didn't take the time to make it legible. But it can also mean not wanting to take responsibility for the work. The bad part about an illegible signature is that in a business it becomes recognized and everyone knows who it is anyway.
Luckily there was enough variety in this group to cover a lot of information. We did everything from thinking styles to the air strokes that lightly show on the paper. One person said she did the capital I Roman style and sometimes the air stroke squiggled across the I stem. I told her this is considered one (but more have to be present) sign of suicide. But that I have found it most often means at the time of the writing the writer was setting aside his or her desires for those of another. She agreed that was quite possible as she has many demands upon her time.
Since it was originally booked as a class I had done hand-outs on graphology that represented a crash course so I hope they are intrigued enough to ask me back again. One thing for sure a 1 and a 1/2 hr talk ended up being over 2 hrs with all the questions so I think they had a good time.
One of the men told us before his wife would date him she insisted on getting his handwriting. He laughed and said he must have passed because they had many happy years together before she died.
Only one person had a totally illegible signature and wanted to know what that indicated. I told her it could be that she signed a lot of papers so just didn't take the time to make it legible. But it can also mean not wanting to take responsibility for the work. The bad part about an illegible signature is that in a business it becomes recognized and everyone knows who it is anyway.
Luckily there was enough variety in this group to cover a lot of information. We did everything from thinking styles to the air strokes that lightly show on the paper. One person said she did the capital I Roman style and sometimes the air stroke squiggled across the I stem. I told her this is considered one (but more have to be present) sign of suicide. But that I have found it most often means at the time of the writing the writer was setting aside his or her desires for those of another. She agreed that was quite possible as she has many demands upon her time.
Since it was originally booked as a class I had done hand-outs on graphology that represented a crash course so I hope they are intrigued enough to ask me back again. One thing for sure a 1 and a 1/2 hr talk ended up being over 2 hrs with all the questions so I think they had a good time.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Penmanship
Back when our country was started and few people went to school for more than a few years it was important to learn to write. Gradually types of handwriting developed that actually could tell you what the writer's profession was,secretary, butcher, etc. I've no idea when penmanship started in school but well remember working to perfect those push and pulls and the running tunnel of circles. Then the letters of the alphabet themselves some loope and some retraced.
Actually like the letters themselves these exercises taught us restraint and control. It was much easier then to get the idea of writing when the desk was slightly angled. As long as you grasped the concept of left and right it followed that the front edge of the desk was the top. Now with flat desks and teachers who are likely to point to examples of the alphabet around the room and say your letters should look like these it can be hard for a child to learn to write. So many get little or no help at home from parents too busy or too tired to care.
If properly held the pen or pencil will not cause the hand or arm to become tired or cramped after just a few lines. And some exercises can not only be fun but help the child to learn better. Danielle DuMount in France teaches children with rhythm and fun and they quickly learn they can write after all. She has them hold a ribbon and make patterns such as a running line of small loops, next a running line of tall loops. Then make a short and a tall loop across. Next try this on a chalkboard or paper. Suddenly there is a line of letters which in French is le and a word. A set of short waves, a set of tall waves (or cups), a set of short and tall and suddenly another word, it.
Also this sort of exercise can be a big help in other ways. A series of e's and l's, becausethey are soft and rounded, is relaxing and calming while a series of connected w's (especially the pointed ones tho both work) sharpens the focus of the mind. Never overdo these exercises one line is enough and too much has the opposite effect.
Actually like the letters themselves these exercises taught us restraint and control. It was much easier then to get the idea of writing when the desk was slightly angled. As long as you grasped the concept of left and right it followed that the front edge of the desk was the top. Now with flat desks and teachers who are likely to point to examples of the alphabet around the room and say your letters should look like these it can be hard for a child to learn to write. So many get little or no help at home from parents too busy or too tired to care.
If properly held the pen or pencil will not cause the hand or arm to become tired or cramped after just a few lines. And some exercises can not only be fun but help the child to learn better. Danielle DuMount in France teaches children with rhythm and fun and they quickly learn they can write after all. She has them hold a ribbon and make patterns such as a running line of small loops, next a running line of tall loops. Then make a short and a tall loop across. Next try this on a chalkboard or paper. Suddenly there is a line of letters which in French is le and a word. A set of short waves, a set of tall waves (or cups), a set of short and tall and suddenly another word, it.
Also this sort of exercise can be a big help in other ways. A series of e's and l's, becausethey are soft and rounded, is relaxing and calming while a series of connected w's (especially the pointed ones tho both work) sharpens the focus of the mind. Never overdo these exercises one line is enough and too much has the opposite effect.
Friday, June 6, 2008
More on Toxic Words
Toxic words cut into the ego even when we use them on ourselves so imagine how much worse it is on a child who looks up to you and wants to please you. I mentioned some of them in my last blog but there are others. Let me list the words and how they cut.
but - negates what you said before so even if it was praise you have just taken it back or worse
if - presupposes you may not succeed setting YOU up for failure be it a child or yourself
would have - draws attention to what didn't happen nullifying what did happen
should have - not only draws attention but implies guilt because it didn't happen
could have - tries to take credit for what didn't happen and ignore what did happen
try - not only presupposes failure it gives permission to fail!
might - leaves options for the listener not definitive answers
can't or don't - forces focus on the opposite of what you want
True story:
A boy and his cousin were playing in the yard and climbing trees when a storm blew in. The aunt called out to her son "Don't fall!" while the boy's father yelled "Hang on!" The boy hung on tightly to the limb and was ok but the cousin fell and broke his arm because the brain first has to figure what is supposed to be done before it can interpret not to do it.
On a little league team there was a pop ball to an area of the field with the weakest player. Dad yelled at him "Don't drop it!" but the coach yelled "Catch it!" What do you think happened? Well luckily the coach was louder and closer and the kid caught the ball. They didn't win the game but think how proud that boy was that he actually caught the ball.
If you get into the habit of watching what you say to yourself maybe you will be better about toxic words to your child so both of you will benefit. If you stop wondering what if or I should have after making decisions you will find you are less indecisive as well as that you have stopped tearing your ego down.
but - negates what you said before so even if it was praise you have just taken it back or worse
if - presupposes you may not succeed setting YOU up for failure be it a child or yourself
would have - draws attention to what didn't happen nullifying what did happen
should have - not only draws attention but implies guilt because it didn't happen
could have - tries to take credit for what didn't happen and ignore what did happen
try - not only presupposes failure it gives permission to fail!
might - leaves options for the listener not definitive answers
can't or don't - forces focus on the opposite of what you want
True story:
A boy and his cousin were playing in the yard and climbing trees when a storm blew in. The aunt called out to her son "Don't fall!" while the boy's father yelled "Hang on!" The boy hung on tightly to the limb and was ok but the cousin fell and broke his arm because the brain first has to figure what is supposed to be done before it can interpret not to do it.
On a little league team there was a pop ball to an area of the field with the weakest player. Dad yelled at him "Don't drop it!" but the coach yelled "Catch it!" What do you think happened? Well luckily the coach was louder and closer and the kid caught the ball. They didn't win the game but think how proud that boy was that he actually caught the ball.
If you get into the habit of watching what you say to yourself maybe you will be better about toxic words to your child so both of you will benefit. If you stop wondering what if or I should have after making decisions you will find you are less indecisive as well as that you have stopped tearing your ego down.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Tagging
I find facinating becausethe main thing you see in it is need. A need for attention, for affection, for family and for love and a gang is not the place to find any of that. Tagging also starts in the teen or even pre-teen years and again shows the need and vulnerability of the tagger. The kids take on a "tag" or nickname so you know who the tagging belongs to and one I found really vulnerable was named Devine. Big fluffy pillowy letters that leaned into each other for support but always surrounded in some way. The two most memorable...one surrounded by directional arrows pointed every which way, the other a bramble bush with long sharp thorns. So telling in its symbolism.
Every once in a while one of these artists will find a way to go to a graphic arts school and make something of their talent because there can be real artistic talent among taggers. But how much work is there if you only have 1 or 2 styles of graphics. The biggest problem would be to get the artist to study other ways or methods of art. To learn how to produce a saleable piece of work. Most of them do their kind of artwork because they are protesting something. They don't want to be tied down with rules and follow directions even though they would give everything if their art was recognized. They are so busy fighting for freedom they can't see how learning properly would free them. Would give them the tools for a better life, to possibly become a money making artist. But first they need to learn some discipline, to proportion their drawings properly, to work even when they may not want to because there is a deadline. Maybe even learn a new technique that would work better. Most of all they would have to be come accountable to someone else, to them a fate worse than death. Well kids, wait until you have a family to support or even just yourself. You can only go from friend to friend mooching or panhandling on the street which can be really dangerous. Then you have to grow up and why work at a low paying job you hate when with a little effort you may get a job you can enjoy using your talents.
Every once in a while one of these artists will find a way to go to a graphic arts school and make something of their talent because there can be real artistic talent among taggers. But how much work is there if you only have 1 or 2 styles of graphics. The biggest problem would be to get the artist to study other ways or methods of art. To learn how to produce a saleable piece of work. Most of them do their kind of artwork because they are protesting something. They don't want to be tied down with rules and follow directions even though they would give everything if their art was recognized. They are so busy fighting for freedom they can't see how learning properly would free them. Would give them the tools for a better life, to possibly become a money making artist. But first they need to learn some discipline, to proportion their drawings properly, to work even when they may not want to because there is a deadline. Maybe even learn a new technique that would work better. Most of all they would have to be come accountable to someone else, to them a fate worse than death. Well kids, wait until you have a family to support or even just yourself. You can only go from friend to friend mooching or panhandling on the street which can be really dangerous. Then you have to grow up and why work at a low paying job you hate when with a little effort you may get a job you can enjoy using your talents.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)