What your handwriting says about you

WHETHER YOU’RE INTROVERT OR EXTROVERT, A DREAMER OR A DOER, YOUR HANDWRITING REVEALS ALL. HERE’S HOW TO INTERPRET IT

When we put pen to paper, we may not realise it but our personality is there in every stroke and mark we make. Handwriting analysis, or graphology, studies the unique features of writing, from the spaces between letters to the curliness of a ‘g’, to reveal our individual traits and how we interact with the world, cope with stress and express emotions.

HANDWRITING OR BRAINWRITING?

Handwriting, as with all fine motor coordination, is a physical process; the brain sends signals to the arm, the hand and the fingers to manipulate a writing tool (the pen or pencil you are holding). The brain is very much the main control room, which is why our writing can be described as the X-ray of the mind. It is therefore not surprising that no two handwriting styles are the same and they are as unique as a fingerprint.

Since we first developed the ability to write, there have been academics and historians who have taken great pains to analyse what is hidden in our individual

handwriting styles. Julius Caesar’s writing was analysed by Suetonius Tranquillus. The 11th-century Chinese were studying the meaning behind handwriting, and in 17th-century Europe Camillo Baldi, an eminent doctor and

historian, published The Means of Knowing the Habits and Qualities of a Writer from

His Letters. Since then Gainsborough, Goethe, Jung and Einstein have all commented on the ‘art’ of handwriting analysis. Over the years the founders of handwriting analysis have kept careful records of their findings, which are the basis of what graphologists use today.

Even with so many modern forms of communication, handwriting will never go away. We are the only species on the planet that can communicate our feelings with writing and symbols. Learning to write helps children develop fine motor control and it helps to preserve memory as we grow older. Understanding a bit more about handwriting helps us feel more in tune with ourselves and others and it can be a lot of fun, too.

Before you start, write a few sentences on blank paper – avoid copying text as it will slow down your natural speed – and then sign your name under the text.

How straight is your line?

It’s always better to write on unlined paper to get a true indication of your writing style.

Straight line – stable, controlled, dependable, likely to allow their head to rule their heart.

Rigid line – if it looks like you have used an imaginary ruler, you like rigid order and structure.

Ascending line – happy, optimistic and generally upbeat. Good at working in a team. Descending baseline – can indicate negativity and gloom. Maybe this writer isn’t feeling great about themselves or they’re not feeling well. Flexible baseline – most of us do this, especially when writing fast. It means we’re open to ideas and feeling excitable and energetic. Maybe the moods of this writer are a little unstable.

The upper zone Intellectual and spiritual matters

The letters that stand tall such as ‘l’ and ‘t’ reflect our mental perceptions. All our intellectual and cultural aspirations are represented here as well as our fantasy world, spiritual and philosophical beliefs.

Emphasis on the upper zone can be a wonderful thing, but too much of it and people could see you as a flake, a dreamer or the ultimate trickster.

A ‘normal’ upper zone should have well-proportioned loops and stems with reasonably placed ‘i’ dots and ‘t’ crosses. A healthy balance indicates mental stability and an enquiring mind. An overly extended upper zone with long strokes can denote intelligence but this person may also be a dreamer.

A short upper zone may indicate a lack of creativity and imagination, but they are likely to be reliable and sociable.

The middle zone Relationships, emotions and day-to-day

The central section of your handwriting delves into the sphere of the here and now. People who have dominant middle zones are rooted in the present and concerned with practical and everyday concerns. A medium-height middle zone that neither dominates nor is swamped by the upper and lower zones indicates a healthy level of self-confidence, a sensible attitude to life.

A very large middle zone can point towards self-interest, an impulsive person who can’t wait when they want something (young people and children often naturally have large middle zones).

A small middle zone that is dwarfed by the other two zones can indicate a person that feels inferior and underrates their own abilities. A small middle zone that is in proportion to the other zones, however, may be an independent spirit with excellent powers of concentration.

A fluctuating middle zone is quick to become emotionally attached and may be difficult to fathom. However they may be versatile and are unlikely to be boring!

Because this zone is about everyday issues, it’s more likely to fluctuate – try writing a sentence at different times of the day to see how much.

The lower zone Sexuality and materialistic concerns

This relates to our unconscious and instinctual urges; our downward strokes and movements indicate our material needs and wants and basic human drives.

A well balanced lower zone tends to be slightly longer than the upper zone with a little more room for variety of form. All in all, it should look in keeping with the rest of the writing and not be overly embellished. A lower zone with loops and strokes that dominate the whole writing and draw your eyes to... well... ‘down below’ may indicate a writer that finds it hard to control their physical impulses. A lower zone that becomes entangled with the other lines can point to someone who is a little too confused to get much fun out of their physical life.

A stunted lower zone can mean that their physical life is very important to the writer. This can point to a practical thinker who doesn’t allow themselves to get caught up in unconscious desires.

Long, stick-like lower letters can show a restless character who can be defensive. Most of us have a combination but sometimes flip-flopping between a wide variety of lower-zones forms can hint at an unsettled sexual focus or insatiable appetite. »

YOUR SIGNATURE

Our signature shows how we want to be seen by others. However, the image we portray may not be reflected in reality so one should compare the signature to the main text. If the difference is marked then so is the difference between reality and perception.

Same signature: if the signature looks in every way the same as the writing then what you see is what you get. There is little façade or artifice with this person.

Large signature – if the signature is larger than the text the person wants to be seen as more important than they really feel. They are literally bigging themselves up.

Smaller signature – a signature that’s smaller than the text shows a writer who has chosen to take a back seat, to fade into the crowd. Signature on right of page This is common and indicates a healthy, vital and progressive outlook. Signature on left of page There is a reluctance to move forward. Signature in centre of page The writer feels a need to be at the centre of what they do and wants people to know they are worthy of attention. Illegible signature with a legible script The writer wants to convey their ideas and thoughts but feels a need to hide between a wall of anonymity. They are likely to be secretive. Signature underlined This writer feels important and wants people to be aware of it. Part of the signature crossed out Which of the names is crossed out? Are they trying to eradicate their family name or harbouring hostility and bad feelings about themselves? This signature has a flying final stroke to the right which acts both as a show of stubbornness but also reluctance to allow others to get too close.