| Show Want tofind out what makes you tick? Just pick up a pen By J J Leonard ill If I seated nysdf in front of the round dining room table (( VLI I shifted in the chair until I was quite comfortable and prepared to copy out the paragraph on the sheet of blank papier in front of me “Just think of this as a lark" 1 told myself as I began to scribble “Just think of the stories you can dine out on when this guy’s conclusions are all I guess I'm a skeptic at heart I make it a point not to trust in things like graphology So I never expected anything to come of having my off-bas- er handwriting analyzed A few laughs maybe But certainly nothing revealing Nothing of consequence I was wrong I recognized the truth of most of graphologist Dr Carlos Pedregal's assertions right away But when he announced that I was very decisive but often not patient enough I was sure that I’d caught him in a mistake It took me a week to accept the fact that as much as I didn't want to believe it signs of my impatience stood out like highway markers in both my professional and personal life I'd simply chosen to ignore them I had to confess Dr Fedregal knew me— or at least certain aspects of my personality —better than I knew myself Had phology I known more about graat the time I might not he been so surprised Graphology op erates on the same principle as for example the Rorsharch psychological tests In putting words on a piece of paper or interpreting inkblots — a person projects her unconscious personality Where the writer chooses to first place her pen on the page indicates how she situates herself in relation to family and society The shape and length of the lines reveal other personality traits From there the analysis narrows down to looking at specific letters—their size shapai slant and how they’re grouped Even the choice of writing implement the pressure applied and legibility are considered And of course the signature is studied—the individuals personal creation that no parent or teacher has had a hand in transforming “One characteristic in isolation shows nothing!’ says Dr Pedregal "The conjunction of everything is used to analyze a person's handwriting! In all a graphologist examines over 300 aspects of a person’s script The result? “Your handwriting will tell an expert things that your best friend cr mate wouldn't know after a lull 10 years! says Dr Pedregal Not surprisingly a handwriting analysis can often provide new insights into yourself your relationships and jour life as well Take Mike and Susan (not their real names) as an example The coujpie decided they would both have their handwriting analyzed For the most part husband and wife were pleased with the results Each however adamantly disagreed with one of the characteristics listed in their respective analyses Mike’s handwriting had revealed that he placed too much importance on himself and his family “The rest of the world can die so long as we’re okay was the attitude that came through Though Mike denied that this was true his wife felt that the analysis was right on target Interestingly Susan’s point of contention was about a characteristic that was in direct opposition to the quality Mike had argued about Her script showed a tendency to put other people’s needs first before her own or her family’s something which Mile had accrued her of time and time again “You don’t care enough about our kids” he'd tell her “You're always taking care of all the other kids in the neighborhood! conflicting reactions sparked numerous discussions between the two Finally Mike and Susan realized that they— and not the graphologist— were mistaken Their opposing personality traits had blinded them to each other and fueled their conflict That awareness allowed them to look at the situation from a new angle and put it in perspective Graphology can also reveal char lie acter traits that people whoVe been close most of their lives aren't aware Canaof For years the dian had frit that his five children didn't know who he really was When he received his handwriting analysis he frit it was so accurate that he ended up mailing a cow to each of lt kids "For the first his now-adu- time I frit that somebody understood me! he explained For some the that results from having their handwriting analyzed becomes a necessary catalyst for change “I used to think that I was always right” says Nancy (not her real name)- - “So I always insisted that my family do things my way!’ Her handwriting however showed that she had become too involved with her family at the exself-discov- pense of her own identity The cause: her less than perfect childhood The result: an overly demanding mother and wife who only began to step back when the analysis of her handwriting made her aware of the problem and its origins Graphology can even shed light on “real life” mysteries The adoptive mother of a foundling wrote Dr Fedregal asking for help “All my baby has of her natural mother is the note she was found with Very possibly she will never hawe anything else Could you please see what you can discover about the woman who left her from the note? I would like to be able to tell my |
