The Art of Handwriting Analysis
by Nancy Engle, Originally printed in "The Healing Connection", Winter 1997
Reprinted, April 1, 2008

Have you ever heard someone say, "he or she seemed so nice. I can't believe they'd do something like that," as the individual was being led off in handcuffs? Or, have you ever wondered Which person would make the best sitter for your child? How did that co-worker manage to embezzle so much money without being detected for so long? Which home repair company should I hire?

These questions and thousands of others could be answered quickly by examining the individual's handwriting. When we put pen to paper, we leave a mind print. The characters we leave behind are an unconscious testimony to our mental stability at the time of the writing. Handwriting is as individual as a fingerprint and reveals how we think, feel, and behave. Writing is an automatic physical act that comes from the unconscious part of the mind.
   
Our handwriting characterizes our mood at the time the message was written. Emotions dictate the form of the writing stroke. While our handwriting shows changes as our mood changes, the basic characteristics of our personality are retained. These are known as fixed traits and comprise IQ, aptitude, temperament, and identity. The unfixed traits are comprised of ability, attitudes, moods, beliefs, motivational level and physical condition. As we mature, grow emotionally, or deteriorate emotionally; the changes are reflected in our handwriting. We can spot the unstable personality or the optimistic entrepreneur. The loving, nurturing individual's handwriting will exhibit different characteristics than those of the controlling, volatile individual.
   
Handwriting analysis (graphology) is not a new phenomenon. It can be traced back to Aristotle in the third century B.C. He wrote, "the spoken words are the symbols of mental experiences. The written words are the symbols of spoken words. Just as all men do not have the same sounds of speech, neither do they have the same writing." Nero was known to condemn persons based on their writing. Alfred Binet, the father of psychological testing, debated between research in handwriting analysis and psychological testing. Among those who expressed serious interest in handwriting analysis were Sir Walter Raleigh, Robert and Elizabeth Browning, Edgar Allan Poe, Vincent Van Gogh, Mendelssohn, and Michelangelo.
   
If we examine the handwriting of Charles Manson, Son of Sam, or the Zodiac killer, the characteristics of the unstable personality are clearly exhibited. While handwriting analysis cannot predict the future behavior of individuals, it can clearly show those individuals with a propensity for violence. If intervention can be made early, prevention of further deterioration of the personality is more likely and may help reduce the instances of violence.
   
More than 6,000 corporations in the United States use graphology in a variety of situations from hiring and promoting to detecting dishonesty. Among those corporations are H&R Block, Coca Cola, Kodak, Dun & Bradstreet, Merrill Lynch, the San Jose Police Department, and J.C. Penny. Graphology can be used by teachers to help understand a student's special needs which may range from help in a specific area to building on a positive trait, or used by counselors/therapists as an added tool to probe the subconscious.
   
Handwriting analysis is used by individuals to make positive changes in their lives. By having your handwriting analyzed, the analyst can show you your strong points and isolate those negative characteristics that can be changed. As human beings we strive to become better persons, but sometimes we're not sure what to change or where to start. Often, when life doesn't seem to be working to our benefit, we can look at a handwriting characteristic or characteristics that can be changed to provide us with more insight into our own self. We may feel something is out of kilter, but aren't sure what it is. Because handwriting is a subconscious act, feelings we may not even be aware of can manifest themselves in our writing. Handwriting analysis can put your personality into perspective and guide you toward making positive changes to help you grow as a human being.

Nancy Engle is a Personal Life coach and Handwriting Analyst at The Healing Way.
For more information about Nancy, click here.

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©1997, Nancy Engle