The Write Event

Loops in the Middle Zone

If you see a closed o or a letter you are looking at a loop formation. Think of it as a circle or elliptical shaped circle if it is closed. A clean basic loop in those letters signifies clear, frank communication. If the loops are consistently uncontaminated by extra, unnecessary strokes, the writer is candid.

Often, the communication letters in the middle zone show additional strokes within the circles. If that is true than the value of absolute frankness is compromised.

Then again, it is good to remember that being frank without having discretion is not ideal, especially if the writer is too direct. People get their feelings hurt quite easily so we should stay tuned in to how we are speaking our minds. Empathy for the hearer may save us from wanting to saw off our tongue.

Very few writers have totally clean communication letters. Have a look at your own writing; you may be surprised.

A deeper study of handwriting analysis shows how evasiveness, secretiveness and even intentional warping of the truth pops up in writing and other indicators give clues as to why they may be there.

Years ago, a friend, who was learning to analyze handwriting, found many places in an aunt's writing where an assortment of compromised communication letters showed up. She brought the sample to show me.

As the newbie and I talked she described the behavior of her aunt. At parties she was a gusher, spewing obviously insincere compliments in every direction. She made people uncomfortable. "Dear, I looovvve your dress!" Later, in private, once she kicked off her shoes, she had great fun doing a postmortum on her own party, especially how everybody had looked. She relished sarcastically laughing at how 'really awful' some of the dresses were and how much her friends had aged since last year's party. (Hinting for the compliments she so wanted to hear—"Dahling, you don't look a minute older in comparison.")

The newbie let me look at her aunt's writing. What would you expect it would look like? Before I opened the envelope I tried to imagine it based on the description of behavior. I wasn't too far off.

It was large, flowing, full of loops and ostentacious. The sarcasm was there (a very strong trait, which didn't serve her well) but it was her fear of not being noticed that screamed off the page. Her self-esteem was marginal and she was very vulnerable to criticism. Her loops had loops had loops so she saw the world in an exaggerated form.

The day I looked at that writing so many years ago I remember thinking how amazing handwriting analysis is. Here was a woman I had never met whose 'story' was in her handwriting. She wasn't the secure extrovert she tried to be; she was a lonely woman trying hard to be liked but going about it the wrong way.

What do Loops Mean?

Loops are enclosed formations and therefore can be round, ellipticic and even angular shapes, including triangular.

Immediately you may think of upper and lower loops because loops jump out. However, loops can show up many places.

Sometimes loops in extenders are described as "imagination." While that is true you might also term it "expansiveness."

Here is one illustration: if you see a lower y extender that looks like a straight stick with no loop there is no expansiveness. If that is consistent throughout the sample in every y letter and all other lower strokes have no loops there is no expansiveness.

The writer is not able to come up with ideas to try different ways. He deals with matters factually. So resourcefulness and innovation are not natural gifts. He may get along just fine and get the job done anyway.

Remember, we are addressing only one area of the person's life. So, it would be wrong to say the writer totally lacks imagination. He well may have it in other areas like, in his thinking processes. If that were so, because he shows expansion in the theoretical or conceptual area of thinking, (the upper zone) he might be able to come up with fresh inventive ideas but not be able to execute them if he is lacking in material imagination (loops in the lower zone.)

To sum up: theoretical, conceptual, inventive imagination shows in the upper zone. Material, concrete, material, practical imagination shows up in the lower zone. Anyone can have one without the other. Or both kinds can show up with one being stronger than the other or possibly even quite equal when measured.

For more on loops and illustrations see the article under the category of "Global Traits." It is a good overview of the importance of identifying where imagination is found and what it means.

The Connection between the Brain and Handwriting

In the last several months I have had difficulty coming back here despite my intentions to resume posting regularly. Maybe the reason was delayed grief over the death of my husband or another phase of the process. On the positive side, I am doing well now. So, more is on the way here.

Recently, I spent some time going through some of my husband's  yearly calendars. I was looking to see if I could note the progression of his disease by reviewing his handwriting. Indeed, it was very clear.

I commented on this briefly in a previous post but I have a better perspective now that I am no longer in the middle of the situation.

Although there were minor indications of memory problems many years ago, he functioned quite normally until about 2000. About that time he began to have difficulty with numbers. Things like making change confused him. And his excellent command of English began to slowly break down. He had lapses as tried to say common words. His writing broke down as well. By late 2005 he could no longer write. 

The last time he signed his name was on a new passport the summer of that year. I dreaded having to go to that office that day because I knew he was going to have trouble. I quietly told the passport office woman he would have difficulty signing. She was very kind to let him sit quietly in a separate room.  I sat a few feet away so he could try and relax. It took him 15 minutes to write his name. It looked like an inkblot test example—just a blotch of strokes. I will never forget that day because it was a turning point in recognizing how much function he had lost.

Needless to say, there is a direct connection between the brain and the ability to write. That is the reason why handwriting has been termed, "brainwriting."  So, it would be good to monitor changes in anyone's writing formations as a possible clue if you suspect mental impairment may be indicated.

What is next? More comments on loops are coming. They are a big part of understanding what handwriting reveals.