Potentially every person has seven close relatives. A father, mother, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters and a spouse.

Picture and encircled 'me.' Stemming from this circle, lines are drawn ending in balloons. Write the name of each of these relatives in the balloon that is most appropriate, call them what you usually would, and write nearby their relationship to you. If you so desire, you can add other relatives, friends and acquaintances.

Let us consider some lines and their interpretations. 'Line A' is the shortest line in its distance from the encircled me. If you were to have written one of your children in line A, you would be assured that you feel closer with this child than with anyone else.

Interestingly, this is exactly what often occurs and specifically with the youngest child. Of course, whoever is actually written there reflects the same meaning, that is, you feel closer to this person than anyone else does.

Imagine 'Line B.' It is very similar in its interpretation to Line A, except it is a little longer. Therefore you feel very close to this person, except not as close as the person in Line A. is If one's parents were written in Line A and B then no particular significance should be interpreted, other than being very close with them, of course, owing to the fact that two different lengths were purposely drawn, leaving no choice.

Picture two lines, 'C and D' drawn upward with their balloons. Very often one or both parents are inserted in the balloons ending in line C and D. This may be because the child sees either or both of his parents above him or he seeing himself lower than them. Returning to 'Line A,' should one's spouse be inserted here it will have the same meaning, being closer to the spouse than to anyone else.

Consider that 'Line E' is X'd, meaning you want to break off the relationship with this person.

'Line F' is dashed, signifying distance.

'Line G' is dashed and is the longest line. Couples that have divorced in a not so pleasant fashion or contemplating a break-up, often insert their spouse or x in this balloon. Frequently when one feels hatred or great distance to a parent or anyone else for that matter, his or her name appears here. It's almost like saying I want that person as far out of my mind as possible.

By the way, an angular, twisted line reflects an uncomfortable relationship with that person.

Our attitudes to the environment are related to our feeling of security. If we feel insecure in a strange environment, we try not to draw attention to ourselves; we may speak with a low voice, sit on the edge of a chair, or go around cautiously without putting much pressure in our walking and other movements. Similarly, in graphic expression a sudden withholding of pressure may be a sign of insecurity. The degree of pressure used in writing certain words can be investigated by giving the subject a pad of paper that has carbon paper concealed between its single sheets. Many subjects, asked to write certain words with a pencil-for instance, "father," "mother," "myself," would use a different degree of pressure in writing the various words. This pressure becomes manifest in the number of copies obtained.

Additionally, smaller, less formed, and the direction of stroke changes characterize insecurity in the relationship. When a relationship improves, increased loosening of letters and expanding movement, which indicates affection toward the receiver is frequently noticed.

Joel Engel is the author of "Handwriting Analysis Self-Taught" (Penguin Books)
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