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how do you interpret a doodle?One of the strangest things about doodling is that no-one tells us what we should be doing yet many of us end up doodling similar things. Subjects such as the sun, stars, boxes, arrows, hearts, flowers or waves keep cropping up, apparently because they have special significance for us as human beings. These images have become symbols that represent our aspirations, needs and feelings. When somebody doodles one of these common symbols it suggests what motivates them and what they feel is important in life. It is impossible to know whether the image has a personal association, but it does give an indication of what they are hankering for at that particular time. Subjects that keep reappearing in doodles symbolise important human concerns. If a doodle contains a well-known image you can interpret its significance in a general way by using a dictionary of symbols or dreams to help you. But what do you do if someone has just done a scribble, or drawn something mundane like a beer mug or a coat hanger? What do you do then? “One of the strangest things about doodling is that no-one tells us what we should be doing yet many of us end up doodling similar things.” To interpret doodles look at the basic shapes, the size and spacing of the objects and the style of the drawing. Shapes Are the lines mainly straight or curved? These represent opposite aspects of our nature: masculine and feminine, mental and physical, willpower and emotion. People who prefer straight lines tend to have strong willpower and self-control and like facts, while those who prefer curved strokes are more flexible, imaginative and emotional. Straight or curved lines represent masculine or feminine characteristics. Circles, squares and triangles often appear in doodles. These shapes are hugely symbolic and can be linked with our basic needs for love, security, sex and survival. Look out for curves and spirals, also right-angled or angular shapes that are parts of squares or triangles. Circles, squares and triangles show needs and motivation. Emotional people who want harmony and love tend to draw things with circular or rounded shapes, or symbols of love and femininity (circles, spirals, suns, flowers, hearts, faces, lips, eyes, small animals, cups, jugs, balloons, rings, wheels, shoes, clocks, loops, fluffy clouds, rounded trees, hills, fruit, waves, pools etc).
Determined people who need an outlet for their mental and physical energy tend to draw things with triangular or pointed shapes, or symbols of masculinity (stars, arrows, zig-zags, spires, diamonds, stick figures, crowns, weapons, trains, aeroplanes, motorbikes, speed boats, warships, lighthouses, dartboards, lightning, kites, birds with beaks, mountains, Christmas trees etc). Sizing and spacing “Everything in a doodle relates in some way to the person who has drawn it.” A single object represents himself (or herself) while the background scene or space represents the world around. Several objects may represent people who are important to him, different aspects of a situation, or parts of himself. If a doodle consists of a single object or pattern, consider how big it is in relation to the space. Does it fill it up, look balanced, or is it tiny? This reflects the person’s activity level, sense of importance and enjoyment of attention, and shows how they tend to dominate situations or relationships.
Size and spacing reflect lifestyle and balance in relationships. The position on the page is also significant. The top of the page is associated with dreams and aspirations, the bottom with security and material concerns, the right with the future and the outside world, and the left with past and family. Where a doodle or objects in a scene are placed, or appear to be moving towards, can therefore tell you something about someone’s interests and priorities as well as their attitudes, fears and feelings. Directional trends indicate attitudes and priorities. Styles and strokes The mood and sense of movement (lively, peaceful, static, rushed, disturbed etc) reflect a person’s temperament, dynamism and well-being at the time, while the strength of the strokes indicates what energy went into the doodling. People who are sensitive or hesitant tend to draw with short, light or sketchy lines, while determined people who feel strongly about things use longer, firmer strokes. Digging into the paper or going over and over something are signs that someone is frustrated, obsessed or stuck with a problem. Heavy shading or criss-crossing of strokes suggest depression or worry. Drawing lines or objects in rows shows good organisation, a methodical approach and a liking for order and control. More disorderly-looking doodles are done by lively people who like freedom to do things on the spur of the moment but have a tendency to get side-tracked. Chaotic doodles suggest problems coping with life or possibly some mental disturbance. Style and strokes show temperament, energy, drive and strength of feeling. Colours Dark colours or heavily shaded areas in a doodle convey a sombre mood of serious thought or possibly depression. Pale or light-coloured doodles look timid, indecisive or sensitive, while bright colours look more lively and cheerful. Different colours actually emit light waves of various lengths that affect our bodies in different ways. Liking a certain colour means being in tune with its vibrations:
and finally… Doodles are puzzling because they are often enigmatic, full of bizarre images or seem to make no sense, rather like dreams. As in dreams, issues and concerns that preoccupy us are transformed and represented in symbolic ways. Thoughts that we tend to inhibit slip out in disguise when our guard is down and take shape as doodles. Interpreting doodles is not an exact science, but speculating about their deeper significance is fascinating and can be rewarding if it gives insight into ourselves, our friends, family or people we work with. By Ruth Rostron Ruth Rostron is a professional handwriting analyst whose work has included seven series of ‘Tales from the Stave’ for BBC Radio 4. Formerly an orchestral musician, her interest in handwriting was sparked by collecting autographs from famous people such as Pavarotti, Yehudi Menuhin, Terry Wogan, Barbara Cartland and Samuel West. An Oxford English graduate and former Vice-chair and Education Officer of the British Institute of Graphologists, Ruth is the author of various articles and textbooks on graphology as well as courses for distance learning.
Date: 2015-12-24; view: 1126
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Down-to-earth, practical people who need security and like to be in control tend to draw things with square shapes or flat surfaces, or symbols of material security (squares, boxes, houses, doors, windows, walls, fences, ladders, stairs, tables, chairs, chessboards, books, forts, towers, fireplaces, money, numbers, block letters, punctuation marks etc).
A large object shows they are outgoing, appear confident and have a busy life, while a small one suggests they observe more than they participate, like their personal space and prefer a quiet life. Good balance shows mature give and take, clear thinking and good organisation.