Lesson 7 - `Connective forms

Question 1

Degrees of connectivity

Pg 1-2

Answer 1

• High-when words are relatively long and connected w/o a pause
• medium-group of 4-5 letters being connected in a word
• low - anything less than 4 letters
• fully disconnected - all letters left standing alone

Question 2

Both connected and fully disconnected

Pg 2

Answer 2

shows the writer is more stressed than is considered healthy

Question 3

Letter spacing re-cap

Pg 2

Answer 3

letter spacing = emotional rapport w/ others -ability to offer/receive sympathy and interact w/ others on a personal basis

• self-feeling (comfortable w/ self or not
• self-confidence, need for approval/acceptance on a personal level
• generosity/stinginess
• how willing they are to accept other’s behavior/work methods (connected = more willing)

Question 4

Ligatures

Pg 2-3

Answer 4

• the connective stokes between or within a letter
• usually appear in the mid-zone
• ligatures are not required in writing
• emotional response is measured in the upstrokes because it is a movement away from self that shows the writer’s desire to connect with others (I to YOU relationship that establishes relationships/ability to adapt to surroundings)
• downstrokes are power in writing - the force that pulls the pen whereas upstrokes are the release

Question 5

Copybook form of connection

Pg 3

Answer 5

• imitation of this means conventionality
• uses rounded forms
• curved connections are carried out speedily

Question 6

Garland - a concave connected curve

Pg 3-5

Answer 6

UUUUUUUUUU type formation

• must be judged by their manner of execution
• the most natural/effortless upstroke connection
• should be .5 - 1x the height of the mid zone letters
• being at peace w/ self and those around
• -guiding image is round and open; symbolizes a smile, cup to be filled up, cupped hands for giving/offering/receiving (including pressure from above) the deeper the cup the more receptive/giving is the writer
• inner orientation is towards emotions/feeling rather than intangibles
• indicates openness/lack of concealment, sincere, receptive, obliging
• when rounded: mild manners, indecisiveness, altruism, weakness, benevolence, compromise, conflict avoidance
• when used in moderation - adaptable, flexible, receptive to other’s views, open to suggestions, affable, ready to help, patient, tolerant, willing to compromise to get along
• when used excessively - lack of originality and conformity, impressionable, dependent, weak, average/below average intelligence, compulsion to get along with others (not an easy give and take), fear reprisal if they do not get along, rigid and inflexible attitude
• firm and even garlands = positive connotation - active social relationship, kindness, readiness to help, willing to back others up
• garland that is not firm and active, but is clear in its outline = passive, but sympathetic interest, patience and susceptibility
• many garland writers are female

Question 7

Garlands with different types of bottoms

Pg 5-7

Answer 7

Clothes line garland - flattens to to appear as straight lines (almost thread like); stroke is flaccid and feeble= easy going, takes path of least resistance, easily influenced, can’t say no (indecisiveness of thread)

Hanging or underslung garlands - the part of the garland is hugging the baseline is narrowed, the cup formation becomes extremely deep and it often sags below the baseline = can end up as someone’s doormat/slave, completely overwhelmed by emotional experiences, feel exhausted and depressed

Supported garlands - downstroke partially covers the previous upstroke (AKA cover stroke), hinders rightward movement and thus prevents the writer from reaching out towards the YOU as they remain focused on the I = calculated friendliness, inhibited, tendency to cover up, shy and cunning

Looped garlands (sham garlands) - narrows the cup by adding artificial loop w/o the cover stroke of the supported type (which means the concealment element is missing) = overly friendly, but not genuinely so, timid w/ exaggerated need for demonstrations of approval, calculated friendliness, tends to be too eager to help others when really they only care about themselves/absorbed w/ own concerns, may be a busybody and/or talkative, preoccupied w/ reminiscences, frequently has an overwhelming yearning for the past, unable to be alone and constantly needs to express self

Pseudo Garlands - contradiction in terms since the garland should be wide to have meaningful geniality, this narrowness = feeling inhibited and ungenerous of nature, amiability is false and used as a veneer to hide one’s problems behind

Angled garlands = vacillates between friendly extroversion and egotistical behavior, may fake amicability while in really being harsh and rancorous, frequently makes a conscious effort to resist

*light pressure + garland + larger than average size writing = unable to foresee the consequences of their actions

Question 8

Thread connection

Pg 7-8

Answer 8

• flattened curves (garlands naturally can lead to this, but is not taught in any school forms), creates unclear words, not really writing since it is shapeless and ambiguous,
• indicate a lack of consideration, indecision, mental speed, refusal to be chained or conform to tradition, lacking in discipline/respect, weak, ambivalent behavior due to indecisive attitude, glide over everything, not interested in playing by the rules, adaptable, chameleon: always fits in, skims along, takes what is needed and ignores the rest (may miss essentials along the way), wants to get from a to b in the fasted way possible, does not like to be pinned down, likes the path of least resistance, generally evasive, worms thei rway out of toruble, clever and adaptable, adept ad dealitn w/ anything that confronts them
• lack of form = lack of backbone
• when the writer chooses to use thread (instead of it being a result of speed) they are no longer interested in being clear and understandable
• purely threadlike writing is a sign of neurosis or hysteria
• Thready writing + heavy pressure = not chained down by any constraints

Question 9

Arcades - a convex connected curve

Pg 8-12

Answer 9

• opposite of a garland - round and closed
• arcades protect and conceal
• ego is more real than the environment, needs to resort to cover as a form of defense, does not want to feel vulnerable - protects emotions/feelings from attacks, wants to project a sense of superiority, concerned w/ formality and appearance, wants to impress for calculated reasons, under certain circumstances they may be insincere and disingenuous, goes part way from I to YOU but closes self off prior to connection - this is fencing themselves off from the outside world, may try to establish a connection w/ others but seldom discloses real self and it is not natural due to cautious approach, deliberates before acting, more concerned about appearances than relationships, what is on the surface matters more than getting to the bottom of things, uses instinct rather than reason, can be creative, will use the rules to their advantage, not easily impressed, dislikes confrontation but is willing to fight back by using rules as their defense, may reflect pride and a distinctive elegance
• When arcades are used excessively = likely too self protective
• Arcades at the beginning of a word = prefers a formal approach and reserved when meeting others
• Arcades at the end or letters at the middle of the word = moving back towards self and wanting to sneak away form others, possibly make embarrassing attempts to wriggle out of earlier promises
• arcaded ligatures from the mid to upper zone = constructive, inventive, creative talent, above average intelligence, fluid in thinking, resourceful in problem solving,
• FLUIDITY (smooth, flowing, connecting strokes, may be seen in arcaded ligatures) express self w/ ease, change thoughts smoothly, communicates easily via writing or speaking, logical sentences, eloquent language
• supported arcades (upstroke partially retraces the downstroke) = if it is part of the copybook style then it is of no importance, otherwise they are negative: dishonest, wolf in sheep’s clothing
• looped arcades (downstroke is to the right of the upstroke w/o covering it) = hypocrite, imagination is running wild, WORRY (apprehensive and torments self for no apparent reason, worries are unrealistic, imagination makes things worse): concerns about safety and self protection are inordinately important
• double bow connectives - connects the arcade to the garland

Question 10

Double bow connectives

Pg 12

Answer 10

• connects arcade to the garland via one convex w/ one concave section going left, right, horizontal, or vertical (does not apply to copybook letters such as s or l that are supposed to be this way)
• when speedily written it may be thready
• refers to ambivalence, adaptation at any price, always working on maintaining an inner equilibrium, constantly changing sides, indecisive, glides over everything, no views of their own, conform to the prevailing views around them, they fit in with most situations

Question 11

Wavy-line connection

Pg 12

Answer 11

• guiding image: undulation
• basic meaning: avoidance of sharpness that equal diplomacy, versatility/adaptability, quick changes, lying
• some wavy-line connections in strong writing is desirable compared to purely angular writing; in weak writing the double bow connective would signal the morally inept

Question 12

Angles

Pg 12-15

Answer 12

• Guiding image: sharp and straight
• Basic meaning: straight line to the point of decision
• sharp ends are designed to prick, stab, penetrate, pierce, and tear; sharp rock is more of a threat than a round one
• firmness, persistence, obstinacy, resistance, straight to the point, uncompromising, uses own internal yardstick, knows their desire and goes for it, expects others to accommodate their wishes otherwise will be prepared to fight, needs to have alternatives (not grey area) when making decisions, once mind is made up they are not likely to be influenced by anyone else, analyze cause and effect, analytical, skeptical, mistrusting of others, rigid and tough, not adaptable, likes to tackle opposition, makes no attempt to shirk difficulties, relentless to self and inconsiderate of others, seldom lazy but may not produce the best results, may not be able to profit from the experience/advice of others - learns the hard way, quarrelsome, cantankerous, spoiled for a fight
• this is the opposite of compromise
• curved movement is taught and angles are deviations form it; letters are made w/ straight lines so they writer has to stop abruptly to affect the change in direction (this takes 3x more than rounded forms)
• often make excellent engineers and strategists

Angles used excessively - set in their ways, views things in black or white, inner disharmony, tension, skepticism, lack of humor, intolerance, authoritarian attitude, stubborn, argumentative in order to prove a point, difficult people to have around due to inflexibility

Angles used modestly - courage, tirelessness, self-disciplined, directness, drive for power, determination to succeed, independent, initiative, exploratory mind, analytical, possibly critical, judgmental

Supported angles (rarely seen) are made by retracing the upstrokes part way and then the procedure is repeated w/ the downstroke although this time it is in reverse (makes it in a class w/ covered strokes). This shows duplicity, pretense, hides deceptive intentions behind a facade of insincerity, expression of embarrassment and a tendency to hush things up that bay be a result from inhibitions of due to falsehood/cunning. When a few supported angles creep in w/o the writer being aware of it insincerity has become an inherent part of the writer’s nature thus they are cunning and unscrupulous

Shark’s tooth - angle w/ a curve in it (something between an angle and an arcade) writer can take advantage of people financially or emotionally, cunning, astute, crafty, sly, MANIPULATIVE (managing people/situation in unscrupulous ways), characteristic of those who profit off other’s vulnerability/gullibility, a trickster

Question 13

combo of connective forms

Pg 15

Answer 13

• connections are important since they create and give character to the writing; right and left handers connect differently
• right handers usually create an o by counterclockwise direction so if they create circle letters in a clockwise direction it shows they are defiant and go against the norm
• some inconsistency is essential for a healthy writer (soft garlands acquire strength form the support of the angles, etc)
• It is not good when there is continually changing form of connection w/ no particular pattern - usually accompanied by irregular form, baselines, letter height, and spacing. This means the writer has little self control, mood swings, unpredictable in many situations, may get agitated for no reason, easily discouraged, little endurance, for completing tasks