Sunday Lesson #9: More Airstrokes Discussion

Magdalena Ivanovic, a German graphologist, first discovered airstrokes. Another term she used for them was “immaterial strokes”.

Airstrokes are connecting lines from one zone to another in which the writing instrument has been slightly lifted off the paper. Although the ductus (writing line) is invisible, the actual writing movement has continued. An important characteristic is that the direction of the interrupted stroke remains constant. Furthermore, both stroke remainders must be visible and point toward each other.

In fast writing, there may be an extremely fine hairline. This is still an airstroke.

Occasional airstrokes facilitate speed of writing and are one of the indicators of above average intelligence. They manifest mental perspicuity, associative skills, and logical thinking ability.

Airstroke writers are quick-witted and let their intellect do the job for them, rather than toiling physically. They are the kind of people who dislike friction in their work and interpersonal relationships. They are, as a rule, intellectually oriented and want to pursue their mental work without impediments and abrasions.

In writing, upward movements cause a certain amount of drag as the writing instrument pushes slightly into the paper. Airstroke writers eliminate it by lifting the pen off the paper.

Airstrokes in moderate degree show that the writer is flexible in his responses and adapts easily to people and circumstances (again to avoid friction).

Airstrokes in strong degree reveal that the writer takes the easy way out; he is too easily swayed. He may agree simply to avoid arguments and as a result, he may appear unpredictable.

Response to the Letter Sent from the Writer of the “Four g’s” (continued from Sunday Lesson 8)

Dear Friend:
Your writing tells me that you are definitely not an average person but someone special – and you want others to be aware of that fact. You strive to have, or do, or be something that sets you apart from others. And this difference is quite important to you. Others may not approve of you at times because of your eccentric behavior. But you are quite proud of it and would not give it up without a struggle.
You have quite a high opinion of yourself, dear friend, but your pride is usually justified. Still, a small core of doubt remains deep in your heart. At times, insecurity makes you jealous of others whom you deem more popular, or more productive, or more gifted than you, yourself, are. Consciously or unconsciously, you begrudge them the advantages you desire for yourself and when misfortune befalls them, you can’t help feeling a certain degree of satisfaction.
To protect yourself from apprehension and loss of self-esteem, you are using a number of defenses. Let me hasten to add that defenses are not negative - if used occasionally. All of us use them at one time or another. They are essential for softening failure, alleviating anxiety, protecting ourselves against trauma, and maintaining our feelings of adequacy and personal worth. They are negative is used to such an extreme degree that they become the only manner of coping.
Your main defense, my friend, is secretiveness. You avoid discussing personal issues, not wanting to reveal too much about yourself and leaving yourself vulnerable. You choose carefully how, when and with whom to share personal information. You will talk to and confide your deepest inner feelings only to those with whom you share a close relationship.
Resistance has become another habitual defense – by now, dear friend, you may consider it your nature to be contrary. You probably imagine that you are independent in your endless opposition when in reality, you are proving exactly the opposite. Being contrary and contradicting are actually signs of dependence on the people you are resisting.
A minor defense is the craving for possessions. The need for affection is repressed and the longing for material things then momentarily or permanently takes it place. To compensate for your self-doubts, you cling to material things which provide a measure of status or security.
I hope that this analysis will give you some insights, but I must confess that I have my doubts. Evidently, it is difficult to discuss things with you that make you uneasy. Comfortable with your strengths, you are less so with your weaknesses, about which you would rather deceive yourself and others.

Dear special friend, I still wish you my very best.

I hope you are enjoying this exercise and feel that you are learning from it.

Best regards,

Erika M. Karohs, Ph. D., Ed. D.