Farida Bharmal says reading books will help you learn handwriting analysis, but it won’t make you a handwriting analyst
If the person decides he want to change, it’s a powerful mental state and his handwriting acts like a catalyst to help him become a better version of yourself, says Farida Bharmal, a Bangalore-based handwriting analyst and founder of Meerakii, a life-skill training organisation. In an interview with Vishwas Ved, she says it is a common misconception is that handwriting does not matter much anymore just because nowadays we prefer keyboards to pens. Edited excerpts:
Farida, thanks for agreeing to do this interview. You’ve got years of experience as a handwriting analyst. Please tell us about your journey as a graphologist. How long have you been a handwriting expert?
I’ve been working as a handwriting analyst, counsellor and life-skill trainer by profession. I have about 10 years of experience as a graphologist and am still learning. In fact, I got interested in the subject when I was in college.
Tell us something about your handwriting teachers…
I did my certification course in Bangalore through the Handwriting Institute India, affiliated with Handwriting University, USA. After that, I’ve been reading and getting connected with several handwriting analysts in India and abroad. Whatever I know today is because of the books I’ve read one after the other, especially those by Sheila Lowe, Scott Hollander, Andrea McNichol, Amend and Rutz.
Handwriting analysis has such a deep connection with personality. In what ways can we use it to better our lives?
Your handwriting acts like a mirror; it shows you exactly what’s going on in your mind, including your fears and doubts. The change happens when the person is able to accept the analysis provided by a graphologist and uses it to enhance his life. It also helps you channelise your energy in the right direction.
What’s the profile of your clients? Are there more individuals or only corporate houses or both?
I give individual analysis, couple analysis, child analysis and have been taking seminars on Insight on Handwriting and signature analysis. Looking forward to do a full-fledged workshop soon.
We are also invited by corporate houses for one-on-one analyses. Deloitte and Manyata Tech Park are a few places we have been called to. People love the science and are surprised by the amount of information one can get just from a handwriting sample.
What’s the common thing you find in the people whose handwriting samples you analyse?
Well, every handwriting sample you analyse is unique. I see how the sample is and analyse accordingly.
You have a quite a following on Instagram, which most millennials use. Do they come to you for an analysis? Any interesting case you can recount for us?
Thank you. My Instagram account has around 9,000 followers and I’m pleasantly surprised as well. Yes, I do get many enquiries for analysis and counselling. I treat every case with total interest, and maintaining confidentiality is a must for me. I totally believe that when a person trusts you, you shouldn’t break it.
Do couples come to you with their handwriting samples for a compatibility test? If yes, what’s the most common worry they have?
Couples come issues like – he/she doesn’t understand me, or isn’t giving me time. The communication is often so closed between them that sometimes they’d rather speak to the wall than to each other. Thankfully, people these days are more open to seeking help. In such cases, we provide them with emotional support, which is very important for both the partners.
Some couple have a beautiful understanding between them, but suffer from financial issues, feel stuck up. That’s where my job comes in: to help them speak out their doubts and fears, help them help themselves and give clarity to their thoughts.
How about a signature change? How does it work?
Signature is a badge to the world; it’s how you want the other person to look at you. It’s adopted consciously, but has an effect on your subconscious as well.
I feel if people understood how they wrote, it would help them adopt a healthy signature, rather than getting influenced by the way people around them sign their names.
Some signatures are very creative, I don’t dispute that. But according to signature analysis, the constant scratching of the name or part of the signature is better avoided. For an analysis, a signature sample needs to be accompanied by a handwriting sample.
What about graphotherapy, Farida? Do you believe in it?
Graphotherapy is to change a person’s handwriting scientifically in order to bring about positive changes in their personality. It’s helpful, I’ve tried it on myself. Writing itself is a type of therapy and has therapeutic effect. What and how you write can be discussed with your therapist.
To what extent can altering handwriting help in improving our personality or circumstances?
If the person decides he want to change, it’s a powerful mental state and his handwriting acts like a catalyst to help him become a better version of yourself. Sometimes if you write down in detail what’s troubling you, and then tear up the page, that also would make a great impact on your mind.
In my experience, a person needs to accept the situation and the way they are in order for the healing to start. Else, the problem disappears from one part of the handwriting and turns up in some other part. We use multiple methods to help the individual. Talk therapy is one such way.
Can a person’s handwriting reveal anything about his health or gender?
The science says no and I’ve no reason to say otherwise. We don’t judge a person’s gender or age by the writing. Health is a different topic altogether and I am not an expert in that filed. Hence, I will refrain from commenting.
Farida Bharmal says if you don’t write at all, think about starting it then.
Tell us about the most challenging handwriting sample you’ve ever encountered. How you did you deal with it?
The most challenging case I have received was of a child who was being bullied. When I told this to the parents, they refused to believe. But they came back later, stating it was true and the child was suffering because of that.
The case was difficult all the more because they were not from Bangalore and I was communicating with them over WhatsApp video calls. It was crucial for me to tackle the child at that time and suggest a counsellor in their own city. That was one case which gave me some sleepless nights.
How popular do you think handwriting analysis is in India? Do you think enough is being done to promote handwriting analysis in our country?
Handwriting Analysis is still in the baby stages in our country. There is a need for qualified and certified analysts. Reading books will help you learn, but won’t make you an analyst. For that, you’ll need to learn from a teacher.
On my part I have tried various ways to reach out, some have been fruitful, some haven’t. The idea is to get people to understand how important the science is and how it would benefit you once you learn it.
The common misconception is that handwriting does not matter much because nowadays we prefer keyboards to pens. Well, if you use a pen and paper to plan stuff out, sign your names, help out your children with their work, maintain a journal or are an educator, handwriting analysis is a must have tool kit in your basket. If you don’t write at all, think about starting it then.
A lot of young people are attracted to handwriting analysis with an aim to turn it into a livelihood. Any advice for them, Farida?
Best of luck! Make sure you buttress it with psychology. It will help you immensely if you wish to make it your profession. There are many branches of graphology – forensic document examination is one branch worth discovering if you’re interested. Make sure to network and keep yourselves updated by reading books and have an active group of like-minded people who will help you grow.
Tell us about your life beyond handwriting analysis. What do you do when you are not analysing a handwriting sample. Any hobbies?
I am a mother of two boys and they take up every free moment of mine. I happily give them the time, or else spend time reading or planning a trip.
Do you have any tips to give which everyone can follow in their handwriting?
I was recently interviewed for The Times of India, where I gave a few suggestions.
Disclaimer: One element of handwriting may be analysed at a time, but always look at the entire handwriting sample before arriving at any conclusion.
