Section 1 - Emotions

     This section deals with how strongly Michael reacted to different emotional experiences depending on how important the situation or challenge was to him. For example, if Michael were walking across the street and suddenly an uncontrolled horse and buggy with no driver was heading for him at full speed and he barely escaped being trampled, we would expect him to react quite emotionally to such a near death experience. Or, if Michael's living was dependent on the growth of crops and a swarm of locusts devoured everything he'd toiled so hard to grow, we would expect him to react emotionally also. However, if he were traveling to church in his horse and buggy and the wheel fell off, we would not expect him to be quite as upset as in the previous examples. Most people have more than one way of responding, again depending on the importance of the situation, so you will see several types of emotional responses for Michael.
     Michael was primarily a highly responsive person. There were many times that he reacted spontaneously basing what he did on the feelings of the moment. He made no bones about what he liked or disliked whether it concerned people, places or things and often these likes and dislikes were quite strong. It was not unlikely for him to jump to conclusions or to form strong prejudices as he could not wait until all the facts were in before deciding what he believed was true. Moods came upon him for which he had no explanation.
     At times, Michael's emotions could be even stronger. At these times, he struggled against over-expressing, impulsiveness, and allowing his emotions to dominate him. Everything he did at these times was influenced by his feelings and everything he encountered became an emotional experience. The force of these emotions could be likened to the fury of a tornado. Due to their tremendous force, Michael may have reacted outwardly with an intense display of feeling, or they may have rendered him virtually immovable and speechless.
     Situations that carried less impact allowed Michael to bring in a little less emotion and more objectivity. There were even times when he appeared composed and calm, though others may have thought he was being callous and uncaring as they would have been accustomed to his more emotional side.
     There were a few traits in Michael's personality that helped him to a small degree to control his natural responsiveness. In certain situations he determined it wise to appear to accept the customary concepts and beliefs of those around him. By doing this, Michael did not appear to be acting out of the norm. Occasionally, he could say yes or no decisively so that others did not encroach completely on his time or attention. Not wanting him to appear at a disadvantage, Michael's dignity stepped in now and then to keep his emotions in check, and there were times he would even seem poised under stress. At most times, Michael did not seem overly concerned about what others thought about him or his behavior but, on rare occasions, it did matter to him. On these occasions, he took great pains to show others what he was capable of.
     A quick note here. With Michael's emotional responsiveness so strong, the traits to help him control them (mentioned above) were quite weak. Usually the stronger the emotional responsiveness, the stronger the control traits need to be. It may have been better for him to have had stronger control traits.
     After an emotionally charged event, Michael sometimes had a difficult time releasing the feelings brought about by the experience and these would stay with him for quite a long time. Other situations, however, stayed with him a much shorter period of time and he could eventually shrug his shoulders over them because they no longer affected him.

Section 2 - Mental Processes

     Although who we are stems from our emotions, it is thinking that charts the course our life takes. Thinking helps to train our emotions, curbs negative traits, develops positive traits, and gets our talents on the right track. Everyone processes information in different ways and at different speeds. Usually there is more than one manner of thinking used and this shows flexibility in our thinking.
     Michael was primarily a slow, methodical thinker. He did not like to be rushed in his thinking and may have needed certain unfamiliar subjects repeated before he could grasp them completely. This manner of thinking helped to curb some of his natural impulsiveness by giving him time to think before acting. The main problem with this type of thinking was that Michael would have accepted what he was told or what he saw, built one fact upon another as though building a brick wall, then he would have come up with his conclusion. In this way, his conclusions may not always have been accurate as the information he based them on was taken only at face value.
     At times, Michael would inquire into a subject further, but only to get enough information for what he needed at that point and time. Now and then, he would take the time to sift, weigh and evaluate certain information which slowed down his thinking even more, but would also give him much more accurate conclusions. Every once in a great while, the unknown intrigued him but, again, he would explore only enough to satisfy what he needed to know at the moment.
     Traits that intensified Michael's thinking are discussed in the next two paragraphs.
    Michael showed a strong desire for responsibility. This says the he was reaching for a higher degree of self-value by seeking to assume roles that would make him more important in the eyes of other people. It also shows that he wished to improve his own opinion of himself. Also an aid to his methodical thinking was his care concerning many details. This trait enabled him to think out details of a problem, cut down on mistakes and saved him time through preparing carefully. As an independent thinker much of the time, Michael often formed his own conclusions without worrying about how others viewed things, then he patterned his behavior on his conclusions. This simply means that he thought for himself and acted in the way he felt was best for him. In Michael's case, his independent thinking related to the way he lived - his every day actions and habits. At times his thinking and speech carried a certain amount of rhythm which helped his ideas gain momentum and move forward. This rhythm also was somewhat helpful in controlling some of his emotion. Every once in a while, Michael would allow himself to be a little more conventional in his thinking.
     Michael could, upon occasion, focus his attention on one subject at a time. There is some evidence of loyalty which would have strengthened his opinions a bit, and some organizational ability which allowed him to organize his thoughts in a manner that was comprehendible to himself and others. Once in a great while, Michael would willingly tolerate the ideas and opinions of others and, at the same time, express thoughts and ideas with ease. Upon rare occasions, he was willing to give or share his ideas with others without expecting anything in return, and there were a few concepts that he felt the need to cling to.
     The traits discussed in the next paragraph show reductive areas in Michael's thinking.
     There were times when Michael could not help but act impulsively - giving little or no thought to the consequences that would result from what he did. Sometimes making a definite decision was difficult for him. Occasionally, he would jump to conclusions without gathering the necessary facts, forming prejudices which limited his learning and understanding. There is some evidence that Michael unconsciously refused to face facts of a problem or situation to escape from dealing with unpleasant truths. He made some avoidable mistakes as well by only taking enough time to skim the surface of certain subjects. A little softness in his thinking sometimes caused uncertainty, changeableness and a muddled point of view and, on rare occasions, he absolutely refused to consider any ideas coming from someone else.

Section 3 - Imagination

     Imagination is our ability to form ideas based on the knowledge and memories we hold. There are two kinds of imagination - abstract and material.
     The first - abstract imagination - involves theories, principles and philosophies. It is the ability to envision far away places never seen, or to create with our mind's eye a use for something already in existence. It is the world outside of our five senses. Michael had a very broad abstract imagination - able to envision many things, but at times his imagination was exaggerated. He carried such a broad spectrum of philosophies that he may never have formed one to live by and because of this he would have been able to rationalize any irregular behavior he showed. He would have been able to find some view that could excuse his every action.
     The second - material imagination - deals with people, places, things, and experiences in the real world. When a person has material imagination, everything that the five senses are used for is a challenge. With material imagination a person can see new uses for old items or a different use for familiar things. Michael's material imagination was moderate in strength. He preferred to have friends who had traits, talents or interests similar to his own and, wherever he traveled, he wished to have life continue in a similar manner as where he came from. He did not require much variety in his life and tended to stick with those people most like himself or with whom he was most familiar and comfortable such as family.

Section 4 - Forces To Achieve

     In this section, we will look at Michael's goals and the traits he had that either helped or hindered him in reaching them.
     It appears that Michael stayed well within his known capabilities in choosing his goals. He did not venture to reach higher and there were times that he lacked enough faith in his own abilities that he settled only for goals that were easy to reach. On rare occasions, he imagined great goals, but never quite knew how to attempt to reach them.
     Will power, Michael's strength and clarity of purpose toward his goals, was weak. He had a lot of ideas, but did not have the will power to give them strength and clear direction.
     Determination, the intent to finish a project that's been started, is very important in achieving goals. Michael could finish a project if he chose but, oftentimes, he became distracted with other things and would put off finishing what he'd started. In some cases, he would go back and finish. In other cases, finishing became a struggle.

     With such a strong imagination, if Michael's goals, will power and determination had been stronger, he could have done magnificent things. However, with his exaggerated abstract imagination, anything went and he may have had a difficult time separating truth and fantasy. Despite his strong desire for responsibility, Michael did not have what it took or the means to actually take on the large amount he desired. He had many big ideas, but not enough drive to make them a reality.   
     Michael paid quite close attention to details though he didn't appear to really enjoy detail work. He did, however, recognize the importance of detail and performed what was necessary. He seems to have felt fairly good about himself, so life for him must have begun fairly loving and supportive. He showed a desire to obtain something - probably something quite abstract and there is some indication that he liked things to be neat and precise.
     Occasionally, he could be decisive enough to keep a project going and maybe even have a little enthusiasm for it. When organization was necessary, he could muster the ability. Now and then he would show confidence in a project - this probably pertained to things that were quite familiar to him. A tiny bit of generosity may have enticed others to help him get a job done and, with a project that interested him, he may have had a bit of initiative and pride to do a good job. He had a weak tendency to hang on to some things.
     As for reductive influences in this area, Michael seemed to have a bit of a difficult time making up his mind about certain things as well as not always believing in his own ability to achieve. He lacked seriousness toward his goals showing an only moderate amount of inclination to pursue anything significant. It's possible that he could have walked out on responsibility. Once in a while, he would ignore details and had a tendency to procrastinate. In some cases, he just wasn't clear or certain about some subjects.

Section 5 - Fears

     Michael showed a number of fears, but these were moderately weak in strength. He seemed to have a fear of finality - or fear in making a final decision. The may have been due to decisions made in the past that turned out badly. He was a bit jealous, being suspicious and watchful of others at times as though he felt they might take away what belonged to him. Underestimating his own abilities may have hampered the traits that could have led him to a better life. Somewhat lacking in self-confidence, Michael was timid at times. He showed some sensitiveness about what others thought about him and his ideas and there were times that he felt that he just didn't stack up to everyone else. Even change could affect him mildly.

Section 6 - Defenses

     To cope with anxieties as well as stress and conflict situations, there are three different ways we use to defend our egos.
     The first of these is to adjust to a situation. Michael had a tendency to keep his thoughts and opinions to himself - most of the time only expressing himself if he had something he felt was important to say and using very few words to say it. He would often form his own conclusions without bothering to worry about what others thought. His philosophical imagination allowed him to expand on philosophies rather than always using conventional ways. Occasionally, he would conform for the purposes of getting along.
     When necessary, Michael could make a firm decision, be somewhat tactful in dealing with others, and even show a bit of loyalty. A bit of dignity, smooth words, and an occasional show of objectivity could help avoid escalating a situation. Michael was also somewhat selective in who he associated with and could yield a bit if necessary. On rare occasions, an inner sixth sense would tell him what was needed in handling a situation more efficiently and there were also rare times that he didn't bother to deal with what others thought or felt at all. A bit of pride and hanging onto his beliefs were used to adjust as well.
     The second way we defend our egos is to fight back when we're frustrated. Michael's strongest trait here was argumentativeness. He may have enjoyed debating but, more likely, he was expressing underlying anxieties. It is possible by the strength of this trait, mixed with his emotional responsiveness, that he could have been violent at times. He also showed defiance - a resistance toward restraints on his freedom. It appears that a lot of times, Michael was a rebel at heart, flaunting his rebellion in the face of those he disagreed with or who tried to encroach on his freedom. This defiance showed a willingness to engage in conflict and he may even have gone out of his way to provoke it. Michael also showed some irritability, resentment, sarcasm and temper in this area.
     The third way to defend our egos is to avoid a problem or situation altogether. Michael sometimes daydreamed to escape the world he was in and move into a world of dreams where he was in command. A fair amount of shallowness helped him avoid responsibility. Being a bit restrictive in his choice of friends allowed him to avoid problems that might have arisen if he'd have allowed more people into his life. Now and then he would concentrate hard enough on something that he was able to block everything else out. Procrastination was a weak tendency here too. Michael was occasionally secretive and refused to allow himself to face the truth. He could, if he chose, skim over the facts, be evasive or go somewhere else for awhile to avoid facing any unpleasantness.

Section 7 - Integrity

     Integrity is made up of a number of individual qualities. A person with integrity is essentially honest, reliable, and fits into society.
     Michael was somewhat rhythmic - able to think and act in a smooth, orderly and harmonious manner. There were times that he was concerned about the truth and not inclined to lie. Once in a while, he was willing to conform to the way that others thought and behaved and could press on despite obstacles to obtain a desired goal. Michael showed a little ambition and loyalty to others. Now and then he could be broadminded and avoid making unacceptable comments or actions in a social situation. He showed a weak amount of self-confidence, sincerity toward others, generosity and pride.
     The following traits took away from Michael's integrity. His impulsiveness could make others feel that they could not rely on him and he may have appeared somewhat lazy. There was a tendency to procrastinate and also to form prejudices without fact. His weak will power showed others that he chose the path of least resistance and that he may only have been a day dreamer and wishful thinker. He was secretive at times, dishonest with himself, yielding, and evasive to avoid the truth. He could, on rare occasions, be selfish and indulge in pleasures of the senses such as drinking or sex.

Section 8 - Social Traits

     What does our handwriting say about our social effectiveness? Do we have the ability to win the admiration and respect of others? Obviously, our integrity has a great deal to do with our social ability and many of the same traits are found in both. Without some degree of integrity, we would be considered an outcast in the eyes of society.
     Michael's imagination is very strong here, but the fact that he could exaggerate causes the concern of whether he understood what was actually real in his imagination and what was fantasy. There were times that he could be frank in his conversation with others. It appears that he could be tactful when he chose, loyal when he chose, may have wanted to talk now and then, and he could be poised and appear self-confident at times. He derived a little pleasure from beautiful things. He showed a tiny bit of generosity toward others, a little desire to be physically active and, upon rare occasion, a need to do his best.
     Michael's reductive traits in this area showed what might have appeared to be laziness to those around him, and that he would not include everyone in his friendship circle. He could be selective about the people he associated with. There is weak evidence  that he wished to impress, influence or manipulate others through being excessively colorful in either dress, speech or manners. A bit of selfishness and overindulgence showed here as well.

Section 9 - Aptitudes

     This brings us to Michael's general aptitudes in the very broad area of business, culture, mechanics, and science. Due to the genealogy aspect of this comprehensive report, the jobs available in Michael's time period would be much less in each area than what we have today. I cannot pinpoint an exact vocation for him, but I can give some idea of where his talents and abilities were as shown by his handwriting.
     Although he showed some ability in all four areas, the strongest of these appeared to be in the mechanical area. Michael showed that he could pay quite good attention to detail when needed and he had a desire to create and use his hands. A bit of natural rhythm in movement and a need to be somewhat precise show in this area for him too. This suggests that Michael could have been a clock maker, shoemaker, or even a blacksmith.
     Keep in mind that these are just a few of the possibilities that Michael could have pursued by the traits shown in his handwriting. The area of mechanics would have expanded to many other careers back then - just as they do today - leaving other options available to him besides the ones mentioned.

Section 10 - Summary

     It appears that, at most times, Michael was quite an emotional individual. When necessary, he could restrain himself, but not for any long period of time. He was a slow methodical thinker, and seems to have lived life according to his own standards more than to the standards that others might have expected. It doesn't appear that he accomplished much in life as his forces to achieve were quite weak. When in a tight spot, it seems that he preferred to fight back, sometimes violently, rather than adjust or avoid conflict. His integrity and social ability were not strong, though the best qualities in these areas may have been extended to family, as in his time, family stuck together quite strongly in many cases.