Most doodles are done unconsciously

Most doodles are done unconsciously when you are holding a pen in your hand and just happen to start scribbling. However, there is more to these "diagrams of the unconscious" than meets the eye[n]. Free from the restriction of the conscious mind, they can be a useful insight into your character and personality, revealing many important aspects of your secret hopes, ambitions, fears and dreams.

Faces are a sign of sociability or lack of it. If you doodle happy, smiling faces (1), you have a friendly, out-going disposition which people respond to, and you enjoy an active social life. You also have a tendency to be sentimental. If your faces are grumpy (2), this may indicate anti-social tendencies. Faces looking to the right (3), are a sight of gregariousness and anticipation about the future; to the left (4), a sign of shyness and reserve.

Bare or narrow trees show a lack of warmth, while landscapes demonstrate coldness and spiritual weariness. You''ve probably been disappointed in love or could even be suffering from a minor ailment that needs attention.

Confused lines and squiggles show that you''re a bit of a muddlehead, lacking the organizational ability to cope with everyday living. This makes for chaos and a lack of self-control.

Houses are wish-fulfilment doodles indicating a desire for a home, family, children and happiness. How you doodle your house is important. If you have curtains at the window, smoke coming out of the chimney, little trees, flowers, figures, a path or a fence, you are seeking emotional security and a happy, fulfilled marriage away from the outside world. Beware of becoming too complacent. If your house is stark and bare with no embellishments or signs of life, no door or garden, you''re lacking love and warmth in your life.

If you build a house in layers, each layer separate-you could be too houseproud, too eager to make your loved ones do your bidding and jump to attention. A little untidiness in a house makes the occupants feel comfortable, secure and happy. Are you repressing your emotions and neglecting to let yourself go now and then?

Filled in or shaded doodles with heavy pressure are often a sign of aggression or anger. The heavier the pressure the more angry you feel; the lighter the pressure the more likely you will be to use sarcasm and a highly-developed critical faculty as a defensive measure[n].

If your doodle resembles a web, you are making a cry for help in solving a problem. You feel trapped, and are seeking a way out, perhaps you even want to travel, try out new ideas and spread your wings. But you lack confidence to step out into the world on your own because of the web you''ve created around you. .

Knives, daggers, guns, or thin and angular strokes show aggressive behaviour patterns and sometimes even sadistic tendencies. Such things as whips and instruments of torture can reveal inherent masochistic tendencies..

Heavy lined shapes are often a sign that you''ve built a barrier between yourself and the external world. You keep your emotions in tight check because you feel that you can''t cope with them and yet underneath that carefully erected barrier you know that once you meet the right person all will be well.

Hearts, flowers, animals with furry coats, entwined letters and groups of faces indicate that you''re in love. You enjoy day-dreaming, and building castles in the air. Sentimental, kind, affectionate and spontaneous in your emotions, you long to belong to someone special.