Draw a tree.

That’s right, before you read any further, grab a piece of paper and a pen or pencil and draw a tree.

Now look at your tree. Did you draw a palm tree or an oak tree? One with a short, wide trunk or a long, thin trunk? Is your tree a winter skeleton with stark, bare branches or in full summer foliage, with a bird’s nest tucked in an upper bough?

Ethel Johnson, author of Draw Me a Tree: What the Tree You Draw Reveals About You, has been analyzing people’s personalities by looking at drawings they’ve made of trees for more than 20 years.

Johnson, who is in her 70s, interprets the drawings based on size, firmness of lines, how much of the paper the tree fills, shape, roots and trunk, as well as any additional details such as knotholes, grass, fruit, birds, clouds or sun. Although tree reading may sound overly simplistic, these artistic creations can provide valuable information about internal landscapes. Psychologists often use therapeutic tools such as the Rorschach Inkblot Test and the Thematic Apperception Test because the shapes and pictures prompt clients to talk about their thoughts and fantasies. Art therapists are specialists at finding out more about clients who have difficulty expressing themselves verbally.

Of course, like every other conclusion drawn from one piece of evidence, a tree analysis may not always prove to be valid, or even enlightening.

But they sure are fun.

I drew a tree and asked co-workers to draw a tree, then settled down with Johnson’s book to interpret our branches and leaf clusters.

Soon, my desk was filled with scraps of paper covered with trees of every description: winter trees and summer trees, trees with and without roots, trees that ran off the top of the paper.

Here are the basics:

— Tree size: If your tree is small in relation to the size of the paper, you’re frugal and well-prepared for tomorrow. If your tree takes up most of the page, you’re generous and may tend to take on more than you can handle.

— Lines and branches: Heavy, bold lines mean you’re strong, aggressive and sure of yourself; light, delicate lines mean you’re soft-spoken, gentle and modest. A sparse winter tree shows you’re honest.

— Trunk and roots: A shaded-in trunk may mean you have problems at home, while dark, gnarled roots indicate a troubled or difficult past. A tree planted in the ground indicates a need for security; if it’s left floating in the air, you’re spontaneous. If your trunk is short and wide, you’re content.

— Extra details: Fruit or nuts mean you like to be productive. Birds, animals or people around the tree mean you’re a kind, warm-hearted person. A swing means you find fun in all you do. A Christmas tree means you’re sentimental and love celebrations. A knothole means you’re a forgiving person. And a sun shining on your tree shows that you’re an optimist — knock on wood.