This is how you described the room:
I feel as if I have been here before--it is warm with a cool draft every ten seconds or so....The furnishings are sparse--a dresser with no adornments, and the futon upon which I am laying. No decorations are anywhere to be seen.
The initial room is the subject’s childhood. What interests us here is the general atmosphere of the room, in addition to the level of furnishings described by the subject. This comfortable room suggests a childhood that was pleasant. Few, simple furnishings tells us that the subject has few memories of that time.
You wanted to leave the room.
The subject wanted to become an adult.
This is how you described the forest:
The forest is very dense, and very dark. The trees are extremely tall and offer shelter....rather foreboding, however.
The forest is growing up, and the trees are those adults with whom the subject interacted at that time. A very dark forest tells us that the subject felt considerably oppressed by the attentions of the adults. Tall trees imply that the adults had a strong influence on the subject.
This is how you described the path:
There seems to be a path, but it is not very well-worn, and it is hard to stay upon. I can assume it is not traveled often. It is narrow, and as I walk I am brushed by sappy branches of trees on both sides.
Adolescence is represented by the path through the forest. That plants are the major source of obstructions tells us that the subject’s problems arose mostly from interactions with adults. The lack of evidence of fellow travelers suggests strong feelings of isolation at that time. Poor visibility of the path tells us the subject was often confused by the changes brought on by adolescence.
This is how you described the water:
The water is clear blue, with green moss floating on top of it....it seems naturally placed there, by the gods ordainment, I should guess. I venture into it, and quickly withdraw--the water is strangely warm and cooling, as if it could put me to sleep.
The water is the subject’s sexuality. What interests us here is the clarity of the water (representing attitude) and its movement (representing libido). Murky, dirty, or otherwise unclear water suggests that the subject has significant issues regarding sex. Stagnant or still water suggests a sex drive that is absent or pathologically inactive, not by choice of the subject. “Murkiness” here is defined by the moss contaminant, not by the clarity of the water.
When you came to the water, you went around it.
The subject is not interested in new sexual experiences.
This is how you described the cup:
The vessel seems a quaint old thing, a bit like a conch shell. In fact, that is the exact shape, and the color is a crusty salmon with golden ridges, although the gold is dull. It is about the size of my palm.
The vessel, or specifically the practicality of the vessel, is how the subject approaches marriage or bonding. A decorative container indicates that the subject views marriage as a romantic adventure.
You took the cup but left it empty.
The subject is interested in marriage, but sex won’t be a significant part of that relationship.
This is how you described the key:
The key is hanging upon a shredded red ribbon. It reminds me of "The Secret Garden", a favorite book of mine from a young age. I have no idea what it unlocks, but I want to find out, as I love mystery. This day has been so strange! The key itself is rusty and worn, and quite intriguing.
The key is the ideal career for the subject. What interests us here is how the key appears (representing how others view the career) and what it may open (representing the subject’s goals for the career). Old-fashioned keys suggest that the subject desires a traditional career. Magical or fantastic keys suggest that the subject has unreasonably high expectations of what will result from a career.
You confronted the bear.
In a crisis, the subject prefers the direct, no-nonsense approach.
When you came to the wall, you jumped over it.
The wall represents death: by jumping over it, the subject not only acknowledges death but has come to accept its finality.