Analysis for Anonymous, 14 January 1999

This is how you described the room:

the room is not so dark but not overly-bright either...sort of like dim, like it's just the break of dawn....there's a fireplace, a large leather sofa,...color beige, a warm blanket, candlesticks, throw pillows, wood furnishings

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 room is neither comfortable nor uncomfortable; this suggests the subject had a bland, uninspiring childhood. The items in the room are average, which tells us that the subject has the normal memories of childhood.

You wanted to stay in the room.

The subject did not want to grow up.

This is how you described the forest:

thick green trees, bright....i could see birds...

The forest is growing up, and the trees are those adults with whom the subject interacted at that time. That the forest is very bright tells us that the subject had extensive freedom while growing up. Average-sized trees imply the normal influence adults have on a child: neither insignificant nor impressive.

This is how you described the path:

the road is not easily navigated, the paths are wide, and barely visible

Adolescence is represented by the path through the forest. A few, scattered obstructions indicate the occasional problem in adolescence, but nothing consistent nor insurmountable. Poor visibility of the path tells us the subject was often confused by the changes brought on by adolescence. A wide path indicates that the subject had numerous options for emotional growth at this time.

This is how you described the water:

natural falls, the water is blue, not so serene but not so tumultuous, either...

The water is the subject’s sexuality. What interests us here is the clarity of the water (representing attitude) and its movement (representing libido). Clear water tells us that the subject has no issues regarding sex. Fast-moving water indicates a strong, active sex drive.

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:

it's a clear drinking glass.

The vessel, or specifically the practicality of the vessel, is how the subject approaches marriage or bonding. A practical container indicates that the subject is pragmatic when it comes to questions of marriage.

You took the cup and filled it.

The subject is interested in marriage, and sex will be a significant part of that relationship.

This is how you described the key:

the key is one of those modern type things and i think it unlocks a house or a cottage or something...

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). An ordinary-looking key suggests that the subject desires a nondescript career. Having the key open a house, car, or other commonplace use tells us that the subject has no extraordinary expectations about a career.

You avoided the bear.

In a crisis, the subject prefers the indirect, non-confrontational 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.

See another test from 1999