Analysis for sstaylor, 14 January 1999

This is how you described the room:

The room is smallish, and is painted a fairly peaceful blue, but not the sort of blue you would want to paint your living room. The furniture is old, dusty, and in a Victorian style, with fringe hanging and elegant tapestry type fabric. The room is comfortable, neither too hot nor too cold. The floor is hardwood, with a large oriental rug covering it almost to the walls. The walls are bare.

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. The depth of description tells us that the subject has strong memories of childhood.

You wanted to leave the room.

The subject wanted to become an adult.

This is how you described the forest:

The trees are deciduous, and while I don't know my trees, they are probably maple. I see some pine as well. This is an old forest, with little undergrowth, and the trees tower above. It must be a bright day, as I can see fairly well, but it could grow dark very easily.

The forest is growing up, and the trees are those adults with whom the subject interacted at that time. Average-sized trees imply the normal influence adults have on a child: neither insignificant nor impressive. A well-lit forest tells us that the subject had considerable freedom at this time.

This is how you described the path:

The path is wide and somewhat indistinct. It seems well travelled, but here and there trees have fallen across it. In places, the earth is hard-packed, as if many many people have travelled here, and I see occasional boot prints. In other spots the trail seems to split off in many directions, or simply isn't there.

Adolescence is represented by the path through the forest. 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. The strong evidence of fellow travelers tells us that the subject received a lot of support from friends and family during that potentially troubling time. Occasionally were there feelings of extreme isolation, as indicated by the areas where the path disappears. That plants are the major source of obstructions tells us that the subject’s problems arose mostly from interactions with adults.

This is how you described the water:

It is a flowing river. It's bigger than a stream, but not so large as to make crossing impossible. The water is cold and clear. I think I see fish here and there. There is no evidence of humans anywhere.

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

When you came to the water, you crossed it.

The subject is open to new sexual experiences.

This is how you described the cup:

The vessel looks something like Aladdin's lamp, but it seems to be made of wood or some kind of gourd. It is a very light tan color, and looks like it would hold a couple of cups of liquid.

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 left the cup behind.

The subject is not interested in marriage.

This is how you described the key:

It's a small, old fashioned key, with a very elegantly molded handle. It was nicely made, but is dirty and a little bit corroded now. It seems too small to be a door key, but perhaps too large for a jewelry box. It may be for a desk or dresser.

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). Having the key open a house, car, or other commonplace use tells us that the subject has no extraordinary expectations about a career. Old-fashioned keys suggest that the subject desires a traditional career.

You avoided the bear.

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

When you came to the wall, you tried to go around it.

The wall represents death: by trying to walk around it, the subject shows an acknowledgment of death, but also a need for an alternative to its finality, such as an afterlife or reincarnation.