Analysis for Scott, 8 February 1999

This is how you described the room:

The room is rectangular in shape slightly wider along the wall the bed is against and through which one enters the room. It is a warm room with windows in the wall opposite the bed, the curtains are drawn. There are several bookcases against the far wall with many paperback and hardback books. Near the windows there is an easy chair with a side table and lamp, there is a book on the table. The room is painted in an off-white color with wood paneling on the lower half of the walls.

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 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 forest is made up of mostly evergreens, there are dense areas but many openings, the light filters through the tall trees leaving large areas of shadow though not so dark as to be hard to see

The forest is growing up, and the trees are those adults with whom the subject interacted at that time. Tall trees imply that the adults had a strong influence on the subject. Average lighting tells us that the subject received enough attention from the adults to be guided but not oppressed.

This is how you described the path:

The path is easily followed as it winds its way through the trees, in most places it would be wide enough for two people to walk beside each other.

Adolescence is represented by the path through the forest. The visibility of the path tells us that the subject had a good idea of what to expect from adolescence. A wide path indicates that the subject had numerous options for emotional growth at this time.

This is how you described the water:

The path comes down a hillside to a stream. The water is clear and cold. The stream forms pools as it drops over rocks coming down the hillside.

The water is the subject’s sexuality. What interests us here is the clarity of the water (representing attitude) and its movement (representing libido). The movement of the water suggests a normal, average if somewhat playful sex drive. Clear water tells us that the subject has no issues regarding sex.

When you came to the water, you crossed it.

The subject is open to new sexual experiences.

This is how you described the cup:

On this side of the stream I have found a quart sized canteen. It is made of plastic, and seems to have been recently left there.

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:

Nearby I also find a key, this key is approximately, two inches long and cut on both sides, it perhaps opens an automobile door.

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. An ordinary-looking key suggests that the subject desires a nondescript 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.