Analysis for Anonymous, 9 February 1999

This is how you described the room:

The room is old... too warm... probably in my grandmother's attic. I think it's an attic because the corners of the ceilings are cut off by erratic 45 degree slants. The wallpaper is a wide pinstripe of pink and white, faded from years of sun beating.

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. An uncomfortable room suggests a childhood that was devoid of happiness.

You wanted to leave the room.

The subject wanted to become an adult.

This is how you described the forest:

The trees are thick, evergreen variety. It's dark in the forest, but calm and peaceful - very lush. It's also a bit cooler and the air is very clean.

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. A semi-dark forest tells us that the subject felt somewhat oppressed by the attention the adults gave.

This is how you described the path:

The trail, oddly enough, is a faint one barely visible as a trodden down path through a wheat field. It's sometimes difficult to see underfoot, but easy to discern by looking a few yards ahead.

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. That the path is free of obstructions indicates that the subject had no problems during adolescence.

This is how you described the water:

The water is clean, clear, icy-cold, and flows around many small rocks and moss laden outcroppings. It's been centuries in the making - probably glacial leftovers.

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.

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 been here for decades. Very rusted and no longer of any use.

The vessel, or specifically the practicality of the vessel, is how the subject approaches marriage or bonding. That the container is refuse or damaged suggests a cynicism about the institution.

You left the cup behind.

The subject is not interested in marriage.

This is how you described the key:

It is an old key -- also rusted a bit. Not a key to a modern day door, but not as old or blunt as a medieval dungeon key. Somewhere in between. Perhaps it opens the door to an old hideaway cabin or shack.

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 jumped over it.

The wall represents death: by jumping over it, the subject not only acknowledges death but has come to accept its finality.