Analysis for Archeantus, 18 March 1999

This is how you described the room:

The room is a large, cool, and well lit barracks. A double row of army green canvas cots and wooden foot lockers line the length of each. Opening the locker at the foot of my bed, I withdraw my weapons, my M203 is a comforting weight as I sling it over my shoulder. I strap my bayonet to my calf, it's grip with in easy reach should I but crouch. Looking up suddenly, I listen, the world has become eerily silent. I am the last one.

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. What a grim childhood this was. Full of violent fantasies that eventually left the subject very isolated and alone. 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:

Creeping though the thick jungle, I wade through the muddy knee deep water. The death cries of a cockatoo echos wantonly though the thick stench filled air. I shudder to think what it foretells. Moving silently, I stalk my prey, moving slowly as to remain silent. Deaths shadow preparing to bring vengeance up those who dared to hunt me.

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 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 path is little more than an occasional foot print or blood trail left by the one I am hunting. He's moving careful as I am, attempting to mask his movements with a skill native to one born in this festering swamp. But he has been wounded in the fighting of the previous day, tired and growing careless from his wounds. Even so, the path is difficult to follow, and more often than nought I must rely upon gut feelings and instinct to continue.

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 only fellow traveler is the enemy suggests an adolescence seething with hatred towards family. Lots of obstructions on the path indicate many problems during adolescence.

This is how you described the water:

The trail disappears into a sluggish brown oder filled stream a few meters wide. Crouched upon the bank I can only wonder which direction my prey went. Upstream? Downstream? Or did he simply cross in an effort to confuse me. Closing my eyes I prey silently to the gods who twisted me into what I am asking for guidance, asking that their horrid will be done.

The water is the subject’s sexuality. What interests us here is the clarity of the water (representing attitude) and its movement (representing libido). Stagnant or still water suggests a sex drive that is absent or pathologically inactive, not by choice of the subject. Murky, dirty, or otherwise unclear water suggests that the subject has significant 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:

A nearly empty can of beer sits discarded next to a partial foot print, it looks battered and crushed, perhaps dropped by a hand grown numb with pain. My quarry is close, and grown very careless. I feel my senses heighten, my entire body more alert, as I check the chamber on my weapon to ensure a round is chambered, checking to ensure the grenade launcher is primed and ready, it's gaping mouth free of any obstruction.

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:

Following his staggering foot prints, I see he's getting more and more careless or perhaps more secure in his environment. He's dropped a simple key, blood spattered and worn it is the same type I use to lock my foot locker back at the barracks. It's a similarity I don't want to dwell upon.

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). Inside the footlocker we are led to believe is a variety of weapons: the subject expects power from the career. Ignoring the obvious literal interpretation, one must consider that the key represents order; therefore, the subject seeks a career that appears highly structured to others.

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.