Analysis for Sonya, 3 April 1999

This is how you described the room:

The room is cold, both in temperature and feeling. It seems analytical; a doctor's office, perhaps. The walls are painted a dark green. The floor is wood, with a Persian rug in dark tones of red, blue, green, and yellow. There is a roll-top desk with one of those old-looking office lamps, with a green glass shade that comes over the top. There is a swivel office chair besides the desk, turned outward. The desk is in a corner of the room near a window that faces east with the shades drawn open and light is streaming into the room. The door is opposite the window. On the wall with the door are two recliner type chairs. There is a love seat against the wall opposite the desk, with throw pillows and a decorative blanket draped over the top. I had been sleeping in the love seat, and I am alone.

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. The significant detail in the description of the room tells us that the subject has rich, lasting 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 bright and still wet with dew. The tall pine trees tower over me. The sun is still near the horizon, so the woods are filled with light. The forest floor is heavily covered in pine needles, and there is little vegetation besides the pine trees. The trees grow far apart and allow for much open space. Their boughs form a canopy above me.

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. That the forest is very bright tells us that the subject had extensive freedom while growing up.

This is how you described the path:

There is no "path" per se. It is a very open forest, easily navigable. Beyond the forest to the east I can see an open field, and then past that a thicker, darker forest. In every other direction I can only see the pine forest I am in. I can easily travel anywhere and not become entangled in any underbrush.

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:

I walk to the southwest, and come across a small little creek. The water is icy cold. The stream bottom is smooth and stony, and very little algae or plants grow in it. It is too shallow to hold fish, but water-bugs skate across the surface. Yellow flowers, that I've seen before but can't identify, grow along it's shore. The water is crystal clear. The current is fast, and when I toss pine needles into it they are quickly rushed away.

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 went around it.

The subject is not interested in new sexual experiences.

This is how you described the cup:

It's a clay pot. I recognize it's shape from a Depression Glassware piece my mother has, but this one is made of a terra-cotta material. It looks like it was made to look old, "vintage", more decorative than useful. I doubt it's watertight, it doesn't looks like it was ever fired in a kiln, just sun-baked. i don't know what it's doing out here. No one would be able to carry much water in it without the clay melting away.

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 took the cup but left it empty.

The subject is interested in marriage, but sex won’t be a significant part of that relationship.

This is how you described the key:

Old, rusty skeleton key. Fancy filigreed handle. Looks like it opens the back door to some old cabin. (This whole story is sounding very much like a King's Quest game.)

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 turned around and walked back along the path.

The wall represents death: by avoiding it altogether, the subject shows complete denial about the possibility of death.