Analysis for Christina, 13 September 2000

This is how you described the room:

The room is warm, with a glowing fire in the hearth. It is rustic, with forest accents with a dark, hunting lodge look.

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 stay in the room.

The subject did not want to grow up.

This is how you described the forest:

The trees are a deep rich green and very dense. They are mostly pine trees and beds of needles are scattered over the path.

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.

This is how you described the path:

The path is narrow, about 3 or 4 feet wide. It is somewhat visible but there are no footsteps to mar the sight. It has an innumerable number of small paths attached and each leads to a new adventure, a deeper peace.

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. The side-paths suggest that the subject had significant flexibility at this time. The lack of evidence of fellow travelers suggests strong feelings of isolation at that time.

This is how you described the water:

The water is a clear, crisp natural river. There are smooth stones lining the riverbed and the water runs quickly but smoothly. The water is so inviting like an opportunity for perfect refreshment from sweat and dirt of the walk.

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 crossed it.

The subject is open to new sexual experiences.

This is how you described the cup:

The vessel is a small clay cup. It is smooth but very natural.

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 left the cup behind.

The subject is not interested in marriage.

This is how you described the key:

The key is old but strangely not rusted. It looks to be made of brass or some shimmering material. It is like a mystery in itself, a key that unlocks a secret. It is much like a Victorian key with a few prongs and will not fit a common door today.

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). Magical or fantastic keys suggest that the subject has unreasonably high expectations of what will result from 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.