Analysis for Debbie Novak, 14 September 2000

This is how you described the room:

The room is my bedroom back at home. Seeing as how i don't live there any more it feels very odd to wake up in my old room. All my important things are gone. There are only a dresser, a bed, a side table, a lamp and a chest of drawers in my room. The room is warm and bright. The walls are whit and sunlight enters through a window. The room almost takes on a warm yellow glow because it is so warm and bright.

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. Few, simple furnishings tells us that the subject has few memories of that time. Note that “all my important things are gone.” This could indicate that there was a disruptive event, a forced severing of childhood ties.

You wanted to stay in the room.

The subject did not want to grow up.

This is how you described the forest:

The forest is large, it is so big in fact that all you see are trees. Some of which are elm, maple and lots of pine. The forest is dense and there is little undergrowth. The forest is dark and yet it is not scarry or gloomy. It is just mysterious and intriguing.

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 path winds into the forest. It looks well traveled. There are no weeds or plant growth obstructing the path. The path is moderately wide and of an off red color. The path looks relatively easy to navigate, but it looks to be quite long.

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. The strong evidence of fellow travelers tells us that the subject received a lot of support from friends and family during that potentially troubling time. 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 a clear blue stream. You can hear the trickle of the gentle stream as it follows its smooth natural course through the forest. The light shines through the trees and seems to dance upon the water. The stream looks cool and refreshing. There are some animal foot prints around the stream. There are some fish flashing about and you can see their shimmering bodies glide through the water as the combination of sunlight and the ripples, make the fish seem as if they are dancing in a million directions all at once.

The water is the subject’s sexuality. What interests us here is the clarity of the water (representing attitude) and its movement (representing libido). Slow, gently moving water suggests a passive, restrained, calm 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 crossed it.

The subject is open to new sexual experiences.

This is how you described the cup:

the drinking vessel is nothing more than a simple tin cup. It looks to hold a decent amount of water and even has a handle for extra easy carry around access. The cup looks worn and loved, but it shimmers in the sunlight. The cup looks to be man-made and you can see the hammer indents where the welder started to form the rim. There are also small indentations where the fingers would hold the handle. Despite it's simple look it is easy to tell that this cup was well used and perhaps even a favorite of its owner.

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. Note the detail in which the supposed owner is described; as if the subject feels that marriage has to have every issue resolved.

You left the cup behind.

The subject is not interested in marriage.

This is how you described the key:

The key looks like a simple copper skeleton key. It has a series of three short prongs and has a loop at the top where it could be attacher to a key chain of sorts. The key looks as if it would open a door to a house, or maybe a cupboard.

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.