Analysis for Anonymous, 13 March 2001

This is how you described the room:

The room is cool, not cold. It has hardwood floors, which have been painted a faded blue. There is an old carved bed, a beat-up armchair, a threadbare carpet and a small porcelain lamp with a frilly shade. There is one small landscape print in a frame on the wall.

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 room is neither comfortable nor uncomfortable; this suggests the subject had a bland, uninspiring childhood. The items in the room are average, which tells us that the subject has the normal memories of childhood. Note that the furnishings are old and faded, as if the subject’s memories have washed-out with time.

You wanted to leave the room.

The subject wanted to become an adult.

This is how you described the forest:

The trees are old and tall, but it is still light. there is a mixture of deciduous and coniferous trees and the forest floor is clear of underbrush.

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 well-lit forest tells us that the subject had considerable freedom at this time.

This is how you described the path:

There is a clear, narrow path, although it is not really necessary because of the lack of undergrowth.

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 narrow path suggests that the subject had limited options for emotional growth at this 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 path ends in a river. The river water is clear and cold, natural of course, and flows steadily, not lazily or dangerously fast. the river-bottom is fairly deep at the center, and paved with rounded stones of different sizes.

The water is the subject’s sexuality. What interests us here is the clarity of the water (representing attitude) and its movement (representing libido). The movement of the water suggests a normal, average if somewhat playful 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 like a Greek "calix" cup, with two handles and a mythic painting on the side in black and red paint. It is the story of Odysseus returning to slay Penelope's suitors.

The vessel, or specifically the practicality of the vessel, is how the subject approaches marriage or bonding. A container that is both decorative and practical indicates that the subject considers both romantic and pragmatic aspects of marriage. Note the subject of the painting.

You took the cup and filled it.

The subject is interested in marriage, and sex will be a significant part of that relationship.

This is how you described the key:

The key looks like any other modern key. Shiny silver metal, one jagged edge, one smooth edge. I probably unlocks someone's garage.

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. An ordinary-looking key suggests that the subject desires a nondescript career.

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.