Analysis for gay b. samson, 4 June 2002

This is how you described the room:

the room is just average in size and has concrete white walls with wooden floors and windows, it is kind of airy because one side opens to a veranda. the furnishings are wood combined with asian crafts. the windows and doors have white flowy drapes.

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. Few, simple furnishings tells us that the subject has few memories of that time.

You wanted to stay in the room.

The subject did not want to grow up.

This is how you described the forest:

the forest has tropical trees like banana trees and coconut trees. althought the forest is thick light from the sun can still pass through the leaves so the forest is neither bright or dark.

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. Average lighting tells us that the subject received enough attention from the adults to be guided but not oppressed.

This is how you described the path:

the path inside the forest is just enought for two people to walk together side by side. it is easily navigated because it looks like it has been there for quite awhile.

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 body of water looks like a stream and is very natural. the water looks fresh, clear and cold. the depth of the water is knee deep and it is about 10 steps across.

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 went around it.

The subject is not interested in new sexual experiences.

This is how you described the cup:

the drinking vessel looks old but has recently been used. it is one of those old leather drinking vessels you see in the movies it is shapeless and empty and has animal hair if you feel it with your fingers.

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 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:

its old big and made of brass. it feels cold in my palms and heavy, it definitely unlocks a door that is old, heavy and huge.

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. On the other hand, we have the key opening an imposing door. Does the subject expect the career to pave the way to a greater enterprise? 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 tried to go around it.

The wall represents death: by trying to walk around it, the subject shows an acknowledgment of death, but also a need for an alternative to its finality, such as an afterlife or reincarnation.