Analysis for Kenneth Webb, 8 June 2002

This is how you described the room:

Out on maneuver at Ft. Polk, La.....sleeping in sleeping bag at 5 degrees F.

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. A very uncomfortable room suggests a highly traumatic childhood.

You wanted to stay in the room.

The subject did not want to grow up.

This is how you described the forest:

Large pine trees....thin and dark!

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. Their thin nature may in fact belie their strength, however. A very dark forest tells us that the subject felt considerably oppressed by the attentions of the adults.

This is how you described the path:

Traveling was easy...wide, easy navigated! Not well traveled!

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 lack of evidence of fellow travelers suggests strong feelings of isolation at that time. That the path is free of obstructions indicates that the subject had no problems during adolescence.

This is how you described the water:

A creek, full of creatures including alligators! A natural water course, water clear but full of water plants!

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. The presence of life in or around the water indicates a strong desire for children. (It’s curious what animals were chosen to populate the water. A fear of having a family?)

When you came to the water, you crossed it.

The subject is open to new sexual experiences.

This is how you described the cup:

A glass bottle or jug!

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:

It was an old skeleton key, used to unlock doors on old houses!

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.