Analysis for Anonymous, 9 June 2002

This is how you described the room:

Colorful pictures adorn the walls and ceilings. The floor is smooth and uncarpeted, brown. There are shelves along all of the walls, and a large table covered in containers filled with insects. The room is cold; a window stands open on the east side. 25 small desks with 25 small pairs of shoes on the seats surround me. WHY HAVE I WOKEN UP IN MY CLASSROOM??

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. An uncomfortable room suggests a childhood that was devoid of happiness. The obvious interpretation is that education had a strong impact on the subject early on. One could also view it more abstractly and interpret it to mean the subject had a very strict and rigid upbringing. Further analysis is required here. 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 forest appears around me in a thick fog; I can see only a few feet in front of me at a time. The trees are exceedingly large; 14 feet in height at least, with thick moss growing and winding around the trunks. As I stoop down, I notice that the ground is blanketed with tiny, exquisite wildflowers. I stoop to pick one up, and notice that I am standing on a 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. A semi-dark forest tells us that the subject felt somewhat oppressed by the attention the adults gave. (Fog condenses in forests first because of the moisture from the trees. We interpret this the same way we interpret a canopy blocking out the sun: as an indication that the subject felt oppressed by the adults’ actions. The fog may just suggest that their machinations were more subtle than usual.)

This is how you described the path:

The path is quite narrow and winding, and I have to watch my step as I go, as there are protrusions and tree roots obscuring the path. It seems as though it has not been navigated for centuries; its beauty is pristine as it slowly unfolds before me, like a watercolor painting rising out of the fog.

Adolescence is represented by the path through the forest. Poor visibility of the path tells us the subject was often confused by the changes brought on by adolescence. A narrow path suggests that the subject had limited options for emotional growth at this time. The lack of evidence of fellow travelers suggests strong feelings of isolation at that time. That plants are the major source of obstructions tells us that the subject’s problems arose mostly from interactions with adults.

This is how you described the water:

I approach the rushing stream cautiously, slowly; the water is rushing faster than any I have ever seen, yet it makes no sound. The stream glints and winks with brilliant, glistening colors: blue, green, turquoise, mauve. It is the most beautiful water I have ever seen. I want to reach in, to touch it, but I am unsure of what it is made. It seems almost holographic. Cautiously, I lean down and pass my trembling hand through the stream. The water oozes over my hand like thick silk, enveloping it completely in velvety color. I pull my hand slowly back and see that the colors of the water now shine iridescently on my own skin.

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. The clarity of the water is more interesting. Clear water normally suggests a healthy attitude towards sex; however, this water isn’t pure in the sense that it doesn't look or act like normal water. Does the subject have deeply disturbing problems with sex, or does the subject have an enlightened attitude far above the norm?

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 seems almost camouflaged in the flowers. It is small and flute-shaped, adorned with wisps of color like the flowers. I pick it up and examine it; though it is quite small, it is very heavy for its size and it glints as though it shone in the bright sunlight, despite the everpresence of the thick fog. On the rim of the glass, in the tiniest letters is some writing. I squint to read it, but it seems to be written in some foreign and unknown script.

The vessel, or specifically the practicality of the vessel, is how the subject approaches marriage or bonding. A decorative container indicates that the subject views marriage as a romantic adventure. Note the cryptic lettering, as if the subject views marriage as some puzzle to solve.

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 is small and ancient looking. At its base it winds and curls around itself like ribbon on a gift. It appears like somewhat of a skeleton key, but the tines on it are more than I have ever seen. It seems to be made of pewter, and it is cold to the touch. Strangely, it seems as though it were left here for me to find, because it sits squarely in the middle of the path. On the base of the key, I notice the same strange lettering that I found on the cup earlier. Why does the script look so unfamiliar to me? I turn the key around and around in front of me. It appears too small to open any door that I would fit through; I presume it must open some sort of chest.

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. While old-fashioned or skeleton keys suggest traditional careers, this key is quite unique: it has more tines than a normal key, it was destined for the subject to find, and it shares the same labeling as the cup. This suggests that the subject wants a one-of-a-kind career, something that will complement their life and love (the tie-in with the cup).

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.