Analysis for Starr Zizza, 10 June 2002

This is how you described the room:

As I sit on the huge overstuffed soft couch I look around. Even though I do not remember where I am, I feel safe. I feel really good here. I can smell a fire in the stone fireplace, hear it crackle and feel the warmth all around me. I look down and see the beautiful old wood floor with a thick tan area rug. As I look around, I see nature everywhere, from the wood floor to the stone fireplace. I can feel the outside coming in. I want to lay back in my cocoon on the couch and fall asleep.

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. Note the extremely inviting surroundings of the room. This suggests a childhood filled with joy. Note the phrase “outside coming in,” which possibly indicates that adulthood and responsibility intruded quickly on the subject’s early life. The significant detail in the description of the room tells us that the subject has rich, lasting 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:

I see a thick, dense forest. There are huge pine trees all around, but the brush is so think that I can barely see. It is dark and scary in there, I do not want to go but I know I need to go in. As I start into the forest, I can smell the fresh pine scent of all the trees and start to become more comfortable. I hear birds singing and see a path that looks as if it has been used by many people before me. I go on, even though I do not like being in the forest alone, I know I can do this.

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 very dark forest tells us that the subject felt considerably oppressed by the attentions of the adults. Note that the subject finds the forest initially dark and scary, but becomes more comfortable as time goes on. This could suggest that the subject became accustomed to adult supervision as time progressed, or at least came to the realization of its necessity.

This is how you described the path:

The path is narrow and hard to follow. I have to pick my way through, stepping over brush and trees. It is hard to follow as it is not been used for a very long time and there is a lot of overgrowth.

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:

After finally navigating through the forest, staying on the narrow path. I find myself at the edge of a beautiful lake. The water is clean and cool. This is a natural lake, I cant see any houses or people around it. No boats, just beautiful, soft glass like water.

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.

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:

I see the beautiful old tin cup. Surly someone has lost this. The cup has beautiful scribe all over it, the closer I look at it, I see it is not tin at all, but sterling silver.

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.

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:

As I turn back around and find where the path continues I see something glinting in the sunlight. I reach down and see what is mostly buried under leaves and other forest debris. An old skeleton key. I dig it up and wipe if off on my jeans. I look at it, inscribed in the side are initials, they are so faded I can barley make out what them might say, maybe TF OR TE, I cannot tell. I continue to walk and begin to wonder about what this key could belong to. Obviously it must be of importance to someone for who would inscribe initials in a key. I think either this belongs to an old diary of some sort, or some kind of chest. Probably a chest that contains someone most personal and loved possessions.

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). Keys to diaries, hope chests, or other highly personal items suggest that the subject wants a career that will solve other people’s problems. 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.