Analysis for Ryan, 13 June 2002

This is how you described the room:

It is a large room with a large plush couch and matching chair and a heavy, thick carpet floor. The room is warm from the furnishings and a large rustic rock fireplace with the faint hint of pine in the air. It is a trophy room with elk, deer, and exotic animal heads mounted on the walls.

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 comfortable room suggests a childhood that was pleasant. The depth of description tells us that the subject has strong memories of childhood. Note that this room is a trophy room: an early emphasis on performance?

You wanted to stay in the room.

The subject did not want to grow up.

This is how you described the forest:

It is a forest of large, very tall pines. The ground is covered with pine needles. It is a well lit forest from the midday sun glistening off of the snow surrounding the forest and a light dusting on the forest floor.

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. That the forest is very bright tells us that the subject had extensive freedom while growing up.

This is how you described the path:

The path is not visible leading to forest. No human has visited the forest for a period of time. Walking is not too difficult even though the vegetation is knee high and not too thick. It is dormant and the snow on the ground helps me pick my path.

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. 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:

It is a small river winding it's way down thru the mountains. It water makes a relaxing sound rippling over the rocks in the river bed. It is not very deep, it is cold, clear water full of trout.

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.

When you came to the water, you crossed it.

The subject is open to new sexual experiences.

This is how you described the cup:

It is an old clay jar with buckskin streched over the top for a lid secured with a piece of rawhide. It still has water in it.

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 is a very old key, probably dating back to the mid 1800's. Some mountain man probably lost it. It probably unlocked his chest where he kept what little valuables he possessed.

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 confronted the bear.

In a crisis, the subject prefers the direct, no-nonsense 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.