Analysis for Paige Mano, 4 December 2002

This is how you described the room:

The room is warm, the walls are wood-paneled (real wood). There is a fire in the fireplace, and scented candles are lit throughout the room. The bed is full-sized, with iron head board and footboard, and a soft blue comforter. The floor is hardwood, covered by a bearskin rug, and near the bed is a soft couch. There is snow outside the windows.

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. 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:

It is a coniferous forest, filled with many evergreen trees. It is a snowy day, and the sky is white, not sunny. It is bright enough, though, and it is not snowing, so I can see everything perfectly.

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 well-lit forest tells us that the subject had considerable freedom at this time.

This is how you described the path:

I cannot see a path, because the ground is covered with about five or six inches of snow. Trees surround me closely on all sides.

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.

This is how you described the water:

The water is ice cold, and large chunks of ice float here and there. The water is choppy, moving over rocks and stones fast enough to create little peaks.

The water is the subject’s sexuality. What interests us here is the clarity of the water (representing attitude) and its movement (representing libido). Rushing, violent water indicates a powerful, vigorous, and quite possibly compulsive sex drive. Clear water tells us that the subject has no issues regarding sex.

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 a silver hip flask, with some sort of insigna engraved on the front. The lid is screwed on tightly.

The vessel, or specifically the practicality of the vessel, is how the subject approaches marriage or bonding. A container that is both decorative and practical indicates that the subject considers both romantic and pragmatic aspects of marriage.

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:

It is long and thin, with a round, elaborately curled head. It seems to unlock a chastity belt.

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). One is tempted to interpret the chastity belt theory as the career is expected to enhance the subject’s sex life; however, the more likely interpretation is that the subject has a strong irreverence about jobs in general. Decorative keys suggest that the subject wants an attention-grabbing, one-of-a-kind 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.