Analysis for Rob, 2 January 2003

This is how you described the room:

It's nice and warm. It's not really decorated, although there is a glass table in the middle of the room for some reason.

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. Few, simple furnishings tells us that the subject has few memories of that time.

You wanted to stay in the room.

The subject did not want to grow up.

This is how you described the forest:

The trees are kinda pointy, with wide branches. These devious branches are overhanging the path, so it's kinda dark with splotches of light.

The forest is growing up, and the trees are those adults with whom the subject interacted at that time. Average-sized trees imply the normal influence adults have on a child: neither insignificant nor impressive. A semi-dark forest tells us that the subject felt somewhat oppressed by the attention the adults gave.

This is how you described the path:

The path is somewhat narrow, and is clearly marked and well-maintained. It's a nice path. Look, there are even people on it in the distance. Hello, people.

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 narrow path suggests that the subject had limited options for emotional growth at this time. The strong evidence of fellow travelers tells us that the subject received a lot of support from friends and family during that potentially troubling 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's a little stream that wants to be a river when it grows up. It's clear, sparkly, and it's making stereotypical 'tinkling' noises.

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.

When you came to the water, you crossed it.

The subject is open to new sexual experiences.

This is how you described the cup:

Err. It's a kinda plastic cup thingy. It's white. Bet it hasn't been properly sterilized.

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. Note the fear of contamination. The subject has unreasonably high expectations about a future mate.

You left the cup behind.

The subject is not interested in marriage.

This is how you described the key:

It's golden, it's shiny, and it's quite small. It'd be nice if it unlocked a box of gold coins, but knowing my luck it'll be the door to a toilet or something.

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 that allow access to treasure or other valuable things indicate that the subject is fixated on gaining wealth through a career. Note that the subject worries that the goal will be unachievable. 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.