Analysis for Anonymous, 7 January 2003

This is how you described the room:

The air is lightly perfumed with a vanilla scent from the candles on the wrought-iron floor stand I can see over in the corner. The floor is slate, cold as I drop my feet over the edge of the walnut sleigh bed. The room is expansive, darkened by the heavy velvet drapes at the window. Massive pieces of walnut furniture stand against ornately papered walls, and a large full-length mirror leaning against the opposite wall echoes my every move.

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 room is neither comfortable nor uncomfortable; this suggests the subject had a bland, uninspiring childhood. Note the almost detached approach the subject takes at describing the room. 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:

The forest lies beyond a field of tall grasses. A stand of white-bark birch trees brings relief to the utter blackness of the forest. The trees are bare, bending in the winter's wind, silhouetted by the glare of the sun.

The forest is growing up, and the trees are those adults with whom the subject interacted at that time. Small trees imply that the adults had a weak 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 trail through the field is well-marked, grasses browning and bent, well-trod. The trail narrows where it enters the forest. My horse whinnies and pulls back in fear as we enter the cobwebbed canopy. His hoofs are silent; the trail is covered in wet leaves. We must be careful not to slip.

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. Note that the subject is being carried through the forest on a horse. Does this suggest that someone was overly attentive? Lots of obstructions on the path indicate many problems during adolescence.

This is how you described the water:

Directly in front of us, the trail ends abruptly at a quietly babbling brook. The water is clear, and cold to the touch when I dismount and pass my fingers through it. The bottom is paved with smooth, time-worn stones; I see schools of small minnow near the center. The brook appears to be about 3 feet deep, for the most part, and 6 or 7 feet across. I look upstream, where the water cascades over a large mossy boulder and churns briefly at the bottom before descending downstream. I can see where the trail picks up on the other side.

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. Note the sharp contrast: “quietly babbling” at one point, “churns” at another. This suggests that the subject’s sex drive varies greatly over time. 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:

A glint of light catches my eye. I look over and see a brass flask on the bank of the creek. It is ornately engraved, full and round on the bottom, narrowing at the top. It is about 8 inches tall, two-handled. I swing down from my horse for a closer look. In the center of an engraved oval, I see a monogram, strong and masculine in style. It reads JSM.

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. The significance of the engraving may suggest that the subject has extremely narrow criteria for choosing a mate.

You left the cup behind.

The subject is not interested in marriage.

This is how you described the key:

There is a sharp ringing sound, breaking the silence of the trail. My horse's shoe has hit something. I climb back down to investigate, and to my surprise, I find a heavy iron key, the old-fashioned type. Rusted with disuse, and about five inches long, the key is heavy in my hand. It looks as though it could unlock a heavy castle door, or a pirate's trunk.

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). That it could open a castle suggests a desire for power; that it could open a pirate’s trunk suggests a desire for wealth. 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 jumped over it.

The wall represents death: by jumping over it, the subject not only acknowledges death but has come to accept its finality.