Analysis for Lynn, 19 January 2003

This is how you described the room:

The room is warm with a light breeze entering through the open window. The air is damp as it caresses my face; I smell the fresh rain. The sky is party cloudy and is blocking out the bright sun, however there is still enough light to illuminate the room in simple shades of gold. The linen draperies billow, blocking my view of the rest of the room.

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. Note that the room itself is not described; does this indicate a denial of memories, or just a lack of interest in them?

You wanted to stay in the room.

The subject did not want to grow up.

This is how you described the forest:

It is early morning, around 8:00. The air is cool and moist. I can't hear my foot steps on the soft pine needles. The Sequoias tower above me, but I feel protected instead of alone. I can only see the trail in front of me; the areas to each side seem to be obscured by fog.

The forest is growing up, and the trees are those adults with whom the subject interacted at that time. Very tall trees imply that the adults had a significant and substantial impact on the subject’s life. A semi-dark forest tells us that the subject felt somewhat oppressed by the attention the adults gave. (We assume that the fog blocks out most of the light.)

This is how you described the path:

The path is a well trodden trail, although it is completely covered by brown needles. It curves farther down, at a point I am unable to see. It is only wide enough to hold two people. Although there are no signs of human interaction with the forest, the path is well-tended to.

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 wide path indicates that the subject had numerous 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:

The water is fresh and clear. It is a stream, flowing rapidly. It is about six feet wide and curves from left to right; I am on the left. There are smooth rocks in the stream, but the water parts around them. The water is blurry, as if someone took a photograph and smudged the ink.

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:

As I cross the plank bridge, I notice a lamb skin flask. It is braided on two sides, and made of the softest thinnest leather. It has been reinforced with a plastic container, which is not visible from the outside. The mouth-piece is a simple cork stopper, which is still wedged tightly inside.

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 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:

I pick up a key, which I discovered in the middle of the path. It is black iron, and reminds me of the one belonging to my bedroom door. The iron is cool to the touch. Although, it is a skeleton key, the design is not intricate or coherent, merely a celtic design.

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). The supposed purpose of the key is left unspecified. 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.