Analysis for Sashana G., 7 February 2005

This is how you described the room:

The room is warm and there are a lot of windows. The light streaming in from the windows is warm and yellow. The rooms has a burgandy colored rug and a big, over-stuffed couch, which is brown. There are brighlty colored paintings on the wall, and a grey cat lounges on the sofa.

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.

You wanted to stay in the room.

The subject did not want to grow up.

This is how you described the forest:

The forest is very green with dense pine trees, but the branches are thick and so not much light comes through the trees. There is hardly any undgergrowth, and thus the forest floor is dry and covered only with fallen pine needles. The air is moist and there is a light mist hanging over everything.

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 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 that I'm travelling is clear of obstructions but is not very visible -- it's like an old, forgotten biking trail--it meanders a bit, but has not been trodden for quite some time.

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. 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's a forest stream, with clear, cold water, that splashes over rocks and cascades into a small pool before continuing its trek through the forest. The water is so clean, you can see fish swimming in it.

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's trahs: an old, rusted soda pop can that someone rudely discarded there.

The vessel, or specifically the practicality of the vessel, is how the subject approaches marriage or bonding. That the container is refuse or damaged suggests a cynicism about the institution.

You took the cup but left it empty.

The subject is interested in marriage, but sex won’t be a significant part of that relationship.

This is how you described the key:

They key is old, brass skeleton key--that I imagine unlocks a very old lock, probably a room inside of an old house.

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). Having the key open a house, car, or other commonplace use tells us that the subject has no extraordinary expectations about a career. 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.