Analysis for Alison, 5 May 2005

This is how you described the room:

the room is bright from sunlight. it is a comfortable temperature..it is scarcely furnished, just the bed i am in, a comfortable-looking chair and a dresser with 5 drawers with a vase of pretty flowers on top. there is a old fashioned alarm clock on the table next to the bed. on the wall there is a painting.

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. The depth of description tells us that the subject has strong memories of childhood (54.58%). This comfortable room suggests a childhood that was pleasant (69.62%).

You wanted to leave the room.

The subject wanted to become an adult.

This is how you described the forest:

there are many tall trees as well as some evergreens. it is not too dense...it is not that dark.

The forest is growing up, and the trees are those adults with whom the subject interacted at that time. A very dark forest tells us that the subject felt considerably oppressed by the attentions of the adults (71.40%). Tall trees imply that the adults had a strong influence on the subject (96.91%).

This is how you described the path:

it is a clearly defined dirt path that looks well-travelled.. there are some sticks and rocks on it, but not too much in the way. the path is clear..i can see pretty far down it.

Adolescence is represented by the path through the forest. A narrow path suggests that the subject had limited options for emotional growth at this time (77.30%). The visibility of the path tells us that the subject had a good idea of what to expect from adolescence (99.78%). The lack of evidence of fellow travelers suggests strong feelings of isolation at that time (74.65%). That the path is free of obstructions indicates that the subject had no problems during adolescence (99.08%).

This is how you described the water:

it is a large, very clear pond.. the water is gently flowing. i can see down into it and it looks shallow at the end but deep in the middle

The water is the subject’s sexuality. What interests us here is the clarity of the water (representing attitude) and its movement (representing libido). Clear water tells us that the subject has no issues regarding sex (100.00%). Slow, gently moving water suggests a passive, restrained, calm sex drive (90.07%).

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 very shiny tin cup with a handle. it is the size of a coffee cup. it is empty.

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 (99.42%).

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 a brass, old-fashioned looking key. it is about 6 inches long and kind of heavy since it is solid brass.

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 (98.25%). Old-fashioned keys suggest that the subject desires a traditional career (88.93%).

You avoided the bear.

In a crisis, the subject prefers the indirect, non-confrontational approach.

When you came to the wall, you tried to go around it.

The wall represents death: by trying to walk around it, the subject shows an acknowledgment of death, but also a need for an alternative to its finality, such as an afterlife or reincarnation.