Analysis for Tim, 21 June 1999

This is how you described the room:

A cool room which appears to be a study or library; bookshelves and a desk are antique with a leather couch against one wall. High ceilings.

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 (41.28%). The depth of description tells us that the subject has strong memories of childhood (27.47%).

You wanted to stay in the room.

The subject did not want to grow up.

This is how you described the forest:

Thick and heavy plant life of rhododendrons, ivy, and others. Mostly deciduous trees.

The forest is growing up, and the trees are those adults with whom the subject interacted at that time. A semi-dark forest tells us that the subject felt somewhat oppressed by the attention the adults gave (28.10%). Tall trees imply that the adults had a strong influence on the subject (54.38%).

This is how you described the path:

The path is a barely visible one, with plant life covering most of it. It is difficult to navigate.

Adolescence is represented by the path through the forest. That the path is free of obstructions indicates that the subject had no problems during adolescence (60.92%). The lack of evidence of fellow travelers suggests strong feelings of isolation at that time (57.56%). The visibility of the path tells us that the subject had a good idea of what to expect from adolescence (54.48%). A narrow path suggests that the subject had limited options for emotional growth at this time (67.19%).

This is how you described the water:

It is a relatively fast-flowing river with some shallow rapids. The water is cold and clear, rocks and driftwood visible beneath 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). Clear water tells us that the subject has no issues regarding sex (88.96%). The movement of the water suggests a normal, average if somewhat playful sex drive (31.94%).

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 looks almost like a genie's bottle. It is rose-colored glass, with etchings along the side.

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 (63.33%).

You left the cup behind.

The subject is not interested in marriage.

This is how you described the key:

It is a standard, run-of-the-mill office key. It looks exactly like the key to my office at work.

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). Old-fashioned keys suggest that the subject desires a traditional career (46.41%). Having the key open a house, car, or other commonplace use tells us that the subject has no extraordinary expectations about a career (54.34%).

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.