Analysis for Patricia Biesen, 10 January 2003

This is how you described the room:

The walls are yellow with big windows, white sheer curtains are blowing in the room. The ceiling is high. The room is filled with tall, lush tropical plants. There is sparse furniture, a desk, a brightly colored, striped chaise. I see silver fixtures, it is quite modern. Black and white photography hangs on the walls.

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 (41.10%). The depth of description tells us that the subject has strong memories of childhood (27.66%).

You wanted to stay in the room.

The subject did not want to grow up.

This is how you described the forest:

It is bright with sunlight beaming towards the right. It is tropical, mostly green with some orange and pink flowers. It is quite lush. The ground is brown and sandy.

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 (28.24%). Tall trees imply that the adults had a strong influence on the subject (54.92%).

This is how you described the path:

The path is barely visible but the sunlight is guiding it. There is so much growth here it is hard to see. So many green, rubbery plants getting in the way. The long I am on it the more I see it and the wider it becomes.

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 (60.94%). The lack of evidence of fellow travelers suggests strong feelings of isolation at that time (57.31%). The visibility of the path tells us that the subject had a good idea of what to expect from adolescence (54.62%). A narrow path suggests that the subject had limited options for emotional growth at this time (67.25%).

This is how you described the water:

I come across a sandy beach. The water is very blue. The sky is in shades of indigo, purple and light blue. The orange sun is off in the distance. The water is an ocean but has the gentlest waves, just riding gently up shore, delicately covering the rocks and shells underneath.

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 (89.22%). The movement of the water suggests a normal, average if somewhat playful sex drive (32.39%).

When you came to the water, you went around it.

The subject is not interested in new sexual experiences.

This is how you described the cup:

I find a green canteen. Long neck, medium size bottle with a belt or sash attached making it easy to carry with me.

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 (62.55%).

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:

The key is gold and old-fashioned, quite ornate and fancy. About a foot long and easily fits in its designated space. It has an ornate metal handle, circular patterns, very decorative.

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 (46.36%). Having the key open a house, car, or other commonplace use tells us that the subject has no extraordinary expectations about a career (55.24%).

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.