Exploring Watchword Personality Dynamics

The Watchword Test is essentially a method of self-analysis in which it is important to interpret your own matrix. This is mainly because only you are aware of the full facts of your situation.

Also the words you have written will often have very personal or private significance that will not be apparent to someone else. If you decide to show your matrix to others, you should exercise caution in accepting any interpretations they may suggest.

Detailed guidelines for interpretation of the Watchword Test are given in my book Self-Discovery the Jungian Way.

Below, you will find simplified explanations that should allow you to decipher the most significant features of your test.

It is useful to begin by considering the main theme (if any) that is expressed in the eleven key words (those in the central rectangle). To do this you should ask yourself what aspect of your life these eleven words seem to represent. The theme will usually give a good indication of your major current areas of concern.

Common themes are: Work, Family, Relationships, Health, Education, Ideology, Sport, Entertainment, and Feelings.

Often the personal or psychological meaning of the key words that appear in your matrix will be fairly clear to you. At other times, you may struggle to understand what a word might represent.

In order to assist the interpretation of a key word, it is often helpful, especially when the word has no obvious personal or psychological significance, to elaborate upon (or amplify) its meaning.

This amplification involves allowing a word to suggest other associations (especially ones that are personally or psychologically significant). For example, the word "RAIN" might suggest to you ideas of unhappiness, weeping, cold, dismay or, perhaps, refreshment and rebirth.

Each of the Watchword key words is believed to have a specific psychological meaning that depends upon its position (location) on the page.

An explanation of the structural principles involved can be found at Psychological Dynamics of the Watchword Test.

The Watchword Keys

To interpret the meaning of your own words you should try to relate the word (or phrase) you have written in each key location (and its amplified associations) to the key principles and primary indications.

If you have difficulty interpreting a particular key, then an examination of the two words that were linked to form the key may help to establish its underlying meaning.

It is recommended that you examine the keys in the following order. The first four keys are often best interpreted in pairs, so that  contrasts in meaning can be more easily identified.

These two keys represent progressive and regressive  tendencies in your personality or current situation.

	GIANT	DWARF
Principle	Progression	Regression
Primary Indication	Driving Forces	Inertial Tendencies
Personality	Dominant motivation Source of strength Creative impulses Necessary movement or development Features that are carrying you forward Future possibility Personal virtues	Source of weakness Features that are holding you back Characteristics that should be held in check or moderated Earlier situation Childhood Immature impulses Personal vices

These two keys represent the inward and outward aspects of your personality.

	SOUL	PERSONA
Principle	Inwardness	Outwardness
Primary Indication	Basic Inner Personality	Basic Outer Personality
Personality	Private or subjective self Thoughts and feelings Emotional situation Unconscious or concealed tendencies Attitude to the unconscious Qualities that you attribute to the opposite sex Jungian anima or animus	Public or objective self Mask or performances Social roles Physical or social situation Conscious attitudes or tendencies Jungian persona

These two keys represent the progressive tendencies in, respectively, your inner world, and outer life.

	GUIDE	IMAGO
Principle	Inner Progression	Outer Progression
Primary Indication	Higher Self	Ego-ideals
Personality	Sense of inner teacher Inner power or greatness Intuitive insights Dominant sense modality Main source of inspiration or enjoyment Inner qualities that need to be fully acknowledged or developed Conscience Moral principles Ideology Message from the unconscious The direction of unconscious striving Jungian mana personality	Conscious values, goals and desires Idealized image of the self Imagined future situation or seemingly inevitable consequence of current trends Physical, material or social need

These two keys represent regressive forces in your inner and outer life.

	SHADOW	SPECTRE
Principle	Inner Regression	Outer Regression
Primary Indication	Repressed Material	Problems, anxieties and fears
Personality	Dark or hidden side of your nature Disliked characteristics that you are unwilling to recognise in the self and tend to project onto others Features that you have failed consciously to acknowledge and develop Irrational sensitivities Complexes Feelings of disgust Inner weakness Jungian shadow	Areas where expression is difficult Rejected values Old preoccupations Features that you are aware of in the self or situation, but which you dislike Dread of becoming Area where help is needed or sought Escapist tendencies Domineering force

Station represents your overall psychological situation at this particular time.

Battle represents aspects that need to be addressed in order to move forward.

	STATION	BATTLE
Principle	Inner-Outer Balance or Tension	Progressive-Regressive Balance or Tension
Primary Indication	Sense of basic selfhood	Personal task, quest or adventure
Personality	Current status or essential personal situation Basic quality in the self Continuing preoccupation General emotional tone Personal style Identity problems Jungian ego	Field of conflict Moral dilemma Inner turmoil Spiritual crisis Major cause of concern Way forward

Finally, Destiny represents the anticipated resolution or outcome of your journey.

It is important to realise that this is NOT a fatalistic prediction of what will occur. Rather, Destiny suggests your psyche's "best guess" of a possible future situation, based on its assessment of the direction in which you are currently moving.

	DESTINY
Principle	Final Resolution
Primary Indication	Realized Self
Personality	Projected outcome of battle or quest Ultimate goal or value Personal transformation Jungian Self