This study sheds lights from a mythological and religious perspective on house-tree-person drawings commonly used in art therapy for the greatly easy access to human subconscious feelings the drawings give. This study sought to find the symbolic meanings of drawn houses, trees, and persons in the context of Jung’s and Eliade’s academic work in the field. The purpose of this study is to understand the totality of human beings in its search for the origins and various meanings of the symbols, and further toprevent the mistake of limiting one image to only one relationship, which leads to distortions in the interpretation.
The research in this study found many symbols from myths and primitive religions and perceptions related to understanding humans, all of which could be used in interpreting the drawings of houses, trees, and persons. If subsequent studies of this kind can continue providing more meaningful analyses and sources, it will lead to a better understanding of the archetype of inner beings, which will be beneficial to individual’s personal growth.
Key Words : House-Tree-Person, Symbol, Subconscious Mind