Hello and welcome to Make It Conscious and to this guided active imagination exercise.
So active imagination is a cornerstone.
Of Jungian psychology.
Carl Jung himself said it was the vital second part of any analysis.
Marie Louise von Franz said it is the most powerful tool in Jungian psychology for achieving wholeness.
Far more efficient than dream interpretation alone.
So in this exercise we're going to be bringing it right back to basics.
We're going to be working with either an image or a feeling that is showing up for you right now.
So we're going to be responding to whatever is calling for your attention.
And we're going to be entering into a dialogue with that material in symbolic form.
So before we begin I'm just going to ask you to bring to mind either of those whether it's a feeling that's showing up for you either now or recently.
Or whether it's an idea or a notion.
Maybe something that you struggle to accept.
And once you've got that.
.
.
Just making sure you're comfortable.
Whether seated or lying down.
I'm just closing your eyes.
It's a good idea to start each exercise just by allowing the mind to settle.
And a good way to do this is just with some basic meditation.
So just firstly becoming aware of the breath.
Wherever you happen to feed it the most.
If you notice the mind wandering.
Any point during the exercise.
No problem.
Just gently bring it back.
To whatever it is you're doing.
And now just bringing to mind that seed that you chose to work with today.
Whether it was a feeling.
Or an image or idea.
Either way,
There are likely feelings or thoughts associated with it.
You're going to use this seed.
To generate unconscious material.
And engage in a dialogue with it.
So first,
Just imagine yourself in a place.
Where you feel this material might reside.
This can be a real place that you know.
Or even something completely imaginary.
And once you've got that,
And it's clear.
Simply invite the unconscious material to appear.
Using the seed that you chose earlier.
So you're inviting.
A symbolic form of this material to appear in this space.
And just watch what happens.
What is it that appears?
See if you can stay with the very first thing that shows up.
No matter if it seems wrong.
Or bizarre.
Or even obvious.
Just watch how it behaves.
And next… you're going to enter into an interaction.
With this material.
Engage with it just like you would any other human being.
And crucially,
Allow it to behave.
As it needs to.
Don't allow it to violate you in any way.
But aside from that.
.
.
Just see if you can give it the freedom.
To do whatever it needs to do.
Or just say whatever it needs to say.
And just be open.
To whatever it says or does.
And next.
Make sure that you also say what you need to say.
Express your own needs or concerns.
About how this material is impacting or influencing you.
And again,
Be receptive to how it responds to you in return.
And see if you can engage.
In a two-way dialogue.
So as this exercise draws to a close.
.
.
Whether or not you feel like you achieve some completion here.
No problem,
You can always come back to this exercise,
To this material.
And continue working with it to reach a resolution.
But for now,
Just let it know that it's time for you to go.
Think it,
If you feel that's appropriate.
Remember it's a good idea to record this exercise in your diary or journal.
So just bringing your attention back into the space around you now.
Noticing any sounds or sensations.
And in your own time.
Opening your eyes again.
