Aries symbolises the beginning of the astrological year,
Embodying energy,
Courage and the spirit of initiation.
As the cardinal fire sign,
It represents the raw force of life,
Pushing us to act and assert ourselves in the world.
This sign challenges us to embrace our individuality and the power of our actions,
Urging us to lead with confidence and assertiveness.
Like all signs,
Aries can bring potential challenges,
Such as impulsivity,
Burnout and insensitivity.
In this Active Imagination exercise,
We will explore the themes of Aries,
Aiming to deepen our relationship with it,
Whilst also becoming more aware of its potential pitfalls.
So just making sure you're comfortable,
Close your eyes,
Taking a couple of deep breaths,
In through the nose,
Out through the mouth,
And as the breath returns to a natural rhythm,
Just keep your attention on the breath for now.
Whether it's the sensation of the air moving through the nostrils,
Or the rise and fall of the chest or abdomen.
If the mind wanders at any point,
It's no problem at all.
Just set your intention to bring the attention back to whatever it is you're doing as part of the exercise.
And now,
Imagine yourself in an expansive,
Open landscape in spring.
Take a look around.
And in this place,
A figure begins to form,
Representing the energy of Aries,
The cardinal fire,
Zodiac sign.
This figure can appear in any form at all.
Just allow it to appear naturally,
In whatever way it needs to.
Take some time to examine this figure more closely,
Noting the various details,
Not just their physical appearance,
But also their demeanor,
Their behavior,
The energy they emanate,
And how you feel in their presence.
Like all symbols,
Aries has a light side and a potential dark side.
Harnessing the energy of Aries is both essential for a whole and complete realization of ourselves,
And at the same time,
Can be dangerous if used in an ego-defensive or one-sided way.
And now,
This figure representing Aries invites you to complete a course designed to test your bravery and decision-making.
Observe this course forming in this landscape,
And stand at the entrance to it.
How does this course appear?
Bear in mind that it is specifically designed for you,
Calling on your deep-rooted decision-making skills and need to adapt.
Proceed in tackling this course now.
Perhaps it involves some kind of physical challenge,
Perhaps mental or psychological.
Engage with each challenge or obstacle as it comes.
Take note of which aspects might feel smooth and easy,
Or aspects you find especially challenging.
Now,
Having undergone this course set out by the figure of Aries,
Return to this figure and engage them in a conversation.
You're going to ask the figure a series of questions.
In doing so,
You're going to be tapping into your own inner wisdom and what you've learned about yourself,
Particularly regarding action,
Leadership and assertiveness.
What qualities did I need to summon to overcome the obstacles?
How did facing these challenges make me feel about my assertiveness and decisiveness?
In what situation in my life can I apply the initiative that I've shown here?
Where might I be holding back from acting due to fear or hesitation?
Where might I be acting impulsively,
And what are the consequences of this?
Having asked these questions and witnessed the figure's response,
You're now going to enter into a free-form dialogue with this figure.
This is your chance to ask any further questions that need to be asked,
Particularly if there's any resistance that came up,
Any discomforts throughout this exercise in engaging with the energy of Aries.
Now is your time to reconcile with this part of you.
Try to understand its needs and remember that no symbol is inherently one-sided.
So this is your opportunity to both understand where Aries might be coming from,
As well as affirm the depth of your relationship with it.
So take a minute or two now to engage in this free-form dialogue with this figure of Aries.
So as this conversation draws to a close,
Thank the figure of Aries for its wisdom.
Just reminding yourself that this figure,
Everything that was discussed,
Represents some parts of you.
So just allowing the scene to fade now.
And remember,
It can be useful to journal the experience after the exercise,
And just allow any other insights about the experience to arise over the coming days and weeks.
So just bringing your attention back to the space around you,
Noticing any sounds or sensations,
Taking a deep breath,
And opening your eyes again in your own time.
Thank you.
